Partial solar eclipse from 12.11pm today

At 12:11pm today, residents in the UAE will experience one of nature's great events - a partial solar eclipse, where part of the sun will be covered by the passing moon.

Hasan Ahmad Al Hariri, CEO of the Dubai Astronomy Group said there is a lot of talk about the phenomenon. This will be the last solar eclipse people in the UAE will be able to see for some time, he said.

"The next one, that is the full circular eclipse, will be visible in 2019," he said.

Today's eclipse will be visible over most of Europe, the Arabian peninsula, north Africa and western Asia.

"I've never seen one (eclipse) before and am really looking forward to it," said Bhairavi Naik, a 25-year-old university student, who said she will be heading to Burj Steps to join others in observing the phenomenon.

Hariri said the eclipse will last till 2:30pm in Dubai, and warned viewers not to look directly at the sun during the occurrence as it can cause irreversible eye damage and possibly, blindness.

He added that special filtered glasses and telescopes are usually provided at arranged viewing places but enthusiasts can indirectly view the eclipse on their own by reflecting the sun using a bucket of water or by making their own pinhole projector to see an image of the sun.

- LhaleejTimes.com , 4 January 2011