The world is about to witness another total solar eclipse – when the Moon completely covers the Sun. According to NASA, the phenomenon is happening on Monday (8), at 4pm (Brasília time). Despite the enthusiasm, the cosmic spectacle will not be visible from Brazil, only in parts of Mexico, Canada and the United States.
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For astronomy lovers, the eclipse can be followed by the NASA website, which will be broadcast live in various parts of the United States. The space agency will also provide images of the phenomenon through different telescopes.
What is a solar eclipse?
Eclipses happen when an object in space, such as a planet or Moon, passes through the shadow of another celestial body in space. On Earth, we can see the lunar and solar.
In the case of solar, the eclipse happens when the Moon is positioned between the Sun and the Earth. If you are in a place where the phenomenon is total, it is possible to see the Moon blocking almost all the Sun’s rays, causing the day to turn into night for a few minutes. Generally, according to NASA, the phenomenon happens every 18 months.
In total, there are three types of solar eclipse:
- Total solar eclipse: visible only in a small area of Earth. It happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth are completely aligned.
- Partial solar eclipse: This is when the Sun, Moon and Earth are not exactly aligned. The Sun appears to have a dark shadow on a small part of its surface.
- Annular solar eclipse: it happens when the Moon is furthest from Earth and appears smaller. Because it does not block all view of the Sun, the Moon looks like a dark disk in front of the star.
When will the next solar eclipse be visible from Brazil?
The next solar eclipse in Brazil will take place on October 2, 2024 and will be annular. The phenomenon can be seen in states in the South and Southeast Regions (except the north of Minas Gerais). Residents of Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Bahia and Goiás will also have the chance to observe the cosmic spectacle.
When following the solar eclipse, it is important to pay attention to some precautions. This because Looking directly at the Sun without protection can cause serious damage and permanent in the eyes. Therefore, the safest way to observe the phenomenon is with sun protection glasses, which have filters to block the Sun’s harmful rays.
See the precautions:
- View the Sun through eclipse glasses or a portable solar viewer [telescópios ou binóculos com filtros solares apropriados] during partial eclipse phases before and after totality;
- You can view the eclipse directly without proper eye protection only when the Moon completely obscures the bright face of the Sun;
- As soon as you see even a little of the bright Sun reappear after totality, immediately put your eclipse glasses back on or use a portable solar viewer to look at the Sun.
