One solar eclipse can be seen from South America this Wednesday afternoon (2). Although our neighbors in Chile and Argentina may witness an annular solar eclipse, here in Brazil it will only be visible partially .
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Sun and the Earth, preventing light from reaching some points on our planet. Annular eclipses occur when the Moon is positioned exactly in front of the Sun, leaving the solar disk almost entirely covered and dark, with only a thin luminous edge visible, resembling a ring.
In partial solar eclipses, the Moon covers only a portion of the Sun, as if our star had been “bitten”.
Total solar eclipses happen every 18 months and last a few minutes, while partial solar eclipses — in which the Moon does not completely cover the Sun — occur at least twice a year somewhere on Earth.
How to observe the solar eclipse this Wednesday (2)?
The partial solar eclipse will not be visible throughout Brazil. You can observe the phenomenon: all states in the South region, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and part of the states of Bahia, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Mato Grosso.
The place with the highest percentage view of the eclipse will be in Rio Grande do Sul, where residents will be able to see a larger “bite” in the Sun — 38% of the covered surface.
The start and end of the event depends on the location, but the eclipse should occur between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm peaking around 5:40 pm (Brasília time).
Observation Tips
Don’t look at the Sun without protection! If you are in places where the phenomenon will be visible, be aware that it is not safe to look at a solar eclipse without suitable equipment, as this can cause serious eye damage. It is also not recommended to view it through camera lenses, binoculars or telescopes without a suitable filter.
Ideally, use lenses with ISO 12312-2 standard which are not present in normal sunglasses. It is worth remembering that ordinary sunglasses are not safe for looking directly at the Sun, no matter how dark the lenses are.
Accessories can even be purchased online, but it is important to make sure that they comply with safety standards.
If on the day of the eclipse you do not have safe equipment to observe the phenomenon, another possibility is to resort to indirect observation, made through a projection.
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This content was originally published in Partial eclipse of the Sun can be seen this Wednesday (2); Find out more on the CNN Brasil website.
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.
