Latest news with #totality
The National
6 days ago
- Science
- The National
Rare total solar eclipse to plunge Middle East into darkness in 2027
A rare and dramatic moment of darkness will take place in the afternoon over parts of the Middle East on August 2, 2027, as a total solar eclipse sweeps across three continents. Parts of Saudi Arabia and Yemen will plunge into night-like conditions for six minutes, an experience that will not happen again for another 100 years. The total eclipse, one of the longest of the century, will also pass over southern Europe and North Africa, with millions of people to witness the celestial wonder. 'This alignment will bring more than six minutes of total darkness in some areas, particularly in Luxor, Egypt, where totality will last up to six minutes and 23 seconds, making it the longest eclipse visible from land this century,' said Khadijah Ahmed, operations manager at the Dubai Astronomy Group. The event in Luxor will make it the longest land-based total eclipse since 1991 and until the year 2114, according to Nasa. Cities like Jeddah will also be under the path of totality, and will witness the Moon fully block the Sun in midafternoon, turning skies dark, revealing the solar corona, or the outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere. 'In the UAE, along with countries like Oman, Jordan, Iraq and parts of India, a partial eclipse will be visible,' said Ms Ahmed. 'In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Moon will cover around 55 per cent of the Sun, creating a mesmerising crescent-shaped Sun at the peak of the eclipse.' A rare event for the region Solar eclipses take place when there is perfect alignment between the Earth, Moon and Sun, a coincidence does not repeat in the same spot for hundreds of years. Its path of totality also stretches across some of the most densely populated areas in the world, including southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya. The totality will take place in the midafternoon for many regions, which means there will be chances of clear skies and good visibility. The last time a total solar eclipse was visible in parts of the Middle East was in 1999. Safety first It is unsafe to look at the Sun during an eclipse. Special glasses are recommended for those observing the event. Ms Ahmed said that even a brief glance can cause permanent eye damage. 'Always use ISO 12312-2 certified solar viewing glasses … regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe,' she said. 'If using binoculars, cameras or telescopes, ensure they are fitted with solar filters over the front lens. Using optical equipment without proper filters can concentrate sunlight and cause instant eye damage.' A moment for science A solar eclipse also gives researchers an opportunity to study the Sun in more detail. When the Moon fully blocks the Sun, it reveals the faint outer atmosphere known as the corona, which is difficult to observe because of the Sun's intense glare. Researchers use this brief window to study solar activity, including magnetic fields, solar wind and coronal mass ejections, which can disrupt satellites and communication systems on Earth. Last month, the European Space Agency's Proba-3 mission helped create an artificial solar eclipse, when two satellites flew in perfect formation to mimic the effect of the Moon blocking the Sun. This allowed scientists to observe the Sun's corona for several hours instead of just a few minutes. When is the next solar eclipse? A total solar eclipse will not appear in the region until 2081. A partial solar eclipse will take place in the UAE on June 1, 2030. A total lunar eclipse, when the Moon moves into Earth's shadow, will be visible in the UAE on September 7, 2025. The eclipse will begin at 7.28pm UAE time, with totality to start at 9.30pm before it reaches its peak at 10.11pm.
Forbes
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
America's Total Solar Eclipse Changed Lives — These New Films Show How
The total solar eclipse from a cloudy Brady, Texas, on April 8, 2024. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty ... More Images) Did you and your community feel an 'eclipse effect' on April 8, 2024? When the moon's shadow swept across North America that day, it plunged about 50 million people — and thousands of communities — into an awe-inspiring darkness during a rare total solar eclipse. Those with clear skies got to see the silhouette of the moon block the sun's disk, revealing its ethereal corona — the 'hole in the sky' moment. Now, a trio of films is giving fresh life to that precious moment of totality — capturing not just the celestial spectacle, but the human stories around it. 1. In Totality Debuting on Friday, July 25, at New York City's Rooftop Film Festival is In Totality, a short film directed by award-winning documentary filmmaker Jesse Rudoy (Dusty & Stones) that follows Debra Ross, chair of Rochester, New York's 2024 eclipse task force, in the tense final days leading up to the eclipse — after seven years preparing. It begins with Ross promoting the eclipse at a baseball game and on radio and TV stations, via a play and a musical performance. As the day approaches, the weather forecast begins to look rosy — and then it suddenly worsens. 'As a filmmaker, I wanted her and Rochester to get their perfect, sunny eclipse. But the version they got gave us something deeper,' said Rudoy, in an interview. 'When things start to go a little wrong, or there's tension in the air, you realize your film is becoming more interesting, more layered and frankly, better.' By the time of totality at 3:20 p.m., dense clouds obscured the view, with an eerie darkness and a golden horizon. 'She had told the people of Rochester that if it was cloudy, they should just hold hands with someone they love and embrace the moment,' said Rudoy. 