This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
On June 21, 2020, a rare annular solar eclipse, also known as a 'ring of fire,' will dim the skies of Africa and Asia on the summer solstice.
Annular eclipses occur when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun but is not close enough to completely obscure sunlight, leaving a thin ring of the solar disc visible.
The eclipse will be visible from a narrow pathway across the planet, with the 'ring of fire' first appearing in northeastern Republic of Congo at 5:56 local time (04:56 GMT) just a few minutes after sunrise.
This is the point of maximum duration, with the blackout lasting 1 minute and 22 seconds.
According to Florent Delefie, an astronomer at the Paris Observatory, "The annular eclipse is visible from about two percent of Earth's surface."
Delefie also warned that looking at a solar eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous, even if the day has darkened, and that sunglasses do not offer any protection.
"The Sun is so bright that even when there's only a tiny portion visible, it is still dangerous for the eyes," Delefie said.
Good weather is crucial for viewing the eclipse, with astrophysicist Fred Espenak commenting, "Better to see a shorter eclipse from clear sky than a longer eclipse under clouds."
