An annular solar eclipse will be observed in Libya on October 3, the Libyan Centre for Space Sciences and Remote Sensing has reported.
It will last for 4 minutes and 23rd seconds, the centre added. The second solar eclipse of 2005 will cross Iberian Peninsula and stretches across the African continent. Europe, Western Asia, the Middle East, India and most of Africa will fall within the Moon's penumbral shadow.
This year’s eclipse would make October 4th, most probably, the first day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It is the surest sign of the birth of a new moon, which marks the beginning of the Muslim lunar month.
Six months later Libya will cast into darkness when a total eclipse would be visible in the skies. On 29 March 2006, a total eclipse will be visible from north and central Africa, Turkey and southern Russia, ending at sunset in western Mongolia. A partial eclipse will be seen across the northern two-thirds of Africa, central Asia and Europe.
The Libyan Center for Space Sciences and Remote Sensing said it has received many applications from world researches who wish to visit Libya and study this phenomenon.
Libya’s last annular eclipse was in 29th April 1976. It lasted for six minutes and 41 seconds.
An eclipse of the sun occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun. Next year's eclipse is expected to begin at sunrise along the coast of Brazil before gradually moving to Africa. Experts believe next year's solar eclipse would be the best and the longest until 2009 and the most easily accessible in the next 10 years.
