Annular Solar Eclipse

At maximum eclipse, the Moon appears slightly smaller than the Sun, leaving a blazing 'ring of fire' visible for several minutes. Solar filters are required throughout — at no point is direct viewing safe.

Maximum duration: 5m 18s. This is how long the central phase will last for observers on the center line — observers near the edge of the path will see a shorter central phase, and observers outside the path will see only a partial eclipse.

Best visible from: Southern Africa, Indian Ocean, Asia. Outside these regions, observers either see a smaller partial eclipse or none at all — Earth's curvature puts the event below the horizon.