'Diamond ring' enthrals viewers during eclipse in Varanasi

Astro-enthusiasts in this pilgrim city had a chance to ogle at the rare celestial phenomenon of a 'diamond ring' during today's solar eclipse as only a bright ring of the sun was visible around the lunar silhouette in Varanasi.

At 06:24am, the sun got engulfed by the shadow of the moon, leaving only a thread's space through the rugged lunar limb topography, creating a dazzling 'diamond ring'.

Professor BN Dvivedi of the Institute of Technology, Benares Hindu University, said his team, some of them scientists of international repute, got the best view of the total solar eclipse and the 'diamond ring'.

The diamond ring effect is seen when only one bead is left, creating the effect of a shining diamond set in a bright ring around the lunar silhouette, he said.

The longest total solar eclipse of this century lasted for exactly three minutes and eight seconds here.