2023-10-19 21:30:11
A solar eclipse is one of the most anticipated natural phenomena by people around the world, but It is also one of the most sporadic astronomical events that exist and some regions must wait several years, even decades, to see one from their territories.
For example, A natural event like the one last Saturday, October 14, has not been seen in countries like Colombia for 25 years.exactly since Thursday, February 26, 1998, when a total solar eclipse crossed the north of the country and also the north of Venezuela.
Due to this, enormous expectations have been generated regarding the passage through the American continent – in a very short time – of two spectacular eclipses of the Sun, one annular and the other total. The first was the one that occurred last October 14 and the next one will happen six months later, on Monday, April 8, 2024.
The first of these eclipses might be seen by millions of people from the United States, passing through Mexico and several Central American countries, until reaching Colombia and Brazil. The second It can be observed in several regions of Mexico, the United States and Canada.
In fact, an area in the state of Texas, where the city of San Antoniowas privileged with the fortunate experience of being able to see the two solar eclipses at their maximum intensity.
However, although these two important phenomena coincided in the Western Hemisphere, There are many differences between them.starting with the type of image that observers see when they reach their maximum intensity.
On the one hand, The annular eclipse of last October 14 failed to completely cover the Sun and it was seen as a dark disk on top of a larger, brighter one, creating what is known as a “ring of fire.”
This occurs because the Moon is at its furthest point in its orbit around the planet Earth, called Apogeewhich is why from the terrestrial perspective the satellite does not cover the entirety of our star.
Equally, In the case of annular eclipses, the sky does not darken too muchgenerating in the places of greatest intensity an atmosphere similar to that of a sunset.
In any case, events like the one on October 14 offer enough characteristics to amaze millions of people who were in the path of the lunar shadow on Earth and were able to look up at the sky with the appropriate instruments.
However, Total solar eclipses, like the one on April 8, 2024, are considered the “jewel in the crown” of astronomical events of this type.
During this phenomenon, The Moon will be at the ideal distance from the planet to completely cover the star’s light. Observers will be able to see how the two disks overlap to form a single dark circle, surrounded by a bright white halo.
Is regarding the Sun’s corona, which is the outer atmosphere of the starwhich can be seen with the naked eye during a total eclipse if weather conditions allow it.
Besides, In total type events, the sky darkens almost completely, as if it were night. Even drops in temperature can be recorded and animals can show different behaviors.
The truth is, Even if it is annular or total, the alignment of the Earth, the Moon and the Sun will always be a unique phenomenonas well as a privilege for the region of the planet that can see it in its maximum expression.
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