Annular solar eclipse to be visible in Davao Occidental on Dec. 26

A rare sight will be visible in the southernmost part of the Philippines on December 26 due to an annular solar eclipse that has never been witnessed in the country in the past 75 years, according to PAGASA on Friday.

An annular solar eclipse will be observed at Balut, Sarangani Island in Davao Occidental at 2:30 p.m, with the partial eclipse starting to appear there at 12:43 p.m.

"The moon will cross the sun completely, however, the moon's orbit is in a position which is farthest away from Earth. This means that the moon's apparent size in the sky is not large enough to completely cover the sun as witnessed during total solar eclipses," astronomer Mario Raymundo, chief of the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory in UP Diliman said at a press briefing.

"Instead, this creates a 'ring of fire' effect," he added.

The best sites to see this "ring of fire" effect are Balut and Batulaki in Sarangani Island, Raymundo said.

The last time that an annular solar eclipse was witnessed in the country was on July 20, 1944.

The annularity on December 26 will also be visible in some parts of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam.

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Aside from the annular solar eclipse in Davao Occidental, the event can also be observed as partial eclipse in various parts of the country.

Raymundo also reminded the public to wear protective gears for the eyes and avoid looking directly at the sun.

The welders' glasses may be worn to filter harmful radiations. Exposed camera films may also be used but not for a long period of time, PAGASA said.

The public may likewise fill a basin with water and look at the reflection of the eclipse there.

Everyone is invited to visit the PAGASA Astronomical Observatory in Quezon City where telescopes and filters will be provided free of charge.

PAGASA underscored that the upcoming eclipse should not be associated with the previous earthquakes that hit Mindanao.

"Wala pang pag-aaral, scientifically na nagkaroon ng ganyang event, na nagkasabay sa lindol. Wala pang scientific basis 'yun. Kung sakaling magkaganoon, it's a coincidence," Raymundo said.

The next annular solar eclipse that will be visible in the Philippines is on February 28, 2063. — MDM, GMA News