Annular solar eclipse: how and where to see an incredible phenomenon

This weekend, residents of the Eastern Hemisphere will be able to observe an annular solar eclipse right on the eve of the summer solstice. This type of eclipse is characterized by a stunning “ring of fire”, since it is not a total eclipse and the edges of the Sun can be seen around the Moon. Writes about this CNN.

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“Annular eclipses are similar to total eclipses in that the Moon, Earth and Sun are aligned so that the Moon is directly in front of the Sun as seen from Earth,” said Alex Young, associate director for science in NASA's Helioscience Division.

“But a total eclipse still does not occur, that is, the Moon does not completely block the visible disk of the Sun, because it is further away, and its apparent size in the sky is slightly smaller than that of the Sun. This means that a tiny ring of the solar disk will be visible around the Moon,” he explained.

Solar eclipses occur about two weeks before or after a lunar eclipse, Young said. On June 5, a lunar eclipse occurred, and the next will happen on July 5.

Where can I see a solar eclipse

An annular eclipse will begin at 12:47 Eastern time on June 21. It will happen at dawn in Africa, go to China, and at sunset it will be over the Pacific Ocean. The eclipse peaks at 2:40 Eastern time and ends around 4:32 Eastern time.

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A partial eclipse will begin at 23:45 on June 20 and end at 5:34 on June 21. Go to TimeandDate.com for a more accurate eclipse time in your area.

According to Yang, it will be visible over Central Africa, the South Arabian Peninsula, Pakistan, Northern India and South-Central China. A partial eclipse, the scientist specified, will be observed in most of Asia, Africa, Southern and Eastern Europe, northern Australia and some parts of the Pacific and Indian oceans.

A total eclipse will last about 3,75 hours, but the duration of its passage through individual locations will be approximately one and a half minutes. During the peak, it will decrease to just over 30 seconds.

How to look at an eclipse

Although this is an incomplete solar eclipse, you still need to observe it with safety measures.

“The sun is too bright to look at with bare eyes,” Young said. “You need safety sunglasses or special filters for telescopes or binoculars.”

Any glimpse of solar brightness is not only uncomfortable for the eyes, but also dangerous. If you look directly at the sun, it can damage the retina, the photosensitive part of the eye. Even minimal exposure can impair vision or cause temporary blindness. The problem is that at first you won’t be able to find out if this is temporary.

Regardless of whether you use cardboard glasses for eclipse or other means, the most important function is the filter. Make sure your glasses replaced are in accordance with the international safety standard ISO 12312-2. Special eclipse glasses can be worn over regular ones.

The only thing you can see through a safe solar filter is the sun itself. If you look at it and it is too bright, out of focus, or surrounded by a cloudy haze, or if you see things like regular household light fixtures, the glasses are not safe.

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If you are tempted to reuse eclipse glasses that are more than three years old, be aware that they were manufactured before the introduction of the international safety standard and are accompanied by a warning saying that you cannot look through them for more than three minutes at a time. They should be thrown away, recommends the American Astronomical Society.

Safety first of all

If you plan to observe the eclipse through a camera, telescope or binoculars, buy a solar filter to place it on the end of the lens. In this case, you do not need to wear glasses for an eclipse, since concentrated light will pass through the filters and injure your eyes.

The American Astronomical Society recommends:

• Always check your solar filter before use; if it is scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow the instructions printed or packaged with the filter.
• Always keep an eye on children who use solar filters.
• If you usually wear glasses, do not remove them. Wear eclipse glasses or hold a portable viewer in front of you.
• Stand still and close your eyes with eclipse glasses or a solar observer before looking at the bright sun. Having looked at the star, turn away and remove the filter; Do not take it off when looking at the sun.
• Do not look at an unlit or partially obscured sun through a camera, telescope, non-filter binoculars, or other optical device.
• Do not look at the sun through a camera, telescope, binoculars or any other optical device when using eclipse glasses or a manual viewer; Concentrated sunlight can damage the filter and get into your eyes, resulting in serious injury.
• Before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars or any other optical device, consult an expert in astronomy; Please note that solar filters must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens or other optics.

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