'And in the end, that's exactly what she did.' If you were excited for the eclipse and then clouded-out, like Rochester was, expect In Totality to pack an emotional punch. 2. A Moment In The Sun Also now previewing at film festivals across the country is A Moment In The Sun from filmmakers Mia Weinberger and Thomas van Kalkenthe —the story of the last town in the U.S to experience totality. Houlton, Maine — population 6,000 — close to the Canada border, was predicted to be one of the cloudiest places along the entire path of totality. As it happened, it was a rare clear spot, resulting in thousands of visitors that nobody had expected. Like In Totality, the 77-minute A Moment In The Sun focuses not on the eclipse, but on the people the directors encountered as they tried to capture the lead-up to the eclipse. 'The four characters we ended up following included a local astronomer who shared his first eclipse with his late husband in 1997, a civic planner who had been preparing for this day for almost 3 years, a freshly minted entrepreneur with 800 eclipse t-shirts to sell and a couple who said 'I do' right at the moment of totality,' said Weinberger to FilmInk. A Moment In The Sun will screen at 5:45 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 25, at The Salt Institute for Documentary Studies, Portland, Maine, as part of the Maine Outdoor Film Festival. It will also screen in Houlton's Temple Theatre from Friday, Sept. 5-11. Both films come in the wake of NASA's Emmy Award for Outstanding Live News Special for its three hours of live coverage of the 2024 total solar eclipse, announced at the 46th Annual News & Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City on June 25. It got 40 million views. 3. Totality Seeking to unearth stories from individuals and communities from Mazatlan, Mexico, to Bonavista, Newfoundland, on April 8, 2024, is Totality, a 90-minute documentary from Sandbox Films. It tracks a range of communities over the year leading up to the eclipse, as people across three North American countries prepare for the event. Co-directed by Oscar-nominated filmmakers Kate Davis and David Heilbroner, the production included 21 film teams across the path. It's due to have a theatrical and festival release early in 2026. 'With no tickets required, no political agenda nor winners and losers, Totality captures a rare moment of unity as some 50 million gather for a lightshow performed by the sun and moon,' said Davis, in an email, 'reminding us that we all stand on the same tiny dot in a vast universe.' Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
Khaleej Times
22-07-2025
- Science
- Khaleej Times
Fact check: Will UAE see the longest total solar eclipse of the century on August 2?
Social media has been abuzz lately with news of a stunning solar eclipse to occur on August 2. While the claim is not false, there is an important detail to note: the astronomical event will take place two years later on August 2, 2027— not next month. The total solar eclipse will be the "longest of this century," lasting over 6 minutes and 23 seconds in the path of totality," and will begin at 1.25pm according to Khadija Al Hariri, Operations Manager at Dubai Astronomy Group (DAG). It is the longest since 1991 and until 2114. While the solar eclipse is a total one, in the UAE, only a partial eclipse will be visible. This is also the case in countries like Oman, Jordan, Iraq, and parts of India. In Dubai, the moon will cover around 53 per cent of the Sun creating a crescent-shaped sun at the peak of the eclipse; other emirates will see between 50 and 57 per cent coverage, Khadija added. According to DAG, the path of totality stretches across southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, southern Saudi Arabia, and Yemen. These regions will see the sun completely blocked out, revealing a spectacular solar corona in the sky. What's special about the solar eclipse? Other than the longest duration of the century, it is a once-in-a-lifetime event for many in the region. The last partial solar eclipse visible from the UAE was on October 25, 2022; the next one after 2027 will be on June 1, 2030. Residents will have to wait over 50 years for the next total solar eclipse visible in the country, which will be on September 3, 2081, Khadija said. In addition, a spectacular total lunar eclipse will be visible on September 7, 2025. The 2027 event will allow millions to witness it, with major cities being on or near the path of totality, giving it rare visibility in most parts of the world. While solar eclipses happen around two to five times each year around the world, they vary in type. Partial eclipses are relatively common; however, total solar eclipses are very rare events, often separated by many decades or even centuries. Precautions during the eclipse While the sight will be a stunning one to behold, viewers must never look directly at it. DAG shared some important precautions to take during the event: Never look directly at the sun without proper eye protection. Even a brief glance can cause permanent eye damage. Always use ISO 12312-2 certified solar viewing glasses; regular sunglasses, no matter how dark, are not safe. If using binoculars, cameras, or telescopes, ensure they are fitted with solar filters over the front lens. Using optical equipment without proper filters can concentrate sunlight and cause instant eye damage. For indirect viewing, consider using pinhole projectors or solar projection methods, which allow you to observe the eclipse safely without looking at the Sun. Live stream With UAE residents anticipating this rare celestial phenomenon, the Dubai Astronomy Group will host a public viewing event in the UAE.
