Total Solar Eclipse on August 21

DAZZLE CARRINGTON (NYLO Intern)

On Monday 21st August, the world will experience a total solar eclipse which would be partially visible from Trinidad and Tobago. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth blocking out the sun's rays and casting a shadow.

Everyone in North America plus parts of South America, Africa, and Europe will see at least a partial solar eclipse, while the thin path of totality, where the moon fully covers the sun, for a short few minutes will pass through portions of 14 states in North America.

Persons should never look at the sun directly without the right protection except during totality because of the damage that can cause. However, there are ways to safely view an eclipse of the sun directly which requires a filtering device, like eclipse glasses or indirectly where you project an image of the sun onto a screen.

The UWI StarGazers, an astronomy club based at the UWI St. Augustine, along with the National Science Centre, will be hosting a free event to commemorate the occasion at the campus from 2:30pm to 5pm. The club will provide eclipse glasses at the event. The Trinidad and Tobago Astro Club (TTAC) will also be hosting an event at San Fernando Hill from 2pm to 5pm.

Further information about the events can be found on either groups' Facebook page.