The partial solar eclipse this Saturday, April 30, will be visible throughout the country, but at different times and percentages. “The northern regions will be the least favored, compared to those in the southern zone. In Arica the sun will be covered by 4%, on the other hand, in Punta Arenas, more than 50% of the sun’s disk will be covered. On the other hand, in Santiago, the central area, the sun will be covered by almost 30%”, comments astrophotographer Arturo Gómez.
This Saturday, April 30, it will be possible to see, both in Chile and other South American countries, the first solar eclipse of 2022.
On this occasion, the Moon will partially cover the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth. But, at what times can we appreciate the astronomical phenomenon from our country?
As the astrophotographer Arturo Gómez indicated to BioBioChilethe phenomenon will begin in Chile from 4:30 p.m., reaching its peak after 5:30 p.m. and ending after 6:00 p.m., with differences between cities.
“On Saturday, at sunset, there will be a partial solar eclipse that will be visible throughout our national territory, that is, from Arica to Punta Arenas. Argentina is the other country favored with this partial solar eclipse, since, like Chile, they will see it throughout the neighboring country, ”he explained.
Hours and percentages of the solar eclipse in different cities of Chile
Gómez indicates that the magnitude of the partial eclipse, in our country, will be in different percentages for the northern and southern regions.
“The northern regions will be the least favored, compared to those in the southern zone. In Arica, the sun will be covered by 4%, on the other hand, in Punta Arenas, the sun’s disk will be covered by more than 50%. On the other hand, in Santiago, the central zone, the sun will be covered by almost 30%”, he comments .
“The sun will set, at the end of the day, eclipsed, that is, we will NOT see all its phases of partiality, since the end of the partial eclipse will be with the sun below the horizon,” he adds.
Then we leave you the hours and percentage that we can appreciate the solar eclipse from different areas of Chile.
Arica: Maximum at 5:59 p.m. (4% covered sun)
Antofagasta:Maximum at 5:52 p.m. (12% sun covered)
Santiago: Maximum at 5:37 p.m. (29% covered sun)
Montt port: The maximum will be at 5:21 p.m. (41% sun covered)
Punta Arenas: Maximum at 5:59 p.m. (51% sun covered)
Tips to see the eclipse this Saturday
Gómez points out that “to observe the partial eclipse, it is necessary to use the famous solar lenses, which we used in previous years, or you can use the filters used by arc welders, in iron works.”
The professional emphasizes that you should never look directly at the sun, “because it causes damage to the retina and can even cause blindness.”
Doctor José Luis Liebbe agrees with this, ophthalmologist at the Dávila Clinic and specialist in retinaa, explains that “looking at sunlight without adequate protection causes injuries that can become irreversible in the macula, which is the structure of the retina that allows us to see more clearly and appreciate colors”.
Also, even a few seconds of exposure can cause problems. “The threshold for causing damage to the retina has been established at 90 seconds, but shorter times can be just as damaging,” said the specialist.
That’s why it’s recommended to wear proper eye protection when witnessing an eclipse, such as ISO-certified sunscreen glasses, which reduce sunlight to eye-safe levels. In addition, they block ultraviolet and infrared light that comes from the Sun.