RP to experience partial solar eclipse Wednesday

MANILA, Philippines - For two-and-a-half hours on Wednesday morning, Filipinos will witness a partial solar eclipse that will occur in most of eastern Asia, Indonesia and the Pacific Ocean. While they may not get to observe a total solar eclipse like in other areas in Asia, people in the Philippines will get a chance to watch the partial eclipse between 8:26 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. The total solar eclipse will cover India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Central China, the Pacific Ocean, Ryukyu Islands, Marshall Islands and Kiribati. State astronomers cautioned enthusiasts against viewing the solar eclipse directly without proper eye safety, even if it is a partial eclipse. Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration director Prisco Nilo said viewing the eclipse directly may cause damage to the retina. "Even the use of unconventional methods like viewing with X-Ray Films, sun glasses, smoked glass & photographic films and negatives, which are used in various countries to view eclipses, are also dangerous," Nilo said on Pagasa's astronomical diary site (http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/agssb/astro_web/astrodiary.html). Nilo said the safest method is still indirect viewing, like projecting the image with a pinhole camera. "However, innovation has brought in some safe options like usage of safe and certified solar filters, through which one can view a Solar Eclipse safely, following the instructions provided with the filters," he said. Pagasa said the eclipse may be viewed in Metro Manila, Calayan Island, Laoag City, Tuguegarao City, Baguio City, Angeles City in Pampanga, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, Lucena City, Naga City, Iloilo City, Cebu City, Zamboanga City, Jolo in Sulu, Davao City, and General Santos City. The eclipse may start as early as 8:26 a.m. (Laoag) to 8:33 a.m. (Metro Manila) to 9:05 a.m. (General Santos City). Maximum eclipse is expected at between 9:40 a.m. (Laoag) to 9:43 a.m. (Metro Manila) to 10:44 a.m. (General Santos City). The eclipse is expected to end at 10:48 a.m. (Puerto Princesa) to 11:01 a.m. (Metro Manila) to 11:06 a.m. (General Santos City). Millions of people across Asia will witness the longest total solar eclipse that will happen this century, as vast swaths of India and China, the entire city of Shanghai and southern Japanese islands are plunged into darkness Wednesday for about five minutes. Streams of amateur stargazers and scientists are traveling long distances to witness the once-in-a-lifetime event, a report from the Associated Press said Monday. The eclipse will appear first at dawn in India's Gulf of Khambhat just north of the metropolis of Mumbai. It will move east across India, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China before hitting the Pacific. - GMANews.TV