A partial solar eclipse will be visible across much of South Africa on Tuesday, offering skywatchers a brief opportunity to observe the celestial event during the afternoon.
According to the South African National Space Agency (Sansa), the eclipse will begin at 14:01 South African Standard Time, reach its maximum phase at 14:23, and conclude at 15:24. At its peak, about 5% of the Sun will be obscured in the Western Cape. The entire event is expected to last approximately one hour and 23 minutes.
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun. In a partial eclipse, the three celestial bodies are not perfectly aligned, resulting in only a portion of the Sun being covered as the Moon’s outer shadow passes over the Earth.
Sansa advised the public to use proper eye protection when viewing the eclipse. Observers should wear ISO-certified solar viewing glasses or use approved solar filters and inspect them for any damage before use. Ordinary sunglasses are not sufficient to protect eyesight. Those who wear prescription glasses are advised to place eclipse glasses over them. Direct viewing of the Sun without protection can cause permanent eye damage.
The agency will also stream the event live on its YouTube channel using a 60mm white-light solar telescope.
While eclipses have historically been associated with cultural and religious beliefs, scientific institutions, including Nasa, stress that solar eclipses are natural astronomical events with no harmful or supernatural effects.
Source: The Citizen, South African National Space Agency
