An annular solar eclipse with the longest duration in the 21st century will occur on Friday (Jan. 15) and will be visible in some parts of Myanmar, according to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department Tuesday.

Starting from central Africa and moving across the Indian Ocean, southern India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China, the partial eclipse will be obviously visible in Sittway in the west, Shwebo, Mandalay and Monywa in the central part, and Pyin Oo Lwin and Lashio in the east and northeast as far as Myanmar is concerned, the sources said.

People will start seeing the eclipse in Myanmar at about 01:00 p.m. (Myanmar Standard Time) which will last for 3:30 hours until 4:30 p.m., the sources said, adding that the eclipse will reach its maximum between 3:05 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

The wonderful event is expected to draw great interest of large number of foreign tourists visiting Myanmar.

Interesting people living in Yangon are traveling to the central part of Myanmar to take up position to witness the coming annular solar eclipse.

According to local report, the All Myanmar Astronomers Association and the state-run MRTV-3 will cooperate in shooting the event for the first time for public presentation.