illusionist

by DOST

An annual solar eclipse will occur on 21 May 2012. It will be visible from a track that goes across China, most of Russia, Southeast Asia, including the Philippines and Indonesia, Hawaii, Arctic regions and most of North America as shown in Figure 1 &1a.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring the image of the Sun as viewed from the Earth. An annual solar eclipse occurs when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring), blocking most of the Sun’s light. An annular eclipse appears as a partial eclipse over a region thousands of kilometers wide.

In the Philippines, the event will be observed as a partial solar eclipse. Table 1 represents eclipse data pertaining to various selected places in the Philippines. Figures 2, 3 & 4 shows the position of the Sun and Moon at maximum eclipse.

The Planets

Mercury will be found at about 10 degrees above the eastern horizon at the beginning of the month before sunrise. It will continue to move down the horizon until it will no longer be available for observation on 21st of the month and onward.

Uranus and Neptune will be visible before sunrise throughout the month. Both planets will be found at the east southeastern horizon and will lie among the background stars of the constellations Pisces, the Fish and Aquarius, the Water-Bearer, respectively.

Jupiter will be visible low in the eastern horizon during the last week of the month before sunrise. On the other hand, Mars will be found overhead during the month an hour after sunset. Saturn, will be located at about 45 degrees above the east southeastern horizon.

Venus, the brightest evening star will be found at about 26 degrees above the the west northwestern horizon during the first week of the month. It will continue to move downward the horizon as days passes by.