Sky watchers are in for a rare treat. The first eclipse of the year will occur Monday and it is an annular eclipse of the sun.
According to the website of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the moon will cast a shadow on the earth that will move northeast starting in the Atlantic Ocean and ending just short of Mindanao.
Seen from the earth, the sun will be partially covered by the moon, unlike in a total eclipse where the surface of the sun is completely blocked by the moon.
PAGASA said the annular eclipse will start at 2:02 p.m. local time when the moon will cast a shadow on the South Atlantic. The shadow will move northeast, ending at the Celebes Sea at 5:54 p.m.
In its final minutes, the shadow will cut across central Borneo and clip the northwestern edge of Celebes before stopping just short of Mindanao at 5:52 pm.
In Metro Manila, the phenomenon will be observed as a partial eclipse and will start at 4:55 p.m.
In a previous news report, James Kevin Ty, president of the Astronomical League of the Philippines, said ALP members of the ALP will set up telescopes at the Boardwalk at the Luneta to observe and take images of the partial solar eclipse.
“Those in Davao will be a little fortunate as the partial solar eclipse will occur a bit earlier—at 4:47 p.m.—and will see the moon covering 77 percent of the sun’s disk. Observers in Manila will be able to see only 62 percent of the sun blocked by the moon,” Ty said.
The partial solar eclipse will take just a few minutes so sky watchers are advised to set up their telescopes early.
Ty said that despite the phenomenon happening late in the afternoon, observers must not look or stare at the sun with the naked eye, much more through any optical device (telescopes, binoculars) without the use of special filters.
