An annular solar eclipse was visible last Wednesday in a part of Chile, which surprised the inhabitants, especially those in Easter Island and the regions of Patagonia, in the far south. In Santiago, the capital, it was only partially observed. The astronomical phenomenon was recorded in a country that has seen two total solar eclipses in the last five years: the one on July 2, 2019 in the Coquimbo region; and that on December 14, 2020 in the region of La Araucanía, in the southern zone.
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The eclipse started from the north Pacific Ocean and was visible in Rapa Nui starting at 2:00 pm (Chile mainland time). The islanders took advantage of a completely clear day to observe almost 90% blocking of the sun. The curious eagerly awaiting the formation of the the ring of fire. In the following hours, the covering continued to the south, especially towards the Acehnese and Magellanic regions. In Cochrane, a town located 2,000 kilometers south of Santiago, it was scheduled to reach the peak at 5:25 pm, which will last five minutes.
The spectacle of the solar eclipse also reached Argentina. The southern province of Santa Cruz saw firsthand the blockade that darkened some of the skies. He was also reported to have been seen in Buenos Aires.
In the Metropolitan Region, where the city of Santiago de Chile is located, the eclipse could hardly be seen. The Center of Excellence in Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA) predicted that the visibility of the cover in the capital would be partial and would only reach 44%.
The Chilean authorities were mobilized to observe the phenomenon in places with better visibility. Carolina Gainza, undersecretary of Sciences in the left-wing Administration of President Gabriel Boric, arrived in Caleta Tortel, a Patagonian town that also had a full view of the quartzite. The government representative used the visit to promote science among children and young people. “The eclipse as an astronomical event is very interesting in itself, but it creates interest, curiosity and motivation to find out more in people. It generates questions for boys, girls, young people and adults, how long it lasts, what it means, how it is formed, what impact it has on nature and animals, it also generates research questions, ” he said.
The next eclipses for Chile
An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon does not cover the entire surface of the Sun. Because the diameter of the Earth’s natural satellite is smaller than the diameter of a giant star, a percentage – which can exceed 90% – of the surface is blocked. In places with better visibility you can see how the brightness of the sun blocking the Moon appears as a ring shape. For this reason it is also known the ring of fire. This phenomenon will repeat itself on February 6, 2027 and will be visible in its entirety in the southern regions of Los Lagos and Aysén. The best place to observe the cover is Chiloé Island, 1,114 kilometers from Santiago.
To see another total solar eclipse you have to wait a little longer, since it is a rare phenomenon. Experts estimate that the sun will be completely covered during the year 2048.