Solar eclipse on Sunday 10.14 am

To peak at 11.55 am, culminate at 1.45 pm

● SOUNDING A word of caution, Dr B.G. Sidharth, director of BM Birla Science Centre said that unlike a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse should not be seen with the naked eye.

Starting 10.14 am this Sunday, citizens of Hyderabad and the rest of the state will be able to see the annular solar eclipse, when the shadow of the Moon partly obscures the Sun.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, noted physicist Dr B.G. Sidharth, director of the BM Birla Science Centre, said, “The moon will block the trajectory of the Sun’s rays to the Earth on Sunday. It will not block the Sun entirely; only 60 per cent of it would be covered for the city.”

The eclipse will start at 10.14 am, reach its peak at 11.55 am and culminate at 1.45 pm. “The celestial episode will last a total of three hours and 29 minutes,” Dr Sidharth said.

Sounding a word of caution he said that, unlike a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse should not be seen with the naked eye.

A solar eclipse must never be seen with the naked eye. It must be projected on to a screen for watching. Alternatively, they must wear dark glasses. Unfortunately, for space aficionados in the city, the Birla Planetarium will not be screening the eclipse. “The state government has not given us clearance to have the planetarium up and running,” Dr Sidharth said.

There are many superstitions about an eclipse, such as pregnant women being susceptible to evil forces during an eclipse and various activities such as eating, sleeping, urinating, defecating, and sexual intercourse being prohibited during the eclipse. The Planetary Society, India, has called for awareness on eclipses among the general public. It is conducting a meeting in the association premises with the Centre for Space Medicine on Saturday.

Almost all temples will be closed for several hours before and after the eclipse.