On Monday, those who are interested in celestial events will witness a partial solar eclipse in Dominica and across the Caribbean.
A solar eclipse takes place when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, blocking sections of the sun either totally or partially. If the sun is totally blocked, it is known as a total solar eclipse but if parts of the sun are still visible, it is known as a partial solar eclipse.
From Dominica, the partial solar eclipse will not be as spectacular as in other parts of the world. Only a very small part of the outer ring of the sun will be blocked by the shadow of the moon, however, it is still something that will inspire awe.
The eclipse will last approximately 17 minutes beginning at 3:18 pm and ending at 3:35 pm.
Although many might be tempted to watch this heavenly phenomenon, care must be taken since direct exposure to the sun’s rays can cause eye damage. Eclipse glasses, solar filters for telescopes, or homemade eclipse viewers are a necessity.
Those who are living in some parts of North America will experience a total solar eclipse.
According to NASA, residents will begin to experience totality on Mexico’s Pacific coast at around 11:07 a.m. Pacific Standard Time (2:07 pm in Dominica).
“The path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine,” the agency said on its website. “Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT.”
In these areas, the total solar eclipse will last up to four minutes and 28 seconds.
The website, space.com, said throughout history our ancestors have viewed total solar eclipses with trepidation and fear.
“They were often thought to be dire portents from the gods, indicating the deities’ displeasure — or observations of the sun being consumed by fearsome creatures like dragons, which needed to be scared away with loud noises,” it stated. “In our current (mostly) scientifically enlightened times, we have abandoned such supernatural explanations. But rejecting the concept of star-eating dragons doesn’t mean that the total solar eclipse isn’t capable of throwing up some unusual and phenomena that may leave witnesses scratching their heads.”
Since total solar eclipses are rare, the next time one can be seen in Dominica will be in 2153.
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