Pinoys to witness partial solar eclipse today

MANILA, Philippines - Residents in the southern Philippines could watch the partial solar eclipse today, the state weather bureau said.

The partial solar eclipse can be viewed in Bulan, Sorsogon; Masbate; Roxas City; Puerto Princesa City, Palawan; Cebu; Tacloban City; Dumaguete; Surigao; Cagayan de Oro; Iligan; Zamboanga; Hinatuan; Cotabato; Jolo, Sulu; Davao; and General Santos City.

The partial solar eclipse could be witnessed at the following times:

Bulan, Sorsogon: maximum eclipse 6:52 a.m., ends 7:04 a.m.; Masbate: maximum eclipse 6:52 a.m., ends 7:06 a.m.; Roxas City: maximum eclipse 6:50 a.m., ends 7:08 a.m.; Puerto Princesa City: maximum eclipse 6:47 a.m., ends 7:03 a.m.; Cebu: maximum eclipse 6:50 a.m., ends 7:18 a.m.; Tacloban: maximum eclipse 6:51 a.m., ends 7:18 a.m.; Dumaguete: maximum eclipse 6:48 a.m., ends 7:20 a.m.; Surigao: maximum eclipse 6:50 a.m., ends 7:26 a.m.; Cagayan de Oro: maximum eclipse 6:48 a.m., ends 7:27 a.m.; Iligan: maximum eclipse 6:48 a.m., ends 7:26 a.m.; Zamboanga: maximum eclipse 6:45 a.m., ends 7:24 a.m.; Hinatuan: maximum eclipse 6:49 a.m., ends 7:31 a.m.; Cotabato: maximum eclipse 6:44 a.m., ends 7:24 a.m.; Jolo, Sulu: maximum eclipse 6:47 a.m., ends 7:29 a.m.; Davao: maximum eclipse 6:47 a.m., ends 7:30 a.m.; General Santos City: maximum eclipse 6:46 a.m., ends 7:33 a.m.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration  (PAGASA) advised those who want to view the eclipse to wear eye protection, stressing the rays of the sun could cause severe eye damage.

According to PAGASA, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun, thereby totally or partially obscuring the image of the sun as it is viewed from the earth.

The Philippines, however, will only experience a partial solar eclipse, while Central Pacific Region, most of New Zealand, Australia, and Indonesia would experience an annular eclipse, the agency said in its monthly astronomical diary.

An annular 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,” PAGASA said.