Annular solar eclipse expected to cross China Friday

BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- An annular eclipse of the sun is expected to cross China Friday afternoon, Cheng Zhuo, a researcher with the Purple Mountain Observatory under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said Wednesday.

An annular eclipse of the sun is expected to  cross China Friday afternoon, Cheng Zhuo, a  researcher with the Purple Mountain Observatory  under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said  Wednesday.(Xinhua Photo)

The astronomical phenomenon, predicted to be the longest annularity of the next 1,000 years, will be visible in some areas of Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu and Shandong provinces as well as Chongqing municipality.

A partial eclipse would be seen in most of the rest of China, except for the northeast tip of Heilongjiang Province, said Cheng.

An annular eclipse occurs when the moon does not cover the entire disc of the sun so that a ring of light encircles the shadow of the moon.

Wang Sichao, also of the Purple Mountain Observatory, said that though an annular eclipse was not considered as spectacular as a total solar eclipse and was of little value in scientific research, it was interesting for the general public to watch the astronomical phenomenon.