The solar eclipse takes place on Saturday (14) and can be seen from all over Brazil. In some places in the North and Northeast, the phenomenon will have annular visibility — with the Sun practically completely covered by the Moon, leaving only a kind of “ring of fire” coming from the star.
Although experts say that solar eclipses are not rare, the event draws attention, especially in cases of totality, in which all of the Sun’s light is blocked, or annularity, in which most of the light is blocked.
The last annular eclipse of the Sun took place in June 2021, but could not be seen from Brazil. The next one, after October 14th, will take place on October 2nd, 2024.
What are the types of solar eclipses?
Solar eclipses can be seen in the following ways:
- Total: the Moon completely blocks sunlight;
- Partial: the blocking occurs partially, leaving a portion of the Sun visible;
- Cancel: the distance from the Moon does not allow it to cover all the sunlight, leaving a kind of bright ring;
- Hybrid: In the same event, the eclipse can be seen as annular or total, depending on the observation location.
What is annulment?
This type of eclipse occurs due to the alignment of the Moon between the Earth and the Sun, which forms a kind of bright “ring of fire” around the edge of the central star, according to information from the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) .
In these cases, the Moon is at the furthest point in its orbit from Earth, at what astronomers call “apogee”. Thus, its apparent diameter is smaller than that of the Sun, allowing the appearance of the ring.
Those in the states of Amazonas, Pará, Tocantins, Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba and Pernambuco will be able to enjoy the eclipse on the 14th as an annular one. In the rest of the country, the phenomenon may be seen as partial.
The capitals Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte, and João Pessoa, in Paraíba, are the only ones on the path to annulment.
Can you see the eclipse with the naked eye?
No! According to information from astronomer Josina Nascimento, from the National Observatory, “under no circumstances should you look directly at the Sun, not even using x-ray film, sunglasses or other homemade material”.
It is possible to safely observe the phenomenon directly or indirectly, but, in the first option, the use of an appropriate instrument is essential.
Remember that there is no point in using ordinary sunglasses, cell phones, x-ray plates and cameras or telescopes without appropriate filters.
When is the best time to see the eclipse?
The first country that will be able to see the eclipse will be the United States, in the morning. In Brazil, which will be the last nation to observe the astronomical phenomenon, the event will take place in the afternoon.
In each city, the eclipse will begin and end at a specific time. Check the time of maximum sun coverage in the country’s capitals.
Will the eclipse be broadcast live?
For those who are unable to observe the eclipse from the streets, the National Observatory, in partnership with the international organization Time and Date, will broadcast the entire eclipse live. The live can be seen in this linkstarting at 11:30 am, Brasília time.
Source: CNN Brasil
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
