Both lunar and solar eclipses are among nature's most spectacular shows. There will be fewer eclipses in 2012 than there were in 2011, but a rare transit of Venus provides an additional bonus. During 2012 there will be two solar eclipses: an annular eclipse and a total solar eclipse. There will also be a partial lunar eclipse and a penumbral lunar eclipse.
Dates for Solar and Lunar Eclipses in 2012
There will be solar and lunar eclipses during 2012 on these dates:
- May 20, 2012; annular solar eclipse
- June 4, 2012; partial lunar eclipse
- November 13, 2012; total solar eclipse
- November 28, 2012; penumbral lunar eclipse
In addition Venus will transit the Sun on June 5/6, 2012. In a transit, Venus passes between the Sun and Earth.
This article has details about the solar eclipses in 2012. Lunar eclipses in 2012 and the transit of Venus are described in a separate article.
The dates and times for the eclipses are in universal time (UT) or the Greenwich mean time zone. Here are tables for converting UT to worldwide or North American time zones.
May 20, 2012; annular solar eclipse
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the new Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, but the Moon is a little further from Earth than normal. The Moon therefore appears smaller than usual in the sky and is not large enough to completely cover the Sun. During the central portion of an annular eclipse, a ring, or annulus, of uneclipsed Sun surrounds the Moon. Observers just outside the path of the annular eclipse will enjoy a partial solar eclipse.
The annular solar eclipse on May 20, 2012 will be visible along a narrow path from eastern Asia, southern Japan, across the northern Pacific Ocean, just south of the Aleutian Islands, and into western North America. A partial solar eclipse will be visible for most of the Pacific region north of approximately Hawaii, most of northern and eastern Asia, and much of North America and Greenland.
The eclipse begins at 22:06 universal time in southern China. The eclipse ends at about 1:34 UT near Albuquerque, New Mexico with the Sun just above the western horizon. Here are eclipse details for various locations in the United States and in Canada, Mexico, and Asia.
November 13, 2012; total solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse occurs when the new Moon passes between the Earth and Sun and completely blocks the Sun. Observers near the path of totality can enjoy a partial solar eclipse.
The total solar eclipse of November 13, 2012 follows a path across the south Pacific. The only land in the path of totality is the northern Australian peninsulas. The total solar eclipse begins about 150 miles (250 km) east of Darwin, Australia at 20:35 universal time. The eclipse reaches the Cape York Peninsula about 2 minutes later. Cairns is the only city in the path of totality. Early rising residents will be able to enjoy two minutes of totality just after sunrise. Greatest eclipse is at 22:12 universal time over the south Pacific. The total solar eclipse will end at 23:48 universal time west of Chile. Eclipse watchers wanting to experience this total solar eclipse will have to visit northern Australia or take a south Pacific cruise.
A partial solar eclipse will be visible from most of the southern Pacific Ocean including New Zealand and parts of Antarctica.
Observing Solar Eclipses
Looking directly at the Sun at any time is unsafe and can cause blindness. Never look at the Sun with the naked eye or any optical instrument lacking a high quality solar filter.
During a solar eclipse the Sun appears less bright, so the eye's natural defense mechanism does not work. Yet the Sun can still blind anyone looking at the Sun. Hence trying to directly watch a solar eclipse can blind a person.
To safely observe a solar eclipse use a pinhole, or small optical instrument to project the solar image onto a piece of paper or cardboard.
Further Reading
NASA Eclipse web site, eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html, accessed December 27, 2012
Paul A. Heckert - I have a Ph.D. in astrophysics, over 30 years experience teaching physics and astronomy, and over 60 published research articles.
