Year’s final total solar eclipse: Will it be visible in Pakistan?

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Thursday that the year’s final and only total solar eclipse will take place on the night of August 12-13, but the celestial event will not be visible from Pakistan,

According to the PMD, the eclipse will begin at 8:34 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST) on August 12 and will reach its maximum phase at 10:46 pm PST.

The eclipse will conclude at 12:58 am PST on August 13, according to PMD.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly between the earth and the sun, completely blocking the sun’s disk for observers located along the path of totality.

The PMD said the path of totality will pass through parts of Greenland, Iceland, Spain and Russia, where observers will witness the Sun being completely obscured by the Moon.

A partial solar eclipse will also be visible across large parts of Europe, Africa and North America, where the moon will cover only a portion of the sun.

However, the meteorological department confirmed that the eclipse will not be visible anywhere in Pakistan.

Solar eclipses occur only during a new moon when the sun, moon and earth align. Total solar eclipses are relatively rare at any given location, although partial eclipses are seen more frequently across different parts of the world.

Astronomers advise that solar eclipses should never be viewed directly with the naked eye, except during the brief period of totality in areas where the sun is completely covered.

Special-purpose solar viewing glasses or certified filters should be used to observe the event safely, as looking directly at the sun without proper protection can cause permanent eye damage.