Partial solar eclipse to be visible in PH on April 20
Published Apr 19, 2023 12:30 pm
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Updated Apr 19, 2023 12:30 pm
A rare hybrid solar eclipse will occur on Thursday, April 20, which will be visible as a partial solar eclipse in the Philippines, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA said a hybrid solar eclipse is a combination of annular and total solar eclipse.
(Illustration from PAGASA)
During the eclipse on Thursday, the moon will pass in front of the sun, resulting in a hybrid solar eclipse that can be observed in western Australia, East Timor, and eastern Indonesia. “For observers in various locations along the eclipse’s path, it can produce a variety of events. At the beginning, people in the path of the eclipse may see a partial solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse, or a brief ‘ring of fire.’ Then, during the hybrid solar eclipse’s middle phase, they may see a total solar eclipse, after which it will change back to an annular solar eclipse, then to a partial solar eclipse, before the eclipse ends,” PAGASA said. It pointed out that in the Philippines, the totality of the astronomical event cannot be observed, but it can see it as a partial solar eclipse with a maximum eclipse obscuration of 23.7 percent. The partial solar eclipse begins at 11:44 a.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring at 12:55 p.m. and ends at 2:04 p.m. “Elsewhere in the Philippines, the partial solar eclipse can be observed with a minimum obscuration of 12 percent to the north (Basco, Batanes) and a maximum obscuration of 58 percent to the south (Balut Island-Municipality of Sarangani),” PAGASA said. Other parts of the country can see the event at these times:
PAGASA advised the public to use safe solar viewing equipment, such as a safe handheld solar viewer, to observe the partial solar eclipse.
“Be aware that eclipse glasses are not conventional sunglasses. Regular sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, should not be used to observe the sun. The general public is urged to use the eclipse safety instruments like pinhole cameras or telescope projections as a precaution,” it explained.
PAGASA said it will also livestream the astronomical event through its official Facebook page.
(Illustration from PAGASA)
During the eclipse on Thursday, the moon will pass in front of the sun, resulting in a hybrid solar eclipse that can be observed in western Australia, East Timor, and eastern Indonesia. “For observers in various locations along the eclipse’s path, it can produce a variety of events. At the beginning, people in the path of the eclipse may see a partial solar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse, or a brief ‘ring of fire.’ Then, during the hybrid solar eclipse’s middle phase, they may see a total solar eclipse, after which it will change back to an annular solar eclipse, then to a partial solar eclipse, before the eclipse ends,” PAGASA said. It pointed out that in the Philippines, the totality of the astronomical event cannot be observed, but it can see it as a partial solar eclipse with a maximum eclipse obscuration of 23.7 percent. The partial solar eclipse begins at 11:44 a.m., with the maximum eclipse occurring at 12:55 p.m. and ends at 2:04 p.m. “Elsewhere in the Philippines, the partial solar eclipse can be observed with a minimum obscuration of 12 percent to the north (Basco, Batanes) and a maximum obscuration of 58 percent to the south (Balut Island-Municipality of Sarangani),” PAGASA said. Other parts of the country can see the event at these times:
PAGASA advised the public to use safe solar viewing equipment, such as a safe handheld solar viewer, to observe the partial solar eclipse.
“Be aware that eclipse glasses are not conventional sunglasses. Regular sunglasses, regardless of how dark they are, should not be used to observe the sun. The general public is urged to use the eclipse safety instruments like pinhole cameras or telescope projections as a precaution,” it explained.
PAGASA said it will also livestream the astronomical event through its official Facebook page.