A total eclipse occurs when the sun and moon are aligned with the Earth, causing the appearance of a bright ring of light, known as a ring or “ring of fire”, while a partial eclipse simply causes a half moon. The total solar eclipse occurs when the new moon arrives between the sun and the earth and casts the darkest part of the shadow, the umbra, on Earth.
The Sun is about four hundred times bigger than the Moon and it is also 400 times farther from the Moon. This makes it appear that both the Sun and the Moon are similar in disk size, causing the eclipse.
Eclipses don’t happen on every new moon, of course. This is because the moon’s orbit is tilted a little more than 5 degrees relative to Earth’s orbit around the sun. For this reason, the moon’s shadow usually passes above or below the Earth, so a solar eclipse does not occur. But generally, at least twice a year , the new moon aligns itself, eclipsing the Sun.
The appointment, Saturday, December 4
Sky watchers will already know that a total solar eclipse is coming in early December. It is the only total solar eclipse this year. The negative of this astronomical event? Which will only be fully visible if we travel to the coast of Antarctica. Those located in the southernmost extremes of South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand will experience the partial phases, at least. Specifically, those located in some areas of Santa Elena, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, Crozet Islands, Falkland Islands, Chile, New Zealand and Australia will see a partial solar eclipse on December 4. In Europe, it will not be seen.
The path of the moon’s threshold shadow begins in the Southern Ocean about 500 km southeast of the Falkland Islands, will cross the Antarctic continent and end at sunset in the Southern Ocean. NASA has released an interactive map showing the path of the solar eclipse across the Earth’s surface.
How long will the eclipse last?
As we have commented, it is likely that few will see it live, since the totality will take place on the floating icebergs of Antarctica. The entirety will last approximately 1 minute and 40 seconds.
How many types of eclipses are there?
There are four types of solar eclipses: total, annular, partial, and hybrid. A partial eclipse implies that the moon covers only part of the sun; An annular eclipse means that the entire moon is in front of it, but it is too small to cover everything; and a hybrid is when it starts out as an annular eclipse, but becomes a total one.
Remember, when contemplating an eclipse of the Sun, we should never look directly at it with naked eyes. Nor should we wear normal or dark sunglasses to see the eclipse. Special sun filters should be used, such as glasses designed for eclipses or portable sun visors.
NASA will broadcast the eclipse live from its YouTube channel. The broadcast begins at 1:30 am ET.
