'Ring of fire' eclipse enthrals skywatchers in Middle East, Asia

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Reuters
Published : 16:38, Dec 26, 2019 | Updated : 16:42, Dec 26, 2019

A combination of photos depicts a partial annular solar eclipse observed with the use of a solar filter in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, Dec 26, 2019. REUTERSThousands 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 centre 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.
An annular solar eclipse is observed with the use of a solar filter, in Siak, Riau province, Indonesia, Dec 26, 2019. REUTERS"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.
In most years, two solar eclipses are visible from somewhere on Earth. The maximum number is five.

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