A total solar eclipse is giving Antarctica 2 minutes of night after months of daylight – but the rare sight can only be enjoyed by the penguins and the small number of people who are there for research or vacation purposes.
Rare Total Solar Eclipse Happens in Antarctica
Most of us are used to the regular setting and rising of the sun that we take nights and daylights, sunrises and sunsets for granted. But for people living close to the poles, nights or days can last for up as much as 6 months!
Can you just imagine it being daytime for an entire 6 months and night time for the next 6 months? Whoa.
But after months of daylight and basking under the glorious rays of the sun, the penguins are in for a treat with 2 minutes of night happening during a total solar eclipse over the area.
According to Science Alert, the total solar eclipse will pass through the overlapping regions of Argentine, British, and Chilean Antarctic Territories. It will also pass through the unclaimed territory of Marie Byrd Land.
The eclipse was still observed in other parts of the world, particularly the southern tips of South America, Australia, Africa, and New Zealand. But the path of totality will only pass through Antarctica.
What’s a Total Solar Eclipse?
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon aligns directly between the sun and the Earth. Its shadow falls on the Earth, but a solar eclipse isn’t as impactful as a lunar eclipse because the moon’s shadow really just falls on a much smaller part of the Earth.
Because they’re rarer than lunar eclipses, there are some people who actually “chase” this natural phenomenon to experience it even if means spending a lot of money for something that only happens for a few minutes.
Do you think they’ll chase the one in a remote place like Antarctica?