A SOLAR eclipse is happening this weekend but only some lucky people will be able to see it.
Just one location on Earth will experience the event in totality but a few more spots should see a small partial eclipse.
1
Can I see the solar eclipse on December 4?
The total solar eclipse on December 4 will likely be seen by more penguins than people because it will only be visible over Antarctica.
However, a partial solar eclipse can be viewed from a few places in the Southern Hemisphere and you can also watch the event live online.
Nasa explains: “In some places, while viewers won’t get to see the total solar eclipse, they’ll instead experience a partial solar eclipse.
“This happens when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not exactly lined up.
“The Sun will appear to have a dark shadow on only part of its surface.
“Viewers in parts of Saint Helena, Namibia, Lesotho, South Africa, South Georgia and Sandwich Islands, Crozet Islands, Falkland Islands, Chile, New Zealand, and Australia will see a partial solar eclipse on Dec. 4.”
The solar eclipse will reach totality at 2:44am EST (7:44am GMT).
Anyone who has the chance to see the eclipse with their own eyes should remember to never look directly at the Sun.
That applies even if the Sun is partly or mostly covered as its rays will still be strong enough to damage your eyes.
Wearing solar eclipse glasses or watching online is recommend.
How to watch December’s solar eclipse online
Weather permitting, Nasa will be streaming the eclipse live on its YouTube channel.
Nasa’s live stream should start at 1:30am EST (6:30am GMT) and aims to end at 3:37am EST (8:37am GMT).
The view of the total solar eclipse will be from a camera stationed at the Union Glacier in Antarctica.
What is a total solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Sun is entirely blocked out by the Moon.
The Sun is exactly 400 times bigger than the Moon but it’s also 400 times further away from the Earth.
These are the perfect ratios for the moon to completely eclipse the sun, provided the alignment on the Earth’s surface is exactly right.
If an eclipse will be “total” when viewed from any point on the Earth, it is referred to as a “total solar eclipse”, even though it will only be a partial solar eclipse in other places.
‘Ring of Fire’ solar eclipse seen around the world
In other news, the brightest comet of 2021 is heading our way and it should be visible in time for some Christmas stargazing.
Nasa has warned that a giant asteroid bigger than the Eiffel Tower will break into Earth’s orbit in just over a week.
An alien species could hitchhike on human spacecraft and contaminate Earth, a new study has warned.
And, Nasa has plans to put a nuclear power plant on the Moon within this decade.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
