An annular solar eclipse, a rare astronomical phenomenon, can be observed in Southern California shortly after 9 a.m. on the 14th. Southern California will see the sun shaped like a crescent moon rather than a ring of fire. [ABC7 뉴스]
A solar eclipse, an astronomical phenomenon in which the moon blocks the sun, will take place on the morning of Saturday the 14th.
This solar eclipse is an annular solar eclipse, also known as the ‘ring of fire.’ This refers to the phenomenon where the moon is positioned in a straight line between the Earth and the sun, blocking the sun. At this time, the part where the moon blocks the sun remains black and round, and the part around the sun that the moon does not cover sparkles in the shape of a gold ring.
However, astronomers expect that in the Los Angeles area, a partial solar eclipse will be observed, with the sun shaped like a crescent moon rather than a ring of fire.
The solar eclipse will begin around 8 a.m. on this day, but it is expected to be visible from just after 9 a.m. in California. It is predicted that the moon will cover about 70% of the sun. This type of solar eclipse phenomenon is not scheduled to return until 2046.
This solar eclipse will follow a path starting in Texas and ending in Oregon and is expected to last approximately three hours.
There are two types of solar eclipses: a total solar eclipse, in which the moon completely blocks the sun, a partial solar eclipse, in which only part of the sun is covered, and an annular solar eclipse, in which the moon is located in the center of the sun, but cannot completely block it, leaving light around it, as in this case.
A double annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon’s orbit covering the sun is furthest from the Earth. Therefore, it is not seen often, and the last time an annular solar eclipse occurred in the continental United States was in 2012.
To observe a solar eclipse, you must follow some precautions.
You should not look at the sun directly with the naked eye because you expect the sky to be dark. In particular, staring at the sun for a long time to observe closely can cause serious damage to your eyes.
Also, you should not wear sunglasses. It is recommended that you prepare and wear ‘eclipse glasses’. Another way to safely protect your eyes is to make a pinhole projector that allows you to see the eclipse without looking at the sun directly, or to observe it through colored cellophane.
Reporter Kim Byeong-il
