THERE will be an annular eclipse of the sun in Kampala and other parts of the country on Friday morning, according to the National Aeronautic and Space Administration, NASA.
In the eclipse, the moon will throw its shadow onto the sun covering its middle part but leaving an outer ring. Viewed from here, the sun will appear like a ring of fire and the moon like a circular dark patch in the sun.
The eclipse will only dim but not totally darken the sky.
The NASA website says the eclipse will start in central Africa at dawn and then move east, through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia.
After leaving Africa, it will cross the Indian Ocean. The central path then continues into Asia through Bangladesh, India, Burma and China. In Kampala, the first appearance of the moon on the suns face, called 'first contact, will occur at about 7:05am, when the sun will be at the touchline of the horizon. As the sun continues to rise, more of the moons shadow will become visible. Mid-eclipse will be at 8:21am, with the sun at 18 degrees above the horizon. This is when watchers will be able to see the full ring of fire.
This period of maximum eclipse is expected to last seven minutes. The eclipse ends at 10:04am with the sun at 40 degrees above the horizon.
Other areas of the country, including Arua, Luwero and Wobulenzi, will witness the same phenomenon within a few minutes of the Kampala time.
The approximately 300km wide track within all stages of the eclipse will be running diagonally through the country from as far north as Arua down through Katakwi into western Kenya.
In the south, it enters the country through Lake Edward, running southwards into Lake Victoria.
All areas between these two lines will witness all the progression of the eclipse from the partial stage to the maximum eclipse and back into partial eclipse. Other areas of the country will see a partial eclipse.
Astronomy websites warn that it will not be safe to directly look at the sun with the naked eye as this will lead to burning of the retina and loss of visual functioning.
In the eclipse, the moon will throw its shadow onto the sun covering its middle part but leaving an outer ring. Viewed from here, the sun will appear like a ring of fire and the moon like a circular dark patch in the sun.
The eclipse will only dim but not totally darken the sky.
The NASA website says the eclipse will start in central Africa at dawn and then move east, through the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia.
After leaving Africa, it will cross the Indian Ocean. The central path then continues into Asia through Bangladesh, India, Burma and China. In Kampala, the first appearance of the moon on the suns face, called 'first contact, will occur at about 7:05am, when the sun will be at the touchline of the horizon. As the sun continues to rise, more of the moons shadow will become visible. Mid-eclipse will be at 8:21am, with the sun at 18 degrees above the horizon. This is when watchers will be able to see the full ring of fire.
This period of maximum eclipse is expected to last seven minutes. The eclipse ends at 10:04am with the sun at 40 degrees above the horizon.
Other areas of the country, including Arua, Luwero and Wobulenzi, will witness the same phenomenon within a few minutes of the Kampala time.
The approximately 300km wide track within all stages of the eclipse will be running diagonally through the country from as far north as Arua down through Katakwi into western Kenya.
In the south, it enters the country through Lake Edward, running southwards into Lake Victoria.
All areas between these two lines will witness all the progression of the eclipse from the partial stage to the maximum eclipse and back into partial eclipse. Other areas of the country will see a partial eclipse.
Astronomy websites warn that it will not be safe to directly look at the sun with the naked eye as this will lead to burning of the retina and loss of visual functioning.
