Thursday, May 2, 2024
Since experiencing the total eclipse on April 8, many people might still be holding onto left-over eclipse glasses. Now that the eclipse has come and gone, it is time to recycle used eclipse glasses.
From now through Tuesday, April 30, the community is encouraged to take eclipse glasses to the local Extraco Bank, so they can be sent to Latin America for an eclipse.
Certain areas in Latin America will have the chance to experience an annular solar eclipse on Oct. 2.
The ring of fire will be visible only within a path of annularity that passes across the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile, and southern Argentina.
Annularity occurs during the maximum phase of an annular eclipse when the Moon's entire disk is seen silhouetted against the Sun. This is a period between second and third contact during an annular eclipse, which can last from a fraction of a second to a maximum of 12 minutes 29 seconds.
According to space.com, “Areas will include the volcanic island of Rapa Nui/Easter Island, an iconic travel destination that's famous for the mysterious stone statues called moai, some of which reach 40 feet tall and weigh 75 tons.”
Places that people will gather for the annular solar eclipse:
Rapa Nui/Easter Island, Chile will last for five minutes, 38 seconds to six minutes.
Cochrane, Chile will last for five minutes, 40 seconds.
Perito Moreno National Park, Argentina will last for six minutes, 17 seconds.
Puerto Deseado, Argentina will last for three minutes, 22 seconds.
Puerto San Julian, Argentina will last for five minutes, 12 seconds.
This will be a longer lasting eclipse, meaning that the ring of fire will last up to seven minutes, 25 seconds, which is much longer than past eclipses.
The Oct. 2 annular solar eclipse is special for many different reasons, including the fact that it follows the Great North American Eclipse of April 8.
Extraco Bank is located at 2501 TX-36 BUS in Gatesville.
