The annular solar eclipse of May 20 2012 will be visible across south-east Asia, the north Pacific, and the south-west USA. The annular phase runs from 22:06:17 UT on May 20, when the eclipse begins in the Gulf of Tongking, to the end of the eclipse in Texas at 01:39:11 UT on May 21. The maximum eclipse is at 23:52:47 UT on May 20, when the annular phase will last over 5½ minutes.
While this eclipse has a very wide path and long durations, this means that the Sun will not be darkened as much as by a shorter-lasting eclipse; and as with any annular eclipse, this eclipse is never safe to view with the naked eye.
The partial eclipse will be visible over most of Asia, Russia, and north-western North America between 20:56:07 UT on May 20 and 02:49:21 UT on May 21.
More information on this eclipse may be found at Fred Espenak's site. You can plot the eclipse for yourself using the table of mapping co-ordinates.
The following maps show the path of the annular eclipse. Please note that these maps are approximate. Check with reliable sources before making travel plans.
If you're going to see the annular eclipse,
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Copyright (C) 1995-2005 Ian Cameron Smith.
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