If you live in Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, or out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (on a private skiff, perhaps?) then, next week, you stand to witness one of nature’s most splendid spectacles. A total solar eclipse will take place. The rare celestial phenomenon will be wholly visible from Earth, but will only be able to be seen from islands in Indonesia, and out in the ocean. A full map of the eclipse’s total path can be found on TimeAndDate.com.
The eclipse, at its totality, will last for a whopping 4 minutes and 9 seconds. That means the sun will appear to be completely blotted out for the length of Gerardo’s “Rico Suave,” another dark time for this planet. The eclipse will start at 11:19 p.m. (local time) on March 8th, 2016, and it will reach full totality at 1:19 a.m. (or 5:59 p.m. in Los Angeles) on the 9th. While the total eclipse will only be seen from the South Pacific, partials will be seen from the southern coast of Alaska, Hawaii, China, and India.
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The next total solar eclipse won’t occur until August 21st, 2017, and will cut right through the middle of the U.S., right in the middle of the afternoon. The following total solar eclipse isn’t slated until July 2nd, 2019. These are rare, wonderful, gorgeous occurrences, these eclipses, and they happen so rarely that any chance to see one is a moment to be cherished. It’s always a fun intellectual stimulant to ponder your place in the great celestial dance. Get your smoked glass ready, prep your cardboard viewing boxes, and enjoy.
Top Image: Summit Entertainment
Witney Seibold is a contributor to the CraveOnline Film Channel, and the co-host of The B-Movies Podcast. He also contributes to Legion of Leia and to Blumhouse. You can follow him on “The Twitter” at @WitneySeibold, where he is slowly losing his mind.
