The UB live-streams the solar eclipse that happens on 20 March and provides two telescopes to observe it
On Friday 20 March, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies. From Catalonia it wil be seen as partial, with 65% of occultation, depending on the place of observation. The Department of Astronomy and Meteorology (DAM) of the University of Barcelona (UB) broadcasts it live on the website Serviastro, the website for public outreach on astronomy of the DAM.
On Friday 20 March, a total solar eclipse will darken the skies. From Catalonia it wil be seen as partial, with 65% of occultation, depending on the place of observation. The Department of Astronomy and Meteorology (DAM) of the University of Barcelona (UB) broadcasts it live on the website Serviastro, the website for public outreach on astronomy of the DAM.
Moreover, DAM researchers, who are also members of the Institute of Sciences of the Cosmos (ICCUB) and the Institute of Space Studies of Catalonia, offers two telescopes to observe it. One of them will be located at the entrance of the Historic Building of the UB (585, Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes), and the other will be at the Espai Ciència in the Saló de l'Ensenyament. The UB research group has created a leaflet that provides information about 20 March solar eclipse.
Data about 20 March solar eclipse
The eclipse will begin its journey to the North Atlantic, in the south of Greenland, and advance, culminating on the Faroe Islands and then going to Svalbard. In the rest of Europe, it will be a partial eclipse. In Iceland, Scotland and Norway its partiality will be higher than 90%. In the Iberian Peninsula, the best position to observe it is the northwest, where it can be reached 76% of occultation.
In Barcelona, the eclipse will began to be visible at 9.11 a.m., and it will reach its maximum at 10.16 a.m., when 63.4% of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. The eclipse will stop to be visible at 11.27 a.m. The site Serviastro includes a chart that specifies beginning, maximum and end times, as well as magnitude and obscuration percentages, in each capital city of Spain's provinces.
The app Eclipse Calculator, developed by the UB, allows knowing the general and local circumstances for solar and lunar eclipses.
What is an eclipse of the Sun?
A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun and the Moon's shadow crosses the Earth. From the Earth, the Moon and the Sun have almost the same diameter. Moreover, due to the distance variations between the Moon and the Earth, Moon can be seen from the Earth bigger or smaller than the Sun. This gives as a result the three types of eclipses: total, partial or annular.
How to observe a solar eclipse?
It must be considered that a solar eclipse cannot be observed with the naked eye. The Sun cannot be viewed safely without eye protection. Sun glasses, telescopes, medical x-ray films, photographic film, smoked glass or any other instrument not specifically designed for looking at the Sun will be dangerous to use, as failure to use appropriate filtration may result in permanent eye damage.
The safest way is to project the image of the Sun produce by a telescope into a white scree (see figure). This technique has the advantage of allowing simultaneous observation for a group of people. Binoculars can also be used to project a magnified image of the Sun on a white card, but you must avoid the temptation of using these instruments for direct viewing. Projected images of the Sun may even be seen on the ground in the small openings created by interlacing fingers, or in the dappled sunlight beneath a leafy tree.
For further information, please visit the site Serviastro
Remember: never watch to the sun directly!