Annular eclipse — southern India to Malaysia (2031)
On 21 May 2031 an annular eclipse is expected to run from southern Africa across the Indian Ocean, southern India and Sri Lanka to Malaysia and Indonesia. At Kochi in Kerala, India, the ring should be visible for about 4 minutes 46 seconds at around 1 p.m.
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The story
An annular eclipse happens when the Moon covers the middle of the Sun but cannot hide all of it, leaving a bright ring around the edge. On 21 May 2031 the band where this ring can be seen is expected to stretch from Africa to South-East Asia. It begins in Angola, crosses Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi and Tanzania, and then heads out over the Indian Ocean.
After crossing the sea, the band reaches the southern tip of India. At Kochi in the state of Kerala, the ring is calculated to last about 4 minutes 46 seconds at around 1 p.m. At that hour the Sun over Kochi stands high, close to overhead. A high Sun is unlikely to be hidden by buildings or trees, and its light passes through a thinner layer of air, so the ring tends to look sharp and steady.
The band then crosses the north of Sri Lanka near Jaffna, passes the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and southern Thailand, and reaches northern Malaysia in the late afternoon. At Kangar the ring should be seen for about 4 minutes 22 seconds at around 4:44 p.m. The band finally crosses the island of Borneo and ends in Indonesia. The ring lasts longest over the sea west of India, at about 5 minutes 26 seconds.
During an annular eclipse, part of the Sun’s light is still shining even when the ring looks its best. For that reason it must be watched through a solar filter from beginning to end. The orbit view reproduces the day’s line-up, with the Moon passing in front of the Sun while slightly farther from Earth, and choosing Kochi in the sky view reproduces the ring forming high in the midday sky.
Viewing guide — where, when, how
An annular eclipse must be watched through eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2 or a solar filter from start to finish. In places like Kochi, where the Sun stands high at midday, the sunlight is very strong, and even a brief look with the naked eye can harm the eyes. Binoculars, telescopes and cameras must always have a solar filter fitted to the front.
The weather can only be discussed in terms of chances. Late May in Kerala is when the summer monsoon is approaching, and clouds are common. Rather than relying on a single coastal spot, it is wiser to plan to move inland or elsewhere depending on the forecast, which raises the odds of clear sky. Sites in northern Sri Lanka and in Africa are also worth considering.
The eclipse cannot be seen from the Americas, where it is night, or from Europe; the partial eclipse is limited to Africa, the Middle East, South and South-East Asia and Australia. In the sky view, however, switching the location to Kochi, Jaffna or Kangar reproduces the time the ring appears in each place and how high the Sun is at that moment. Switching to Dar es Salaam in Africa reproduces the partial eclipse seen there.
See this for yourself — open that sky at that moment · replay the moment in the orbit view
Why this eclipse is special
About 5 minutes 26 seconds is fairly long for an annular eclipse. A long-lasting ring gives time to watch the moments when it closes and opens. At those moments sunlight slips through valleys on the Moon’s edge and looks like beads, known as ‘Baily’s beads’. Timing these moments from many places lets scientists study the ups and downs along the Moon’s edge and the apparent size of the Sun in detail.
This eclipse crosses some very crowded parts of the world. Cities in southern India, Sri Lanka and Malaysia will see the ring, and when the partial phases are counted, a very large number of people across East Africa, South Asia and South-East Asia will be able to see the Sun partly covered. That makes spreading the word about safe viewing especially important.
In parts of India old customs remain, such as not eating or not going outside during an eclipse. During the annular eclipse of December 2019, science groups held public viewing events to show that an eclipse is a natural event in the sky. Similar events are likely again in 2031. When scientific explanations spread widely, people can enjoy an eclipse safely instead of fearing it.
Background and earlier eclipses
Eclipses repeat in a similar pattern about every 18 years and 11 days, a cycle called the saros. The eclipse of 21 May 2031 belongs to Saros 138 and is the 32nd of its 70 eclipses. The one before it was the annular eclipse of 10 May 2013, seen over northern Australia and the Pacific, and the next will take place on 31 May 2049.
Southern India has been crossed by several annular eclipses in a short time. On 15 January 2010 there was a long annular eclipse whose ring lasted 11 minutes 8 seconds at its longest point, and on 26 December 2019 another annular band crossed Kerala and Tamil Nadu. With 2031 included, that makes three in about 21 years. Such a cluster over one region is a matter of chance.
2031 has a second central eclipse on 14 November. That one crosses the Pacific Ocean and is a hybrid eclipse, seen as total in some places and annular in others. Hybrid eclipses happen when the Moon looks almost exactly the same size as the Sun. Both central eclipses of the year therefore favour tropical seas and southern regions.
FAQ
When, and for how long, is the ring seen at Kochi?
Calculations published on Wikipedia give around 1 p.m. for about 4 minutes 46 seconds, with the Sun standing high, close to overhead.
Where does the ring last longest?
Over the sea west of India, at about 5 minutes 26 seconds. At Jaffna in Sri Lanka it is calculated at about 5 minutes 10 seconds.
What about the weather?
Late May in Kerala comes as the monsoon approaches, and clouds are common. Clear sky can only be given as a chance, so it helps to have other sites ready to move to depending on the forecast.
Can it be seen from the Americas?
No. It happens during the night there, and both the ring band and the area of partial eclipse lie far away.
Related
- The 2019 annular over Singapore
- The 2010 annular over the Maldives
- The 2035 annular over Wellington
- The Sun — object index
- The Moon — object index
Times and figures are approximate — verify with official sources when planning travel. Simulation uses J2000 mean elements.