Partial solar eclipse observed in Pakistan

Enthusiasts watched the spectacle from a local astronomy society’s facility.

KARACHI: Astronomy enthusiasts in Pakistan were frustrated by the country’s geographic location on Tuesday since the solar eclipse that took place was only partially visible here.

The first eclipse of 2011 was excitedly observed in other countries where it was expected to be completely visible.

It was not a very exciting event, said the president of the Karachi Astronomers Society (KaAS).

However, the partial eclipse managed to bring some of the astronomy society’s members to the KaAStrodome, located in Block 7, Gulistan-e-Jauhar for the viewing of the eclipsed sun on Tuesday from 02:15 pm to 03:15 pm.

“Total solar eclipse is a phenomenon that is very rare but we were not discouraged as even a partial solar eclipse occurs after a year or two,” said Abubaker Siddiq Shekhani, a senior member of the KaAS.

According to Shekhani, in today’s eclipse, around 10 per cent of the sun’s surface was obscured by the moon.

He explained that they had taken precautions because humans are not supposed to look directly at the sun, during the eclipse, as it could cause permanent injury to sensitive cells in the eye.

“Therefore, we used H-alpha filters to view the eclipse,” Shekhani said.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2011.