Partial solar eclipse on March 19

Direct viewing of sun harmful

Chamikara Weerasinghe

COLOMBO: A partial solar eclipse will be visible in Sri Lanka as the new moon comes to a position in between the sun and the earth on March 19.

The eclipse begins from 6.08 a.m. in Sri Lankan standard time and ends at 9.55 a.m., according to the Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies.

The Institute's Consultant on Astronomy Dr. Chandana Jayaratna said direct viewing of the sun during the eclipse is harmful and it may cause full or partial blindness.

Dr. Jayaratna advised against continuously watching the sun during the eclipse. He said: "Since the eclipse occurs at sun rise quick glance of the sun for a few seconds may be acceptable."

He said due to the fast motion of the moon's shadow, only the beginning of the eclipse is visible to Sri Lankans from sun rise around 6.15 a.m.

"For direct viewing, one or two layers of completely exposed and fully developed black and white film, number 14 welders' glass or solar filters are recommended," he said. Maximum eclipse is visible at 6.37 a.m. from Galle, 16.38 a.m. from Colombo, 6.38 a.m. from Kandy and 6.41 a.m. from Jaffna. The eclipse is visible from 6.17 a.m., which ends at 7.12 a.m. for Sri Lankans.

The sun, the Earth and the moon are more or less in the same plane after the March 3 total lunar eclipse giving vent to this partial solar eclipse, Dr. Jayaratna said.