Partial Solar Eclipse over Melbourne

Partial Solar Eclipse over Melbourne

The Moon will take a bite out of the Sun as a Solar Eclipse takes place on Thursday 7 February. Melbourne Planetarium Astronomer, Dr Tanya Hill is available for expert comment regarding this astronomical event.

Melbourne will experience a partial eclipse next Thursday, with just 9 per cent of the Sun obscured by the Moon. This will have minimal effect on general sunshine levels and the majority of Melburnians will hardly notice.

Solar eclipses occur when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon blocks out the light of the Sun, making it seem like a part of the Sun is missing.

It is important to never stare directly at the Sun. The Sun can damage your eyesight at anytime, and while it may be tempting to look at the Sun during an eclipse it is not safe to do so. Scienceworks will be providing safe ways to see the partial eclipse, with special solar
telescopes available for viewing of the eclipse by visitors.

Dr Tanya Hill, Melbourne Planetarium Astronomer said “During the eclipse the Moon will make a glancing pass across the top of the Sun. By using safe methods to view the Sun, it will appear as if the Sun is wearing a baseball cap.”

The partial eclipse seen in Melbourne culminates in an Annular Solar Eclipse in Antarctica, where the Moon is not able to cover the Sun completely and a ring of sunlight remains visible encircling the Moon.

The next Total Solar Eclipse will occur on 1 August 2008 and will be visible in Canada, Northern Greenland, the Arctic, Siberia, Mongolia and China. Australia will see its next partial eclipse on 26 January 2009, but will have to wait until 13 November 2012 for its next Total Solar Eclipse.

The eclipse will occur as follows (all times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time):

Eclipse begins: 2:39pm / Eclipse maximum: 3:28pm / Eclipse ends: 4:15pm

The Melbourne Planetarium at Scienceworks has a variety of informative and entertaining shows screening daily, for a wide range of audiences. Visit museumvictoria.com.