• Source:JND
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A solar eclipse, also known as a Surya Grahan, occurs when the Moon moves in front of the Sun and blocks part of Earth's view of the Sun, either completely or partially. Today, on April 20, Vaishakh Amavasya, the first solar eclipse of the year 2023, will occur.

As per popular beliefs, surya grahan takes place on the new moon day and the lunar eclipse takes place on the full moon day. According to astrology, the Sun will enter Aries on April 14.

Solar Eclipse 2023: Date And Timings

According to Drik Panchang, the first surya grahan of the year is today on April 20. It will be a partial solar eclipse in Sydney with the beginning time at 01:36 PM. According to Drik Panchang,

Eclipse Start Time - 01:36 PM

Maximum Eclipse Time - 02:28 PM

Eclipse End Time - 03:18 PM

Partial Eclipse Duration - 01 Hour 42 Mins 23 Secs

Solar Eclipse 2023: Sutak Period

The inauspicious time before Surya Grahan is referred to as ‘Sutak’. According to Hindu beliefs, the Earth's atmosphere is contaminated during Sutak and extra precautions should be taken to avoid any harmful side effects due to contamination.

During Solar Eclipse Sutak is observed for 4 Prahars and during Lunar Eclipse Sutak is observed for 3 Prahars before Eclipse. There are a total of 8 Prahars from Sunrise to Sunrise. Hence Sutak is observed for 12 hours before the Solar Eclipse and for 9 hours before the Lunar Eclipse, states Drik Panchang.

The sutak for the first surya grahan will begin at 11:54 PM on April 19 and end at 03:18 PM, before the Surya Grahan.

Where Will The Solar Eclipse Be Visible?

The first solar eclipse will not be visible in India but it will be visible in Australia, East and South Asia, the Pacific Ocean, Antarctica and the Indian Ocean, as per the reports. People except in India will witness a partial solar eclipse on this day.

Why Will The Surya Grahan Not Be Visible In India?

The hybrid solar eclipse or the ‘annual ring of fire’ eclipse will only be seen for a few seconds in the Indian and Pacific oceans. It will not be visible anywhere on land. A total eclipse will be visible only in three locations including Exmouth, Western Australia, Timor Leste and West Papua, as reported by Times Now.

Solar Eclipse 2023: How To Watch?

While the surya grahan will not be visible in India, one must be very cautious while watching the solar eclipse. One can watch it by projecting the sun’s image on a whiteboard with the use of a telescope. You can also use eye filters like black polymer, aluminised Mylar, welding glass of shade number 14 or eclipse glasses to watch it. It is never safe to witness the eclipse directly and it is advisable not to use any homemade filters or regular glasses to view the solar eclipse.