2013 ’s first solar eclipse is a weird one : This afternoon , a arresting annular occultation will blaze , ring - like , in Australian and Pacific skies . Here ’s how you could look on ( even if you ’re not from down under ) .
Today , just before 21:30 UTC , the Moon will come about between Earth and the Sun , giving ascension to what ’s called an annular occultation . Also known as a “ ring of fire ” eclipse , today ’s ringed effect will only be directly seeable to sky - gazers in Australia , Papau New Guinea and gravy boat blow in just the correct plot of the Pacific Ocean – but that does n’t mean you ca n’t watch ! Here ’s what you require to know to catch a glance of this arresting solar event .
Because the Moon ’s orbit is oval , there are times throughout the calendar month when it is close to our planet than others . On April 27th , the Moon was at “ perigee , ” meaning it was closer to us then than any other compass point in the month . In line , today ’s Moon will be close to apogee , the point in its orbit at which it is farthest from our satellite .
The Moon ’s length from us entail that its apparent diameter in the sky will be smaller than almost any other clip this month , so when it passes between the Sun and the Earth , it wo n’t be able-bodied to comprehend the Sun entirely . As a issue , some share of the globe will be able to witness not just any eclipse , but a perfect gang of sunlight like the one fancy up top – the define characteristic of an annulate eclipse .
Unfortunately for the Northern Hemisphere , the annular effect of today ’s eclipse will be visible from below the equator only . In fact , most of it will only be seeable from the Pacific Ocean . Mainland observers in northerly Australia and southeastern Papau New Guinea will be able to see the essence with their own center , and can retrieve out exactly what time to take in with NASA ’s handyAnnular Eclipse applet . The map above , one in a marvellous series created byEclipse Maps ’ Michael Zeiler , exemplify when and where you may expect to catch the eclipse at its most prominent - look from various head along its path . There ’s a stripe bleed across Zeiler ’s map label “ Path of the annulate solar occultation . ” These are the neighborhood of the Earth from which the Sun ’s “ ring of fire ” will actually be visible . ( To observers in Singapore , Malaysia , Indonesia , much of Australia , New Zealand and even Hawaii , today ’s will look much like any other fond solar occultation ) . For everyone else : the occultation begins at 21:25 UTC ( that ’s 17:25 ET / 14:25 PT , May 9th ) and can be enjoyed online .
Watch the Ring of Fire Online
Of course , most citizenry do n’t live along this minute band of the United States ( or anywhere else along the way of life of the annular occultation , for that subject ) . But that ’s okay ; you’re able to always look out it online .
Your just bet is plausibly tocheck out the SLOOH Space Camera , which will be streaming feeds from telescopes along the annular path get today at 17:25 p.m. ET/14:25 PT . SLOOH even has it set up so you may take pictures of the occultation as it unfolds .
One of the benefits to view the occultation online , rather than in - person , is not having to worry about taking precautions when actually consider the eclipse . Looking directly at the Sun — even during an occultation , and , yes , even with sunglass — is an awful , awful approximation , and can permanently damage your sight . In the event you ’re reading this from Australia / Papua New Guinea , here ’s how to keep from searing your eyes out .
To safely view the occultation , you ’ll require to go buy a solar filter . These come in a variety of strain from wearable solar shades , to attachments that you could append to telescopes and opera glasses . They ’ll cut the brightness by enough that you ’ll be capable to capture glance of the Sun without frying your retina .
If it ’s last minute or buying a solar filter is n’t an option , Sky and Telescope has detailed command for viewing the occultation witha variety of pinhole projection techniques . ( The photograph featured here shows how skygazers in Madrid used project techniques to view an annular eclipseback in 2005 . ) Here ’s the uncomplicated one :
Poke a minor hole in an index card with a pencil point , face up it toward the Sun , and withstand a second card three or four feet behind it in its tail . The hole will project a small trope of the Sun ’s disk onto the lower circuit card . This epitome will go through all the phase angle of the eclipse , just as the real Sun does . experimentation with unlike sizing holes . A expectant hole makes the image bright but bleary ; a small hole makes it dim but sharp . the ever - popular pinhole projector proficiency .
More ripe acoustic projection methods involve the use of a composition board loge , or the room of a house with a sun - facing windowpane . you may click through for more details .
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