Pakistan observes annular solar eclipse after 20 years.

LAHORE -- Pakistan on Thursday observed the annular solar eclipse after 20 years. The eclipse began at 8:58 am (local time), turning into a total eclipse and lasted for almost 2 hours, and ending at 10:19 am.

In Karachi, the eclipse started at 7:30am, turning into total eclipse at 8:46am. In Islamabad, the total eclipse happened at 8:58am.

Many countries in Asia witnessed a solar eclipse, as well as some parts of eastern Africa and northern Australia, but a small area experienced an annular solar eclipse called a 'ring of fire' eclipse.

A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes directly between the Earth and the sun, but the type of eclipse that unfolds depends on how far away the moon is from the Earth.

But it will be an annular eclipse as the moon was not quite large enough to cover the entire sun, leaving behind a ring of light, it is also called 'ring of fire' eclipse.

Special prayers called 'Salatul Kasuf' were offered at multiple places across country.

Professor Dr Muhammad Jawed Iqbal, Institute of Space and Planetary Astrophysics (ISPA), Karachi...