150 Seconds August Great Solar Eclipse

CAIRO – 5 July 2017: There are many astronomical phenomena occurring regularly each year like solstices, equinoxes or northern lights which attract and prompt many to plan a special travel according to the timing and location. While the Aurora Borealis spectacle can last from 10 minutes to a day and is available through four summer months, the equinoxes and solstices which mark the four seasons of the year are precise events celebrated for a few days. The phenomena of eclipses is a very brief event. The formula that the rarer the more attractive seems to prove right for those who make special and often distant travel arrangements to witness the events of solar eclipse lasting seconds.



21 August 2017 solar eclipse visibility in Europe – Wikemedia


This summer brings two of the rare astronomical events. A partial lunar eclipse will occur on August 7 and a total solar Eclipse will take place on August 21. This solar eclipse has been named the “Great American Eclipse” due to it being most visible in the U.S. The Moon will pass between the Earth and the Sun resulting in the belt of visibility across United States, Pacific and Atlantic Ocean. The eclipse is best seen along that belt.

The rare event will last up to150 seconds. The eclipse has resulted in numerous travel preparations across the United States. No surprise that the citizens of the United States are awaiting with anticipation as the most recent eclipse of this type occurred in 1979. The solar eclipse will also be partially visible in some parts of western Europe, far north east corners of Asia and Northern parts of South America.



Global map of the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 – Ekkehard Domning via Wikimedia Commons


Egypt is certainly one of the best places to witness the rare events when the astronomical alignments synchronize with the land. Egypt can expect partial visibility during the annular solar eclipse on 21 June 2020 which will coincide with the summer solstice. This is when the total solar eclipse will be in the closest proximity to Egypt. The most recent total eclipse took place in Egypt in 2015. 2006 was the year when the eclipse passed through the Egyptian-Libyan border attracting many travelers.



Partial lunar eclipse – Photo-augenblick via Pixabay


While the August solar eclipse will not be visible from Egypt, there is another astronomical phenomenon taking place this summer just two weeks ahead of it and the good news is that there is no need to move out of Egypt to witness it. A partial lunar eclipse will occur on Monday 7 August. Although the lunar eclipse might not seem as spectacular as the total solar, it certainly offers much longer visibility. The phenomena will last for five hours from early to late evening and will be visible from around the country.

The diversity of landscape across Egypt presents a variety of choice from which to observe the August full Moon with a difference. One month to go is plenty of time to choose from the variety of exquisite nature settings for the one and only magical moment of witnessing the lunar eclipse. Given all the excellent locations, why not watch a lunar eclipse in your August getaway?



Aurora Borealis in Alaska – Jousha Strang via Wikimedia Commons