Partial Solar Eclipse 2022: What is it and how to watch it?

On April 30, Earth will see its first eclipse of the year, only days after the world saw photographs of an eclipse on Mars. A solar eclipse happens when the new Moon passes exactly in front of the Sun, effectively blocking out the light. The first eclipse of the year will be a partial one, with the Moon just blocking a little portion of the sunlight.

Saturday’s partial eclipse coincides with what is known as the ‘Black Moon.’ The ‘Black Moon,’ according to NASA, will block out some of the Sun throughout the day, shortly before and during sunset, resulting in a partial eclipse.

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According to Nasa, the Moon will cover 64% of the sun’s disc as seen from Earth. The Moon will only throw the outside portion of its shadow, known as the penumbra.

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Will the partial eclipse be visible in India?

From India or the United States, the first partial eclipse of 2022 will not be visible.

According to NASA, the eclipse will be visible in regions of South America with a clear sky. Chile, Argentina, most of Uruguay, western Paraguay, southwestern Bolivia, southeastern Peru, and a small section of southwestern Brazil will all be able to see it. It could also be seen around parts of Antarctica’s northern coast and in the Falkland Islands, as well as throughout much of the South Pacific Ocean and the Southern Ocean, according to the space agency.

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To safely observe the Sun or watch an eclipse, NASA recommends wearing special protective eyewear or certified eclipse glasses. Using the incorrect equipment or viewing the eclipse with the naked eye can cause irreversible damage to the retinas.

Will it be available to watch online?

At 12:15 p.m. IST, the solar eclipse will be seen for the first time (2:45 pm EDT). A couple of hours later, at 2:11 IST, the eclipse will occur (4:41 pm EDT). According to TimeandDate.com, the eclipse will end at 4:07 pm IST (6:37 pm EDT).

The partial solar eclipse will be streamed live on YouTube.

The solar eclipse broadcast is planned to last the entire duration of the eclipse on April 30.