Shadow-Casted by The Moon: The Middle East to Witness a Solar Eclipse on the 21st of June
By Malak Khaled
On Sunday, 21st of June 2020, the earth is said to witness a partial eclipse of the sun by 86%. The eclipse will be seen in Egypt as well as the Arab world, in a narrow path crossing Yemen, Sultanate of Oman, United Arab Emirates, and far south of Saudi Arabia.
The eclipse occurs when a portion of the Earth is engulfed in a shadow cast by the Moon which fully or partially blocks the sunlight, resulting in a ring of light around the summit and during this type of eclipse the aura of the sun does not appear.
According to sources, the eclipse is said to last approximately two hours, begins at 6:23 am, reaches its peak at 7:19 am, and ends at 8:22 am.
Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics warned citizens not to look directly at the eclipse without using special solar eclipse sunglasses due to the danger and harm it might cause the eye. They also announced that they will be recording the eclipse at the institute headquarters in Helwan and will broadcast it via their official website.
