¿Where in Chile will the solar eclipse be seen?

Next Wednesday, October 2, there will be an annular solar eclipse, whose greatest magnitude will be seen in Easter Island, where the Moon will cover 93% of the Sun. The good news is that it will also be visible in an important part of the continental territory, although at a lower magnitude. Diego Mardones, Associate Astronomer of CATA indicates how to prepare to enjoy this event in the best way possible.

In recent years we had the opportunity to observe two relevant total solar eclipses, one in the Coquimbo Region and the other in Araucanía, which aroused the curiosity of a large part of the population that followed these events with great interest.

Now, it is the turn of Easter Island and the town of Cochrane to become the privileged points to see the annular solar eclipse that will be registered on October 2.

First, it is necessary to understand what it means that it is an annular eclipse and not a total eclipse. In this opportunity, at the time of the event, the Moon will be farther away from the Earth. This will make it appear smaller than the Sun and will not be able to cover it completely. Therefore, during the eclipse, our natural satellite will be seen as a dark disk above the Sun that will appear a little bigger and brighter, creating what looks like a ring around the Moon, known as a “ring of fire”.

“In Rapa Nui the Moon will cover 93% of the Sun, and the peak of the annular phase will occur at 14:03, with a duration of six minutes at this stage.

Another outstanding point of the country where it will reach an important magnitude is the extreme south. For example, in Cochrane it will reach 92% at 17:21, also in annular phase. In Punta Arenas it will be 75%, something similar to what will happen in Puerto Montt and Temuco”, explains Diego Mardones, Associate Astronomer of the Center for Astrophysics and Related Technologies (CATA).

¿Will it be seen in Santiago?

As you travel north, you will have less perception of this annular solar eclipse. However, in the Metropolitan Region and the central area in general, it will be visible in a magnitude that is attractive. The Moon will cover about 44% of the solar surface. The process will begin after 16:00 hours, with a maximum at 17:26, to end around 18:30.

The CATA astronomer and researcher at the Department of Astronomy of the University of Chile (DAS) also emphasizes the risks of looking directly at the sun, so he recommends using appropriate equipment, ideally a telescope with solar filters or the same lenses that were distributed during the big events of 2019 and 2020. Using normal sunglasses is not a safe alternative.

And there is more good news, because another annular eclipse will occur on February 6, 2027. This one will have its most important phase in the regions of Los Lagos and Aysén, being the southern area of Chiloé Island the point where the Sun will be covered the most.

¿How muchwill be seen?

Arica-Iquique less than 10%

Antofagasta 20%

Copiapó 30%

La Serena 40%

Rapa Nui 93% (overriding)

Santiago 44%

Talca 55%

Temuco 65%

Chiloé 75%

Coyhaique 85%

Cochrane 92% (overriding)

Punta Arenas 75%