Partial solar eclipse visible from Cape Town on 14 December
December’s solar eclipse will only be visible from parts in South Africa, while most of South America, the Pacific, Atlantic and the Indian Ocean, and Antarctica will be in the good seats.
While the eclipse will be visible from Bloemfontein and Cape Town, those in Johannesburg and Pretoria won’t be able to enjoy the solar event, according to Vercalendario.
Solar eclipse December 2020
Date and time
The partial eclipse will begin at 15:33 SAST (South African Standard Time), although this will only be visible to viewers in South America. The maximum eclipse period starts at 18:13. The eclipse will end after sunset, at 20:53.
| Event | Time in South Africa |
| First location to see the partial eclipse begin | 15:33:55 |
| First location to see the full eclipse begin | 16:32:34 |
| Maximum eclipse | 18:13:28 |
| Last location to see the full eclipse end | 19:54:18 |
| Last location to see the partial eclipse end | 20:53:03 |
At that time, the eclipse will be below the horizon, and won’t be visible to residents in the southern areas of South Africa anymore. The map below, from NASA, shows the path of the Total Solar Eclipse.
The northern and southern path limits are blue and the central line is red. The interactive map can be viewed here.
When is the next solar eclipse
Several other solar events will occur over the coming decade, including both an annular and total eclipse in 2021, and again in 2023. However, none of those will be visible from South Africa.
We’re going to have to wait a while. The next total eclipse will take place on 25 November 2030. The next two after that will only be visible in August 2046 and again on July 2055.
As for the next annular solar eclipse, it won’t swing by our region until 24 October 2060, and the one after that will only roll around again on 23 April 2107.
What is a solar eclipse
A total solar eclipse happens when the moon crosses paths with the sun. During that time, the moon will cast a shadow on Earth, and those in its path will experience a few seconds or up to several minutes of twilight.
The closer you are to the central line of the totality, the darker it will be in your region. A partial solar eclipse happens when the moon doesn’t block the sun entirely.
A “ring of fire” or annular eclipse, is when the moon passes in front of the Sun but is too small to cover all of the sun’s disk. Because the moon’s orbit is elliptical and not circular, it will at times be farther away from Earth.
In a total solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun, creating temporary darkness in the sky. In a partial solar eclipse, the moon covers the sun only partly, making the sun appear in a crescent shape.
Safety measures
If you are in the line of totality, the general rule is not to stare directly at the Sun. However, there’s an exception. Only when the Sun is completely hidden from view, will you be able to stare directly at it and witness the corona.
Apart from that brief window, you must wear proper eye protection or specialised glasses to look at the Sun. If you don’t, you will suffer long-term or even permanent damage to your vision.
Inspect your solar filter or solar glasses before using them. Always make sure that the glasses you purchase are ISO certified. Make sure there are no holes in the lens or are damaged in any way.
You can use older glasses if it isn’t broken. If you wear prescription eyeglasses, wear solar glasses over them to view the eclipse. Only remove the eclipse glasses after you have looked away from the sun.
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