“Annual eclipses are similar to total eclipses in that they are the moon, the earth and the sun they are arranged so that the moon moves directly in front of the Sun as seen from Earth, ”said Alex Young, associate director of science in the heliophysics department at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“But there is no complete eclipse, ie the moon does not completely block the visible solar disk because the moon is further away, so its apparent size is in the sky. [slightly] smaller than the sun. This means that a tiny ring of folds of the solar disk is visible around the Moon. “
Solar eclipses occur about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse, Young said. The lunar eclipse occurred on June 5, and the next occurs on July 5.
The eclipse ring will begin at 9:47 p.m. ET (4:47 UTC) on June 21 and will cross a lean trail that begins at sunrise in Africa and eventually crosses into China before ending with a sunset over the Pacific Ocean. The peak will be at 14:40 on the start (6:40 UTC) and end around 4:32 in the morning ET (8:32 UTC).
A partial eclipse will begin at 11:45 p.m. ET (3:45 UTC) on June 20, and ends at 21:34 ET (9:34 UTC) on June 21.
It will be visible over central Africa, the southern Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, northern India and south-central China, Young said. A partial eclipse will be seen over much of Asia, Africa, southern and eastern Europe, northern Australia and parts of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, he added.
And of course, the weather allows it, so hopefully the skies will be clear.
The whole eclipse will last about 3.75 hours, but the duration of the passage through individual locations will be the same about a minute and a half. During the climax, this will actually shorten to just over 30 seconds.
How to watch
Although this is not a total solar eclipse, the eclipse still needs to be observed using safety measures.
“Because the sun is so incredibly bright, it’s still too strong to be seen with unprotected eyes,” Young said. “For use with telescopes or binoculars, you need safe solar glasses or special filters.”
Every look at the sunlight is not only uncomfortable – it is dangerous. Looking directly at strong sunlight can cause damage to the retina, the part of the eye sensitive to light. Even the slightest amount of exposure can cause blurred vision or temporary blindness. The problem is that at first you won’t know if it’s temporary.
Whether you’re using cardboard eclipse glasses or a hand card with one rectangular view, the most important feature is the filter. Check that the tinted glasses comply with the international safety standards ISO 12312-2. Eclipse glasses can be worn over ordinary glasses.
To check safety, the only thing you can see through a safe solar filter is the sun. If you look through the sun and it’s too bright, out of focus, or surrounded by a hazy fog, or if you can see things like ordinary lamps in the household, the glasses aren’t safe.
If you are tempted to reuse eclipse goggles three years old or older, they are made before the international safety standard is in effect and come with a warning that says you cannot look at them for more than three minutes at a time. That should be dismissed, according to the American Astronomical Society.
Safety comes first
If you plan to observe an eclipse through a camera, telescope, or binoculars, buy a solar filter to place at the end of the lens. But don’t wear sunglasses while inspecting them. Concentrated light will pass right through the filters and cause eye injuries.
Here are some safety tips to keep in mind, according to the American Astronomical Society:
- Always inspect your solar filter before use; if it is scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow the instructions printed on the filter or in the packaging.
- Always monitor children with solar filters.
- If you wear glasses normally, keep them. Put eclipse glasses over them or hold a handheld viewer in front of them.
- Stand still and cover your eyes with sunglasses or a solar viewer before looking at the bright sun. After looking at the sun, turn around and remove your filter; do not remove it while looking at the sun.
- Do not look at the sunny or partially eclipsed sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device.
- Similarly, do not look at the sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while using eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer; Concentrated sunlight can damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.
- Before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device, seek the advice of an astronomer from an expert; note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics.
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