March 8 is the date when 2016 will witness its first total solar eclipse. As the moon passes in front of the sun, the eclipse will reveal itself to millions of people on March 8 and 9 in Indonesia and on the Pacific and Indian oceans, if the skies remain clear. Skywatchers and astronomy enthusiasts can witness the spectacle online.
The first city to get a glimpse of the total solar eclipse will be Palembang, Indonesia, that can been seen at 7:20 a.m. local time. This is when the moon will orbit in front of the sun, casting a long shadow by blocking it completely.
The enthusiasts who have been eagerly awaiting the spectacle can watch online starting at 6 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, courtesy of a live stream hosted by the Slooh Community Observatory.
The eclipse will be able to be seen all across Indonesia, especially from the islands of Borneo, Sumatra, Halmahera and Sulawesi. In Southern and Eastern parts of Asia, partial views of the eclipse will be viewable. It can also be witnessed in some parts of Australia and Hawaii. Needless to say, the skywatchers are warned from looking directly at the sun through a telescope or with naked eyes, especially when it is going through partial phases, says B. Ralph Chou, Optometrist and eclipse chaser from the University of Waterloo. You can either make your very own pinhole projector or use specialized eclipse-viewing glasses.
According to Slooh Observatory's website, views of eclipse from Indonesia will be available along with "live feeds from several other locations along the eclipse path." The viewers can also see the broadcast of the eclipse exclusively on NASA TV as well, starting 8 p.m. EST (1 a.m. GMT on March 9).
Many scientists and followers of solar eclipse have traveled across the globe, especially for this occasion, to catch a rare glimpse of a total solar eclipse. Many international touring agencies have also organized land tours for photographers and groups to witness the nature's marvel. A former scientist from NASA will lead a group of observers from Canada, Britain, the U.S., China and Iran on a cruise ship.