Forbes
22-07-2025
- Forbes
When To See Sydney Harbor's First Total Solar Eclipse Since 1857
The sun sets behind the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House before the lights come on ... More for Vivid Sydney 2024 on May 28, 2024 in Sydney, Australia .(Photo by Steve Christo - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) There's a trio of incredible total solar eclipses coming, with as much as 13 minutes of totality possible within less than two years in some of the world's most attractive locations. On Aug. 12, 2026, Greenland, Iceland and northern Spain see totality. It happens again on Aug. 2, 2027, in southern Spain and across North Africa, including temple-filled Luxor in Egypt. Given that booking early is essential since North America woke up to total solar eclipses in 2017 and 2024, most eclipse chasers will have made detailed plans for both of those events by now, but few will have thought much about the eclipse that ends the spectacular run — a long totality on July 22, 2028, in Australia and New Zealand. The Astronomical Society of Australia has recently published a website about the 2028 eclipse, which includes a countdown timer and advice on safely watching the eclipse. Here's what you need to know. Extreme tidal range shown here at low tide as found on Bigge Island, Kimberley, Western Australia, ... More Australia, Pacific Eclipse 2028 Will Cross Two Countries, Four Landmasses On Saturday, July 22, 2028, a path of totality 143 miles (230 kilometers) wide will cross Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (both territories of Australia), Australia and New Zealand. In Australia, the path crosses from northwest to southeast, entering at Bigge Island on the Kimberly coast in Western Australia and exiting at Sydney in New South Wales. Eclipse 2028 Will Plunge Iconic Landmarks Into Totality Totality will be visible across Sydney and its suburbs — its first total solar eclipse since 1857 and last until 2858. Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge will both go dark, providing iconic silhouettes during totality, as will Anzac Bridge, Darling Harbour and the Bondi to Coogee coast. It's a rare chance for eclipse photographers to capture urban eclipse imagery. Other landmarks on the path include the Bungle Bungle Range in Purnululu National Park, Western Australia, Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles) in the Northern Territory, and Siding Springs Observatory in Warrumbungle, New South Wales. The path of the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028. Eclipse 2028's Totality Will Be Longest In Western Australia The mathematical point of maximum eclipse is 5 minutes 10 seconds totality in a very remote area of Western Australia. However, the closest accessible areas — islands to the west off the Kimberly coast and the region to the east close to Lake Argyle — both offer 5 minutes and 3-4 seconds, which is the maximum that can practically be experienced thanks to the bumpy profile of the moon's shadow. Clear Skies Are More Likely Away From Sydney For Eclipse 2028 It may be an iconic destination and where most people experience this eclipse (almost all of the 6.3 million people in the path live in Sydney), but the chances of a clear sky in Sydney during mid-winter are a lot smaller than in remote Outback regions. According to Christmas Island has a 65% chance of cloud, Cocos Islands 57% and Sydney 47%. Meanwhile, the Kimberly Coast and Western Australia are 7%, and the Northern Territory is around 20%. The chance of cloud gradually increases as the path approaches Sydney. City of Dunedin at Dusk - sunset. High angle view. Eclipse 2028 Will End Dramatically In New Zealand The eclipse path also crosses New Zealand's South Island, where there's around a 60-70% chance of cloud. It will be the country's first total solar eclipse since 1965. Remarkably, the centerline of the path — where totality lasts just shy of three minutes — passes over tourist mecca Queenstown and Dunedin. However, from New Zealand, the eclipse will happen just 11 degrees above the northwestern horizon, making sightlines difficult. Observing locations will need to be checked out in advance very carefully to avoid missing the magical moments. New Zealand will also have a fabulous "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse on Mar. 9, 2035, followed by another total solar eclipse on Jul. 13, 2037. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
The Independent
21-07-2025
- The Independent
A solar eclipse will pass over the same place twice in less than a year
The next two total solar eclipses will both pass over the same country, each occurring less than a year apart. Spain is the only country in the world to experience the path of totality for the solar eclipse on 12 August 2026, as well as the eclipse on 2 August 2027, offering sky gazers a unique opportunity to witness the celestial event. Six of the top 10 sunniest cities in Europe are in Spain, meaning there is little chance it will be obscured by clouds. Taking place at the height of the August tourist season, the Great European Eclipse of 2026 will see the path of totality cross over most of northern Spain, as well as the Balearic islands. A third eclipse will also be visible in Spain in January 2028, though it will only be an annular solar eclipse. This is were the Moon covers the Sun's centre but leaves the outer edges visible to produce a 'ring of fire'. All three of the solar eclipses will be visible from the UK as partial solar eclipses, though the chance of clear skies is less certain. Astronomers recommend using special glasses to view the eclipses to avoid damage, or to use home made projection equipment to track the Moon's progression as it passes in front of the Sun. "You mustn't look at it with the naked eye, you mustn't look at it with a telescope – unless you have the right kind of filters,' said Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society. "It's perfectly possible to take a picture of a solar eclipse. My recommendation would be that if you're projecting the image onto a piece of white card, that you just photograph the projection and then you can see the progression of the eclipse and see that bite taken out of the Sun as the Moon moves across it."
