Partial Solar Eclipse on Oct 25: Know Surya Grahan time, visibility in cities of Odisha

A day after Diwali 2022, stargazers will be in for another major celestial event – the Surya Grahan (solar eclipse). On October 25, a partial solar eclipse will unfold before the eyes of people in several parts of the world including India.

This year, the solar eclipse is coinciding with the festival of lights after a gap of 27 years. Not just that, this celestial event will be next seen on March 29, 2025. What makes this eclipse even rarer is that the next partial solar eclipse will be visible from India after 10 years, on November 3, 2032. However, the next total solar eclipse will be visible from India on August 2, 2027.

Also Read: Solar eclipse on October 25: Know the timing of Srimandir rituals

Everything about Solar Eclipse to Partial Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs for Earth when the Moon blocks the light of the Sun from reaching our blue planet as it comes between the two. A partial solar eclipse happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth are not exactly aligned and so a part of Sun is eclipsed by the moon’s shadow on earth. 

Solar Eclipse Importance

Even though solar eclipse is an astronomical event, it has deep entrenched mythological and astrological connotations in Indian culture. As per Hindu traditions, people are cautioned strictly to follow several restrictions during Surya Grahan. 

Timing of Partial Solar Eclipse on Oct 25

Due to the movement of sun and moon, the partial solar eclipse will be visible from different parts of the world at slightly varying times. In general, the eclipse will begin at 2.28 pm in India and reach peak at 4.29 pm. It will last till 6.32 pm (IST). Astrologers suggest restrictions on moving outside during eclipse, preparation and taking of food, other religious rituals during this period. Scientifically also, experts caution people not to witness the event in naked eyes even for a brief period.

Where Will it be Visible?

The partial solar eclipse will be visible for varying amount of time in Europe, the Middle-East, North-East Africa, and Western Asia, the North Atlantic Ocean, West China, India and its neighbouring countries. The maximal phase of the partial eclipse will be recorded in Russia near Nizhnevartovsk. People in India will be able to see up to 43 per cent of obscuration of Sun. The ending phase of the eclipse will not be mostly visible from India as the event will still be in progress after sunset.

According to Ministry of Earth Sciences, the duration of eclipse from the beginning up to sunset time will be 1 hr 13 min and 1 hr 19 min for both Delhi and Mumbai respectively. In Chennai and Kolkata, the duration of the eclipse from the beginning up to sunset time will be 31 min and 12 min respectively. The celestial event will have a maximum duration of 1 hour 45 minutes and will be visible for the longest part in Gujarat's Dwarka.

Eclipse in Odisha

People of Odisha will also get a short period of the partial solar eclipse on Oct 25. In Bhubaneswar, the obscuration of sun will be around 12%. The citizens of Odisha’s capital city as well as Cuttack city can witness the eclipse for 20 minutes from 4.56 pm to 5.16 pm. Similarly, eclipse will begin at 4.58 pm in Koraput till sunset at 5.30 pm. In the pilgrim city of Puri, partial solar eclipse will start at 4.57 pm and can be visible till 5.17 pm. For residents of Sambalpur, the event will unfold at 4.52 pm. People can witness the eclipse till 5.22 pm.

Notably, no places in Odisha will get chance to witness the greatest phase of the eclipse due to sunset while obscuration of sun will be minimal.