Partial Solar Eclipse to Mystify Bulgarian Horizon Jan 4

A partial solar eclipse seen in Islamabad, Pakistan, 15 January 2010. Millions of people across half the globe were treated to the rare spectacle of a partial eclipse of the sun believed to be the longest in 1,000 years. Photo by EPA/BGNES

Bulgarian sky gazers will be treated to the rare spectacle of a partial eclipse of the sun, which will be visible from the territory of the country on January 4, 2011.

This will be the first partial solar eclipse visible from the Earth in the new year.

On the morning of Tuesday, January 4, 2011, an eclipse of the sun will be widely visible across Europe and as far east as India. The eclipse won't be visible in North and South America, however.

On January 4, the moon will gradually cover the sun, over a period of about 3 hours. At maximum, the eclipse will be at the horizon at sunrise in England, with 75% of the sun's diameter covered, and then gradually emerge over the next hour and 20 minutes. In Paris or Berlin, 80% of the sun will be covered near sunrise.

Farther east, the sun will be a bit higher in the sky at maximum, 22° high with 67% covered in Athens. In Israel and Egypt, the sun will be 33° high with over 55% coverage at maximum.

Because the sun is too bright to look at safely, scientists stress that special solar filters or projection methods should always be used to protect the eyes.

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