Sunday, Aug 20, 2017

Dubai: A total solar eclipse, which will be taking place on August 22 will not be visible to UAE residents through the naked eye. However residents can use online streaming to watch the eclipse that starts at 12:46am local time.

Anyone within the path of totality will be able to see one of nature’s most awe-inspiring sights — a total solar eclipse. This includes people in the US, and North America, while parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse. The thin path of totality will pass through portions of 14 states.

During this celestial event, the moon will pass between the sun and earth, blocking the sun, explained Hasan Al Hariri, Dubai Astronomy Group CEO.

For this eclipse, the longest period of the moon completely blocking the sun along the path will be about two minutes and 40 seconds.

Records show, the last time the contiguous US saw a total eclipse was in 1979.

Al Hariri, advises those who will observe the eclipse, not to directly look at the sun, but to use special glasses and take the necessary precautions.

He rejected all the hoax messages circulating on social media about a negative impact of the solar eclipse on earth.

According to Nasa, the maximum point of the eclipse will take place at 3:20am local time on Tuesday.

Nasa and many other organisations, including the Dubai Astronomy Group (DAG), has arranged live streaming of the solar eclipse, which will be accessible to all users online. DAG will keep update the photos, videos and information about this solar eclipse on its website and social media.

Residents in the region however, will get the opportunity observe an annular solar eclipse on December 26, 2019.

Staff Report

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