'Ring of fire' eclipse enthrals skywatchers in Middle East, Asia
A combination of photos depicts a partial annular solar eclipse observed with the use of a solar filter in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Thousands of skywatchers gathered across parts of the Middle East and Asia on Thursday to glimpse the sun forming a ring of fire around the moon in a rare annular solar eclipse.
An annular eclipse occurs when the moon covers the sun's center but leaves its outer edges visible to form a ring.
Thursday's was visible in Saudi Arabia as well as Singapore, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.
A partial annular solar eclipse is observed with the use of a solar filter in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
To view a graphic on solar Eclipse, click https://graphics.reuters.com/SOLAR-ECLIPSE-INDIA/0100B4SJ2KN/Solar-Eclipse.jpg
"This will be the first of only two annular eclipses visible from Singapore for the rest of the century. So in that sense, it's a very rare event for us," said Albert Ho, president of the Astronomical Society of Singapore. The island's next will be in 2063.
A woman comforts her daughter, buried up to her neck in sand during a solar eclipse, along Clifton beach in Karachi, Pakistan December 26, 2019. Many Pakistanis believe that burying people with disabilities in sand during solar eclipse would bring healing to their bodies. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro
In most years, two solar eclipses are visible from somewhere on Earth. The maximum number is five.
(Reporting by Joseph Campbell and Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore; editing by John Stonestreet)
A man observes a partial solar eclipse in Jakarta, Indonesia December 26 2019. REUTERS/Ajeng Dinar UlfianaA muslim woman wearing hijab observes the annular solar eclipse before taking part in a mass prayer in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy KurniawanA partial annular solar eclipse is observed with the use of a solar filter in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy KurniawanPeople observe the annular solar eclipse in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy KurniawanA girl wearing special protective glasses reacts as she observes the annular solar eclipse in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy KurniawanA man looks at the sun as he tests his special protective glasses before the annular solar eclipse in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy KurniawanA vendor raises protective glasses for the solar eclipse in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, December 26, 2019. REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
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