Annular solar eclipse on January 15

The total solar eclipse that occurred 54 years ago on June 20, 1955, was a landmark event in Sri Lanka. It will take another 370 years for a total solar eclipse to take place.

This time however, an annular solar eclipse will occur in Sri Lanka on January 15, 2010 at 9.35 am and continue till 3.37 pm on the same day. This will rank as the longest annular eclipse that has occurred.

Sri Lankans, particularly those in the North can fully view the sun being eclipsed for a period of ten minutes starting from 1.19 pm and ending by 1.29 pm on January 15, 2010 astronomer Anura C. Perera states.

The last annular solar eclipse occurred 109 years ago on November 11, 1901. This time 95% of the sun will remain eclipsed over Northern Sri Lanka.

For those living in the region from Dambulla town to Dondra it will be seen as a partial solar eclipse.