Total Solar Eclipse: When does South Africa get a turn?

North America came to a standstill on Monday this week when a Total Solar Eclipse had millions transfixed.

The day died and was reborn a few minutes later in the southern United States.

There were hugs, tears and gasping as people watched the moon fully eclipse the sun and briefly plunge the world into darkness.

As reported by The South African website, the phenomenon was not visible from South Africa.

Do you know the different types of eclipses that occur – and when can South Africans expect their next showing?

According to the Tech Central website, an eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth and moon are orientated in a straight – or roughly straight – line configuration.

WHAT IS A SOLAR ECLIPSE?

Solar eclipses occur when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun.

There are three types of solar eclipses: Total, partial and annular.

Total solar eclipses occur when the moon completely covers the sun.

The area where a total solar eclipse can be seen is usually limited to a narrow belt approximately 160km wide and 16 000km long.

People viewing from areas outside of this belt may be able to see a partial eclipse.

Finally, an annular solar eclipse is when the moon covers the centre of the sun while its outer edges are in view.

NOTE: A fourth type of solar eclipse, a ‘hybrid eclipse’ is comparatively rare.

WHAT IS A LUNAR ECLIPSE?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the moon and the sun.

In this scenario, the Earth’s shadow is cast over the moon, darkening the moon’s appearance, which is usually brightened by reflecting light from the sun.

Lunar eclipses also have three types: Total, partial and penumbral.

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon entirely passes into the Earth’s umbra, the central part of the planet’s shadow.

A partial lunar eclipse occurs if the moon only partially passes into the planet’s umbra.

Finally, the outer part of the Earth’s shadow is called the penumbra, and a penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes exclusively into this portion of the Earth’s shadow without moving into the umbra.

DID YOU KNOW?

Unlike a solar eclipse which can only be viewed from a relatively small area of the world, a lunar eclipse may be viewed from anywhere on the night side of Earth.

A total lunar eclipse can last up to nearly two hours, while a total solar eclipse lasts only a few minutes at any given place, because the moon’s shadow is smaller.

Also, unlike solar eclipses, lunar eclipses are safe to view without any eye protection or special precautions.

DATES

Solar eclipses are far less frequent than lunar eclipses.

The next total solar eclipse visible in South Africa is expected on 25 November 2030. 

The next visible eclipse (of any sort) in South Africa will be a Partial Lunar Eclipse which is scheduled to take place on 18 September 2024.

Diarise the following dates!

SOLAR ECLIPSE DATES

LUNAR ECLIPSE DATES