Melbourne
SUPERSTITIOUS Aussies might want to stay inside today as a super-size new moon eclipse hits on Friday the 13th for the first time in 44 years.
WHILE stargazers will be treated to a solar event that hasn’t taken place for 44 years, superstitious Aussies might want to stay inside.
That’s because today — on a date typically associated with bad omens and hockey mask-wearing psycho killers — a super-size new moon will block out part of the sun.
Millions of Australians will be able to catch a glimpse of the rare phenomenon on the country’s southeastern coast and Tasmania, while Kiwis can witness it on New Zealand’s Stewart Island.
The planet has not seen a solar eclipse fall on a Friday the 13th since December 1974 and if you miss this one, you won’t see another until 2080.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are aligned so the Earth glides through at least part of the moon’s shadow. That when the moon’s disk seems to take a chunk out of the sun. In the event of a total eclipse, the moon fully covers the sun.
Those braving the cold to watch today’s partial eclipse, will witness the Earth pass through the moon’s wide shadow cone, sending a slice of the sun into darkness.
Believers in the supernatural will be even more worried to hear that the moon is 50,000km closer to Earth than it usually is — creating a phenomenon that’s popularly known as a supermoon.
But, the amount of the sun’s disk that will be covered will depend on where you are.
According to National Geographic, Melbourne will see only a tiny nibble, as less than half of 1 per cent of the sun’s disk will be covered, while those in Hobart will see 3.5 per cent of the sun’s disk blotted out.
In southern Australia, you’ll be able to witness the phenomena from about 1pm and it is due to last about 40 minutes.
SUPERSTITIOUS Aussies might want to stay inside today as a super-size new moon eclipse hits on Friday the 13th for the first time in 44 years.
WHILE stargazers will be treated to a solar event that hasn’t taken place for 44 years, superstitious Aussies might want to stay inside.
That’s because today — on a date typically associated with bad omens and hockey mask-wearing psycho killers — a super-size new moon will block out part of the sun.
Millions of Australians will be able to catch a glimpse of the rare phenomenon on the country’s southeastern coast and Tasmania, while Kiwis can witness it on New Zealand’s Stewart Island.
The planet has not seen a solar eclipse fall on a Friday the 13th since December 1974 and if you miss this one, you won’t see another until 2080.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon and the sun are aligned so the Earth glides through at least part of the moon’s shadow. That when the moon’s disk seems to take a chunk out of the sun. In the event of a total eclipse, the moon fully covers the sun.
Those braving the cold to watch today’s partial eclipse, will witness the Earth pass through the moon’s wide shadow cone, sending a slice of the sun into darkness.
Believers in the supernatural will be even more worried to hear that the moon is 50,000km closer to Earth than it usually is — creating a phenomenon that’s popularly known as a supermoon.
But, the amount of the sun’s disk that will be covered will depend on where you are.
According to National Geographic, Melbourne will see only a tiny nibble, as less than half of 1 per cent of the sun’s disk will be covered, while those in Hobart will see 3.5 per cent of the sun’s disk blotted out.
In southern Australia, you’ll be able to witness the phenomena from about 1pm and it is due to last about 40 minutes.
