BLACK MOON RISING

A solar eclipse is a sharp reminder of the sun’s might, and of how much of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. The fuss over the total solar eclipse of 1999 showed how rare it is to have an eclipse that passes over land, let alone anywhere convenient to Western observers. The cosmos has no time for politics.

So it is this time. Today, on January 15th, an annular solar eclipse is due to pass over the Indian Ocean, drawing a dark line from the heart of Africa up the eastern coast of India towards Bangladesh. Annular means there is a brilliant shear of circular light around the blackened moon. The best views are likely to be in Tamil Nadu, India, but dedicated chasers are probably now in the Maldives, where the eclipse will be fullest for longest.

~ ED CUMMING

Picture credit: a_seph (via Flickr)