The first annular solar eclipse will occur this year over a large area of the Pacific Ocean. People residing in countries to the east of the International Date Line such as the Hawaiian and Cook Islands witnessed the eclipse yesterday, while places to the west of the International Date Line like Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand will observe the annular eclipse of the sun today.
The Astronomical Society in Jeddah explained that a solar eclipse happens whenever the new moon passes either partially or totally in front of the sun, while the annular eclipse and total eclipse occur when the moon passes directly in front of the sun.
When the annular eclipse occurs, the moon is too far away in its orbit (lunar apogee) to cover the sun completely, causing the sun to appear as a very bright ring (annulus) surrounding the dark disk of the moon. It is a rare form of solar eclipse.
The moon will reach its apogee on May 13 at 04:32 p.m. Makkah time, about three days and a half past the new moon, however the annular solar eclipse will not be viewable for residents in the Kingdom and the Arab region.
The path of the annular solar eclipse begins today at sunrise in Western Australia at 01:33 a.m. Makkah time, and ends at sunset some three hours and 40 minutes later over the Pacific Ocean at 05:15 a.m. Makkah time.
The greatest eclipse happens midway around 03:25 a.m. just to the west of the International Date Line, within a maximum of 6 minutes 3 seconds. The annular eclipse path is nearly 13,300 kilometers long but its varying width only extends from 171 to 225 km wide.
Annularity is fairly short-lived at any one spot, lasting about four minutes near the beginning and end of the eclipse path. The eclipse’s path will cross over 0.50 of the Earth’s surface.
1st annular solar eclipse of the year
1st annular solar eclipse of the year
Pakistan confers second-highest civilian award on Saudi commerce minister for strengthening ties
- Ambassador Ahmad Farooq confers Hilal-e-Pakistan on Majid Al-Kassabi in Riyadh
- Award reflects the depth of the longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan
RIYADH: Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Ahmad Farooq has conferred the country’s second-highest civilian award on Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Commerce Majid Al-Kassabi for his role in strengthening ties between Islamabad and Riyadh, Pakistan’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia said.
Farooq presented the Hilal-e-Pakistan to Al-Kassabi during a meeting in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The parties also discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade relations.
“On behalf of the president of Pakistan, Ambassador Ahmad Farooq conferred the Hilal-e-Pakistan on Majid Al-Kassabi, minister of commerce of Saudi Arabia, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to strengthening Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations,” the embassy wrote on X.
The award reflects the depth of the longstanding partnership and strong trade relations between the Kingdom and Pakistan and serves as an impetus to further strengthen joint cooperation for the benefit of both countries and their peoples, the SPA reported.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial ties that date back decades and include cooperation in several sectors such as defense, trade, economy, agriculture, livestock and minerals.
Saudi Arabia is the largest source of foreign remittances to Pakistan, with over 2 million Pakistani expats residing in the Kingdom. Riyadh has also helped Pakistan during several economic crises over the years, providing oil on deferred payments and loans in critical times.
The two countries signed a landmark strategic partnership agreement in September 2025, according to which an act of aggression against one country will be seen as an attack on both.
