Solar eclipse of January 4, 2011
The solar eclipse of January 4, 2011 was a partial eclipse of the Sun that was visible after sunrise over most of Europe, northwestern and South Asia. It ended at sunset over eastern Asia. It was visible as a minor partial eclipse over northern Africa and the Arabian peninsula. The eclipse belonged to Saros 151 and was number 14 of 72 eclipses in the series.
Partial from Poland
Slobozia, Romania at 7:52 UTC
Almería, Spain at 8:03 UTC
Avellino, Italy at 8:18 UTC
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of Earth, totally or partially. Such an alignment occurs approximately every six months, during the eclipse season in its new moon phase, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of Earth's orbit. In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured. Unlike a lunar eclipse, which may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth, a solar eclipse can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world. As such, although total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average, they recur at any given place only once every 360 to 410 years.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun's disk, as seen in this solar eclipse. Solar prominences can be seen along the limb (in red) as well as extensively the coronal and partly the radiating coronal streamers.
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away to completely cover the Sun's disk (October 14, 2023).
During a partial solar eclipse, the Moon blocks only part of the Sun's disk (October 25, 2022).
Partial and annular phases of the solar eclipse of May 20, 2012