Everything you need to know about tomorrow's total eclipse

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Associated Press
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Hong Kong won't see a total eclipse of the sun, but half an eclipse is better than none

Associated Press |
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The rare and awe-inspiring spectacle of a total solar eclipse will unfold over parts of Indonesia and the Indian and Pacific Oceans on Wednesday, weather permitting.

The full eclipse may be visible to several million people within its narrow path including eclipse chasers who have traveled from around the world for a chance to see it.

Hong Kong will only have a partial eclipse, so not all of the sun will be blocked.

What causes a total solar eclipse?

At least twice a year, the orbits of the moon and earth result in the moon casting a shadow on the earth that blocks the sun. 


Most eclipses are partial but when the moon is close enough to the earth, the sun is completely eclipsed and only a faint ring of rays known as the corona is visible.

The last total solar eclipse was in March 2015. The best reported viewing was on Norway’s Svalbard islands near the North Pole. The previous total eclipse was in November 2012.

Where will the eclipse be seen?

The total eclipse is visible within a roughly 100-150 kilometre-wide path that begins in the Indian Ocean and slices across parts of Indonesia including Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi before ending in the northern Pacific Ocean.

In Hong Kong we'll be able to see a partial solar eclipse on Wednesday, from 8.05am to 9.57am.

Indonesia's capital Jakarta is not within the eclipse path, but the Sumatran port city of Palembang with a population of more than 1.4 million is.

Cloudy skies, however, can make the much anticipated event a disappointment. And there's a high chance of cloud because Indonesia is in its wet season.

People in South Asia, East Asia and the north and east of Australia may see a partial eclipse.
 

How long will the eclipse last?

The entire eclipse, which begins with the first patch of darkness appearing on the edge of the sun, will last about three hours.

For the viewer, the exact duration of the total phase of the eclipse depends on their location along the path. The moments in which the sun is entirely obscured will last between 90 seconds and 4 minutes.

Palembang in Sumatra will be the first major city to see the total eclipse, at about 7:20am local time. The point at which the total eclipse lasts the longest, 4 minutes and 9 seconds, is in the Pacific Ocean east of the Philippines. On land the durations are mostly between 1 and 3 minutes.

What's the best way to look at an eclipse?

It's very tempting to watch the elcipse, but don't do it without using something between your eye and the sun or you could damage your eyes. But you can look at a total eclipse. 

Nasa recommends special filters that, really, no one is going to have lying around. Your best bet is to ask your science teacher, or science club if they have any safety goggles.

How is Indonesia preparing for this momentous event?

Indonesian Post on Tuesday officially issued the Total Solar Eclipse special stamp. A total solar eclipse will occur on March 9, 2016 and can only be seen from parts of Indonesia.
Photo: Xinhua

Authorities have been promoting the eclipse as a tourism event locally and internationally since 2014.

Because of their rarity, total eclipses are a magnet for scientists and astronomy enthusiasts known as eclipse chasers.

Overseas tour agencies have chartered ships for groups who want to view the eclipse at sea and many land tours, which are the best for photography, have also been organised.

 

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