Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Solar eclipses occur when the moon passes in front of the sun and conceals its radiance. This phenomenon can be total (annular) – when the moon entirely blocks out the sun and creates a visible “ring of fire” – or partial, when earth’s satellite only partially passes in front of the sun. It is the latter eclipse that many Brazilians will see next month.
On Tuesday, July 2nd, people located in the north and south of Brazil will be able to see the sun partially hidden. Some cities in Brazil will be able to observe from nine to sixty percent occlusion, but the low altitude of the sun may impair the phenomenon’s visibility.
The partial solar eclipse will be visible in and around the cities of Brasília (27 percent), Rio Branco (32 percent), Manaus (5 percent), Goiânia (27 percent), Cuiabá (33 percent), Campo Grande (47 percent), Porto Alegre (58 percent) and Florianópolis (39 percent). The event will begin around sunset, after 5 PM (Brasília time). The eclipse will not be visible in the Brazilian Northeast as it starts when the sun has already disappeared into the horizon.
The use of telescopes greatly helps view the eclipse in more detail. However, caution is required: when viewing the sun through an optical instrument, the use of appropriate filters is required, because looking directly at the sun may cause serious eyesight issues and even blindness. Definitely, do not stare at the sun with the naked eye.
People in Santiago, Buenos Aires and Montevideo will see a total eclipse on July 2nd. However, unfortunately for those in Brazil, the next total solar eclipse will only occur in the year 2042, but for now, we may admire it, even if it is only partial.