Annular Solar Eclipse 2023: Dates, Visibility, and Locations

KOMPAS.com – A solar eclipse is one of the most awaited astronomical phenomena.

This year, the last solar eclipse will be an annular solar eclipse, which will occur in October 2023.

Quoted from Kompas.com, a solar eclipse occurs when the Earth, Moon and Sun are in a parallel line. Then, the Moon’s shadow will fall on Earth, thus covering the appearance of the Sun.

It is called a total eclipse if the Moon’s shadow completely covers the Sun. However, when the Moon is at its farthest point from Earth, its shadow cannot cover the entire Sun.

Because the size of the Moon still looks smaller when viewed from Earth, the Sun’s light will look like a ring.

So, can the annular solar eclipse in October 2023 be observed in Indonesia?

Also read: There will be 4 eclipses throughout 2023, 3 can be seen in Indonesia, what are they?

Research Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) Thomas Djamaluddin said that the annular solar eclipse cannot be seen in Indonesia.

“Annular solar eclipse on the American continent on October 14 2023,” he said, when confirmed Kompas.com, Thursday (5/10/2023).

Likewise, Indonesian amateur astronomer, Marufin Sudibyo, explained that an annular solar eclipse will occur on October 14-15 2023 Indonesian time.

Unfortunately, Indonesian people cannot enjoy the view of the last solar eclipse this year.

“It won’t be visible. It won’t pass through,” he said, when contacted separately, Thursday.

According to Marufin, the area will be an annular solar eclipse this October only covers most of the American continent and a small part of Africa.

Some of them cover the entire North American region and the majority of South America, except for southern Argentina and southern Chile.

Just like a general solar eclipse, this phenomenon will last from sunrise to sunset.

In the northern Pacific Ocean, precisely off the southern coast of Alaska or off the west coast of Canada, the phenomenon of an annular solar eclipse begins when the sun rises.

Meanwhile, in the southern Atlantic Ocean and a small area of ​​Africa, the eclipse occurred just as the Sun was starting to set.

African regions that can enjoy their own annular solar eclipse include Western Sahara, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Also read: A series of astronomical phenomena in October 2023, what are they?

SHUTTERSTOCK/SUMANBHAUMIK Illustration of the annular solar eclipse phenomenon

Marufin added, when the peak of the phenomenon occurs, the Sun will look like a ring or annular.

“In the annular solar eclipse 14-15 October 2023, the Moon occupies its farthest position from Earth or the position apogee in the previous 4 days,” he explained.

During the eclipse, the distance from the Moon to Earth reached 388,800 km, greater than the average distance, which is 376,300 km.

“So what happened was a ring solar eclipse,” he added.

Marufin also explained that the eclipse area was divided into two zones, namely the antumbra and penumbra.

“The antumbral zone is shaped like a narrow band, with a maximum width of 187 km, which crosses the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil,” explained Marufin.

Specifically for the United States, the antumbra zone includes the states of Oregon, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

“The annular solar eclipse reached its maximum in Nicaragua, with an annularity duration (only the ring of fire was visible) of 5 minutes 17 seconds,” he said.

Meanwhile, in total, the annular solar eclipse phenomenon at that location lasted for 3 hours 30 minutes.

“The penumbral zone covers the entire eclipse area outside the antumbral zone,” added Marufin.

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2023-10-05 09:30:00
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