Solar eclipse on May 21

The trio of sun, earth and the moon will depict an interesting view of partial solar eclipse on May 21 this year, which will be seen in the eastern part of the country.

Jiwaji laboratory, Ujjain director Dr Rajendra Prakash Gupta told PTI that the partial solar eclipse would start as per Indian time at 1539 hours and would end at 1906 hours. At the height of the eclipse, the moon would cover 94.5% of the sun, the director said. This will be the first eclipse to be seen in India this year, he said, adding that the partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and earth in such a way that from the earth, a portion of the sun is hidden behind the moon. He said after this a partial lunar eclipse would occur on June 4, but it would not be visible in India.