The first of three major astronomical events takes place this Tuesday, February 17, in the form of an annular solar eclipse, popularly known as a “ring of fire.” Although it is considered a rare event, it will not be visible from Portugal.
What is an annular solar eclipse?
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes directly in front of the sun, but due to its greater distance from our planet, its visual size is not sufficient to completely cover the star. Instead, it leaves a “ring of fire,” where the golden contours of the sun remain visible around the black lunar disk.
The peak of the annular phase will last a maximum of 2 minutes and 20 seconds, providing a simply memorable spectacle of light and shadow.
When and where is it visible?
Unfortunately, this Tuesday’s annular solar eclipse will not be visible from Portugal. However , here’s a note: the phenomenon is expected to occur at 12:11 p.m. UTC, which corresponds to almost the same time in Portugal.
However, this event will be particularly concentrated in Antarctica, so in areas outside this continent it will only appear as partial. These are the regions where it will be possible to view the annular solar eclipse:
- Southern Africa
- Southernmost Chile and Argentina
- Oceanic regions of the southern hemisphere
Upcoming major events
If you are a fan of astronomical phenomena, don’t despair, as there are other events coming up, one of which can be observed in Portugal.
On March 3, a total lunar eclipse is expected, which may be visible in North America, Australia, New Zealand, East Asia, and the Pacific.
In the summer, it will be the Iberian Peninsula’s turn to observe a rare phenomenon up close: the total solar eclipse, scheduled for August 12.
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