KARACHI: Pakistan and much part of South Asia are set to witness the second partial solar eclipse of the year 2022 today. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth, or partially blocking the Sun’s light in some areas.
According to reports from Met officials and other media sources, the eclipse will also be visible from most of Europe, Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Western parts of Asia.
Officials here said the partial solar eclipse could be seen in most areas of the country including Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore Peshawar, and Quetta. The partial solar eclipse will begin at 3:41 pm in Peshawar.
The eclipse will start at 3:57 pm, touch its zenith at 5:10 pm and continue till sunset in Karachi. Up to 50 percent of sunlight will be reduced in Karachi, the officials added.
Experts say that during a partial solar eclipse, the Moon and the Sun are not perfectly aligned in a straight line. Therefore, the Moon does not completely cover the Sun. This gives the Sun a crescent shape. It appears as though the Moon has taken a bite of the Sun.
Famous astronomer Dr Muhammad Javed has appealed to the citizens not to observe the sun directly. Quoting the scientific research, he said pregnant women and children are not adversely affected by a solar eclipse. However, citizens should adopt precautionary measures, he added.
