MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos, particularly those in Mindanao, should watch out for the rare annular solar eclipse on Dec. 26.
The astronomical event can be observed in the southernmost part of Davao Occidental, and the best sites to view this are Balut and Batulaki in Sarangani, Davao Occidental, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
The next solar eclipse will be visible in the country on July 24, 2074, said Mario Raymundo, chief of PAGASA’s Astronomical Observation and Time Service Unit.
Meanwhile, Filipinos will also witness the longest night of the year during the winter solstice tomorrow.
“The Sun will reach the winter solstice on Dec. 22 at 12:19 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time), marking the time when the sun lies at its farthest point south of the equator,” PAGASA said.
The event signals the onset of winter in the northern hemisphere, where the Philippines is situated, and summer in the southern hemisphere.
“Philippine nights will be longer than the daytime. Earth has now completed another annual circuit around the Sun,” the weather bureau said.