As part of this October's celestial spectacle, the world is gearing up for not one but two breathtaking eclipses. The first of these, a solar eclipse, will grace the skies on October 14th, while the second, a lunar eclipse, will captivate observers on October 28th. For those residing in Australia, it's the lunar eclipse that promises to be a must-see event.
A solar eclipse unfolds when the Moon positions itself between the Earth and the Sun, briefly obscuring the Sun's light. Those fortunate enough to be in a prime location during a solar eclipse may witness the Moon appearing smaller than the Sun, creating the mesmerizing 'ring of fire' effect around its edges.
However, this Saturday's solar eclipse won't be visible to Australians, as the privileged viewers will primarily be in the United States, Mexico, Central and South America. The 'ring of fire' phenomenon will be most prominent along the path stretching from Oregon to Texas, commencing at 9:13 am PT along the Oregon coast and concluding at 12:03 pm CT in Texas.
The second eclipse of the month, which Australians will have the opportunity to observe, is a partial lunar eclipse set for October 28th/29th. This celestial event is visible from any location on Earth that resides on the night side, provided the skies are clear. During a partial lunar eclipse, the Moon partially enters the Earth's shadow, resulting in a darkening of its surface, though not a complete blackout, as seen in a total lunar eclipse. These lunar eclipses occur roughly every six months and are typically associated with a full moon phase when the Moon is in close proximity to Earth.
The partial lunar eclipse will be fully visible over Europe, the majority of Asia, and Africa. Observers in the Eastern Americas will witness the moonrise, while those in Australia will witness the moonset. For South Australians, the event will unfold on October 29th. It will commence with a subtle dimming of the Moon's surface, known as the penumbral eclipse, at approximately 4:31 am. The partial eclipse itself will occur at 6:05 am, with the peak of the eclipse at 6:44 am. Unfortunately, the maximum eclipse won't be visible to South Australians as it will be situated below the horizon.
