Sky gazers and enthusiasts can expect a visual treat in 2016 with five eclipses set to take place this year.
The first is a total solar eclipse on March 8 to 9, caused by a supermoon at the new phase. The eclipse will mainly pass over the Pacific Ocean's waters, where those along the long and narrow path can witness the spectacle.
The path of totality, according to a report, begins at sunrise in the Indian Ocean, and heads to west of Indonesia and then eastward across the Indian and Pacific Oceans until it ends up west of North America come sunset.
A partial solar eclipse will reveal itself to a much larger portion of the world — Alaska and Hawaii will see it late afternoon on March 8, while Japan, Korea, eastern Asian, and north and west Australia will see it on the morning of March 9.
A penumbral lunar eclipse will occur on March 23 and Aug. 18, while an annular solar eclipse will take place on Sept. 1. Finally, another penumbral lunar eclipse will wrap up the show for the year on Sept. 16.
A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when Earth, sun, and moon all align in a nearly straight line. During this eclipse, Earth partly blocks the sun's light from directly reaching the surface of the moon, covering a small portion of the moon with its shadow's outer part or penumbra.
An annular solar eclipse, on the other hand, takes place when the moon covers the center of the sun, leading its visible outer edges to form an annulus or so-called "ring of fire" around the moon. Here the antumbra, the outer section of the moon's umbra, is cast onto Earth.
In 2017, continental United States should also brace for a total solar eclipse happening on Aug. 21, Monday, with the path of totality crossing from coast to coast. It is said to be the first total solar eclipse visible on American soil in this generation.
Revelers, however, are advised to safely view an eclipse, such as wearing protective eyewear or projecting an image of the eclipsed sun using a pinhole projector.
Photo: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center | Flickr
