The second and last solar eclipse of 2021 will be visible in parts of South America, Australia, South Africa and countries in the Southern Atlantic, apart from Antarctica on Saturday. This total solar eclipse, unfortunately, will not be visible in India. But do not worry! Here’s how and when you can watch the celestial event:

WHEN TO WATCH

The main eclipse will last for four hours and eight minutes, starting at 12:30 pm and reaching its peak at 1:03 pm.

It will be preceded and followed by a partial solar eclipse, the first of which will start at 10:59 am and will last until 12:30 pm, and the second one beginning from 01:33 pm and ending at 03:07 pm.

HOW TO WATCH

Astronomy enthusiasts around the globe can watch the celestial event live on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) official website and YouTube channel.

A view of the solar eclipse will be livestreamed from Union Glacier, Antarctica. The stream will start at 12 pm IST and end at 2.07 pm IST.

BUT WHAT IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE?

A solar eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon in which the sun, the earth and the moon all align in a straight line such that the earth’s satellite blocks out the sunlight from reaching the earth, as a result of which a shadow is cast on earth.

This shadow is composed of two parts, an inner dark circle completely devoid of any sunlight, called the umbra, and an outer circle of the shadow that only partially blocks the sunlight and is known as the penumbra.

Depending upon whether the moon blocks out the sun either partially or completely, these eclipses can either be a partial or total solar eclipse.