The first partial solar eclipse of 2011 will be visible from much of Europe, North Africa and central Asia on Tuesday.
The Moon's shadow will first touch Earth's surface in northern Algeria at 06:40 GMT. As the shadow travels east, Western Europe will be treated to a partial eclipse at sunrise.
The greatest eclipse will occur at 08:51 GMT in northern Sweden where it will have a magnitude of 0.858 (85.8 percent of the Sun's disk covered by the Moon's shadow).
Russia also lies in the penumbra's path. Residents of St. Petersburg and Moscow would witness a large magnitude partial eclipse at around noon local time (09:00 GMT) - magnitude 0.846 and 0.812 respectively - if the skies are clear.
According to NASA, four partial solar and two total lunar eclipses take place in 2011. This 4 to 2 combination of solar and lunar eclipses in a single year is rather rare, with only six expected in the 21st century (2011, 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094).
MOSCOW, January 4 (RIA Novosti)
