Kuwait city: The Al-Ojeiri Scientific Center announced that an annular solar eclipse, often referred to as a "ring of fire" eclipse, will take place on Tuesday. However, the eclipse will not be visible from Kuwait.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Yusef Al-Ojeiri, Director of the Al-Ojeiri Scientific Center, stated that the eclipse is scheduled to occur around 3:00 p.m. Kuwait time. The path of this ring-shaped eclipse will primarily traverse Antarctica and extend towards parts of South Africa and Chile. This event marks the first solar eclipse of the year.
The eclipse is characterized by the "ring of fire" effect, where the Moon will not completely cover the Sun, leaving a visible bright ring. The annular path of this phenomenon will span approximately 4,282 kilometers. Partial views of the eclipse will be accessible in a broad area, encompassing all of Antarctica, southeast Africa, the southernmost tip of South America, and extensive regions of the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, and Southern oceans. The maximum partial coverage, around 88 percent, is expected over Australia's Heard and McDonald Islands and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands.
Additionally, Al-Ojeiri noted a total lunar eclipse expected on March 3, which will cause the Moon to appear dark red, commonly known as a "blood moon," for about 58 minutes. This lunar eclipse will be observable in regions such as western North America, Australia, New Zealand, and east Asia. The peak of the eclipse is anticipated around 2:00 p.m. local time, although it will not be visible in Kuwait, with the best views centered over the Pacific and western North America. During the event, roughly 1.15 of the Moon's diameter will pass into Earth's shadow, making the Moon completely disappear at its maximum point.
Al-Ojeiri emphasized the significance of observing these celestial events for their scientific and educational value and their contribution to enhancing public interest in astronomy.