This afternoon, the last solar eclipse of 2013 is to take place starting at 15:15, and ending 90 minutes later at 16:45, local time. In Israel, the eclipse will be partial, covering a maximum of 13.5% of the sun.
The next eclipse to be visible from Jerusalem is expected to be in about 6 months, on the second night of Passover, April 15, 2014.
The full eclipse is a 'hybrid' eclipse: while a normal solar eclipse involves the moon blocking the sun completely, the moon's area will also briefly be reduced, revealing "sun rings." This is called an "annular eclipse." Hybrid eclipses are among the rarest in the world - accounting for only 4.8% of eclipses recorded.
The full eclipse will be able to be viewed from West Africa and a number of islands in the Atlantic. There, the eclipse will proceed as follows: At first, the moon will entirely cover the sun. Then, the shadowed area will gradually be reduced, revealing sun rings. Finally, the moon will continue until the sun is again consigned completely to the shade.
In North America, the eclipse will only be visible on the East coast, at around 6:30AM EST.