date, time, where and how to see it

(CNN Spanish) — This Saturday there will be a partial solar eclipse known as a “black moon”. We tell you what it is, how you can see it and from where.

What is the solar eclipse “black moon”?

And eclipse solar It occurs when the Moon is located between the Sun and the Earth. This generates a shadow that blocks the light of the Sun, partially or totally. When it is partial, as in the case of the eclipse on April 30, “the Sun and the Moon are not perfectly aligned, so the Moon does not completely cover the Sun”, explains NASA.

And why is it called “black moon”?

It has more to do with the phase in which the Moon is than with the eclipse.

A black moon is basically the second new moon of the month, something that rarely happens. It works similarly to a leap year. A lunar cycle usually takes regarding 29 days to complete, but our months are a bit longer. So sometimes, regarding every 32 months, we have two full moons or two new moons. The second full moon in a month is called a blue moon, and the second new moon is called a black moon.

Where and at what time can you see the partial solar eclipse?

The astronomical phenomenon can be seen in Antarctica, the southern tip of South America, and the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. According to the Space portal, specializing in space issues, “the eclipse will begin at 2:45 p.m. EDT, when it will be visible for the first time to sky watchers in areas with visibility. The time of the maximum eclipse will be at 4:41 p.m. pm EDT and the eclipse will end at 6:37 pm EDT.”

“As it sets in the west on the evening of April 30, the Sun will appear partially eclipsed to those with clear skies over Chile, Argentina, most of Uruguay, western Paraguay, southwestern Bolivia, southeastern of Peru and a small area of ​​southwestern Brazil,” says NASA.

How can I safely view the eclipse?

This is very important: you can NOT look at the Sun directly.

Any glimpse of the Sun’s brilliance is not only uncomfortable, it’s dangerous. Looking directly into the powerful glare of the Sun can damage the retina, the light-sensitive part of the eye.

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Even the smallest amount of exposure can cause blurred vision or temporary blindness. The problem is that you won’t know if it’s temporary. You need eclipse glasses, which are regulated by an international safety standard.

Whether you use the cardboard eclipse glasses or a hand card with a rectangular viewfinder, the most important feature is the filter.

“Filters that meet the ISO 12312-2 standard reduce the sun’s glare to a safe and comfortable level, similar to that achieved by a full moon, and block harmful ultraviolet and infrared radiation,” says Rick Fienberg of the American Astronomical Society.

“Sunscreens that meet this standard are almost 100,000 times darker than ordinary sunglasses, and those glasses do not block infrared rays.”

With information from Ashley Strickland of CNN and Victoria Fernández Bellido of CNN en Español.

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