Next solar eclipse is only 178 days away but it will look completely different
It seems the whole of the UK is talking about the long-anticipated solar eclipse, which is due to be the most significant since 1999 and for many will be a one-in-a-lifetime experience.
The phenomenon will finally be seen on Wednesday evening (12 August), with proceedings expected to begin around 6pm. Although Britain and much of western Europe will only have a partial eclipse, of around 92 percent, some areas in Greenland and Spain will be experience a 'totality'.
The question on nearly everyone's lips on the UK is how they can watch the solar eclipse safely, but members of the public have been repeatedly warned not to look directly at it without the use of special glasses.
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Viewing any part of the Sun directly, or through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics could instantly cause severe eye injury.
A solar eclipse takes place when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking its light either partially or completely, casting a shadow on planet Earth. The rare phenomenon can be viewed by humans down below. The next full solar eclipse isn't expected until 2090.
In the UK, the South West of the country will experience the most coverage - with the eclipse reaching 95 percent - while the rest of the country will see coverage upwards of 89 percent.
But in some parts of the world, it won't be another 63 years until the next in-sky phenomenon. On 6 February next year, there will be what is called an 'annual solar eclipse.'
This when the Moon is slightly too small in the sky to completely cover the Sun, so at maximum eclipse it creates a 'ring of fire' around the Moon.
NASA has confirmed that in 2027, the annular path will cross parts of South America and Africa as well as the South Atlantic Ocean. It will be visible across much of South America, the western half of Africa and parts of Antarctica.
This means that for Brits specifically, February's eclipse won't look different because they won't see it at all.
Other confirmed eclipses
According to Timeanddate, there are various eclipse events worldwide in 2027. A partial lunar eclipse is first listed for 27 August this year, which is when the Earth moves between the sun and the full moon, but they are not precisely aligned.
This will be visible across much of the world, especially North and South America as well as parts of Europe and Africa.
In 2027, there will be the annual solar eclipse on February 6, as well as a lunar eclipse on 20 February which only occurs during a full moon when the celestial bodies align perfectly.
A total solar eclipse, nicknamed the Eclipse of the Century, will then occur at the moon's descending node of orbit on 2 August next year, which will be visible mainly across northern Africa and southern Europe.
Wednesday’s solar eclipse is the closest to a total eclipse we’ve seen in the UK in 27 years. Brits will have to wait another 64 years to see the next total solar eclipse and 55 years for a comparable partial eclipse.
Here are the upcoming solar eclipses in the UK:
2030 - 50 percent eclipse
2053 - 40 percent
2066 - 60 percent
2075 - 70 percent
2081 - 99 percent
2082 - 70 percent
2088 - 40 percent
2090 - 100 percent
What is a solar eclipse?
A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking out its light. There are several reasons why this doesn’t happen very often.
Firstly, the Moon and the Sun need to be on the same side of the Earth. In other words, the Moon needs to be in the daytime sky, i.e. a New Moon.
The Moon’s orbit also doesn’t line up with the Earth’s - it’s tilted by about five degrees. This means that usually the Moon passes over or under rather than in front of the Sun.
In fact, solar eclipses only occur twice a year, about every 173 days, in what are called eclipse seasons. Each eclipse season lasts about 35 days.
Many solar eclipses pass unnoticed.
This is because the Moon only casts a small shadow on the Earth, known as the path of totality.
You need to be directly in the path of totality to see a full eclipse, and nearby to catch a partial eclipse.
What happens if you look at a solar eclipse
As millions around the world catch a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse, it's certainly worth noting down how dangerous is can be to look directly at it.
Seema Eye Care Center explains how directly making contact with the Sun during an eclipse can damage the retina - the part of the eye that senses light and helps us see.
The damage, called 'solar retinopathy', can happen very quickly and is often painless, so a person might not even realise it’s happening.
Symptoms of solar retinopathy include:
- Blurry vision
- Blind spots
- Permanent vision loss
How to watch a solar eclipse safely
When watching a partial or annular solar eclipse directly with your eyes, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses, which are known as 'eclipse glasses', or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times. Eclipse glasses are not regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun.
Always make sure to inspect your eclipse glasses or handheld viewer before use; if torn, scratched, or otherwise damaged, discard the device.
Never look at the Sun through a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer - the concentrated solar rays will burn through the filter and cause serious eye injury.
Of course, if you do not have eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer, you can use an indirect viewing method, which usually consists of a pinhole projector. This has a small opening and projects an image of the Sun onto a nearby surface. With the Sun at your back, you can then safely view the projected image.
Topics: Science, Space, Technology, World News
James Holt