The sun hasn't set in the South Pole since October. The southernmost part of the planet is currently experiencing a long summer's day that lasts from mid-October to early April.
On December 4, darkness will sweep across the ice of West Antarctica. The moon will block the sun's light in a total solar eclipse.
The path of totality crosses the Argentine, British and Chilean Territories, as well as the unclaimed territory known as Marie Byrd Land. Areas along the path will experience almost 2 minutes of darkness.
South America, Africa, Australia and New Zealand will see a partial eclipse. South America and Africa will see the eclipse in the early morning, while Australia and New Zealand will see it in the evening.
The moon kissed him.
The Moon will appear to kiss the left of the Sun as the Sun sinks towards the horizon. Only 11 percent of the Sun's area will be covered by the largest eclipse of all Australia's capital cities. The Sun is not visible in Canberra, but in Melbourne it is.
It's the same situation in New Zealand. The Sun will be obscured by the Moon in Invercargill, with the Moon passing by the Sun's left side. The eclipse is not visible for the setting Sun.
You wouldn't know the eclipse was happening if you weren't aware of it. We don't notice a change in daylight until about 80 percent of the Sun is obscured.
The star light is bright.
Solar eclipses require special care to observe. Don't look at the Sun directly, even when it's low on the horizon.
You should use eclipse glasses to protect your eyes. You can see sunspots with these glasses. The Sun is moving from a quiet phase to an active one as part of a cycle that repeats every 11 years. Spaceweather is a website that can show you what's happening on the Sun's surface.
The projection method is a good way to observe solar eclipses. A small hole is made in the bottom of a plastic cup or piece of cardboard. With your back to the Sun, hold the cup so the sunlight can pass through the hole and onto a flat surface.
It may be difficult to focus the Sun's image in this way because of the minor eclipse that will happen in eastern Australia.
The rarity of the whole.
Solar eclipses are rare because the Moon's position relative to Earth's is not the same as the Sun's, so they don't move in the same plane. We are currently experiencing a solar eclipse at New Moon, but it is not the only eclipse that occurs every six months.
Everyone on the night side of the Earth can see a lunar eclipse. Solar eclipses are not seen as much by the public because the shadow created by the Moon passing in front of the Sun covers less of the Earth.
The experience of a total solar eclipse is more enjoyable than partial solar eclipses. Being able to see totality is rare.
You have to be within a narrow path to see the totally eclipsed Sun because the Moon's shadow is only 100-260 km wide. Eclipse-chasers travel the world to be in the right place at the right time. When totality occurs in a remote location, it will be penguins who get to see it.
There will be a total solar eclipse visible from Australia in April 2023. The band of totality will just clip Australia at the tip of the North West Cape in Western Australia.
Many more Australians and New Zealanders will get to see a total solar eclipse in the summer of 2028. Totality will stretch across Australia from the top of Western Australia down to New South Wales. It will cross the South Island of New Zealand.
The Senior Curator (Astronomy) at Museums Victoria is a fellow of the University of Melbourne.
The Conversation's article is a Creative Commons licensed one. The original article can be found here.
