Science Centre Organising Viewing Session For Rare Partial Solar Eclipse on 20 Apr

Last Updated on 2023-04-12 , 10:06 am

There often isn’t much to observe when you look up at the sky here, as most days the sky is filled with gloomy clouds and most nights there is too much light to see even a single star.

There will, however, be a partial solar eclipse on 20 April. This will be the first one since 2020, and you can head to the Science Centre to view it.

It may not be a full solar eclipse, but it is still a fascinating sight.

Viewing session at Science Centre

The partial solar eclipse observation will be held at the Science Centre Singapore Ecogarden on Thursday, 20 April, from 11 am to 1 pm.

The viewing event is free, but one must first purchase admission tickets to the Science Centre to enter.

For Singaporeans and PRs, the admission ticket prices are $6 for adults and $4 for children aged three to 12 years old and senior citizens over 60.

The partial eclipse will begin at 10:54 am and end at 12:58 pm, with the maximum eclipse occurring at 11:55 pm.

One can join the queue at the telescope viewing area to view the eclipse through a telescope. Each visitor will be given up to 30 seconds to use the telescope.

If you want to beat the queue, you can purchase your solar glasses online for $5 and redeem them at the Curiosity shop.

The centre also sells solar viewers, costing $5.90 each at the Astro Scientific Centre.

If you’re unable to turn up for the physical viewing session, you are still able to view the livestream of the eclipse on YouTube in the comfort of wherever you are.

Here are the full details of the event:

A Rare Kind of Eclipse

The Science Centre Observatory said on Thursday (6 April) that the solar eclipse this year was rather unusual as a total solar eclipse is visible in some places while an annular one is visible in others.

As we are out of the moon’s full shadow, Singapore and neighbouring countries such as Indonesia will only experience a partial solar eclipse.

The moon will only cover approximately 15% of the sun here.

Places like Exmouth in Western Australia will experience the full solar eclipse.

The partial solar eclipse will be visible in most parts of Singapore.

The next partial solar eclipse in Singapore will occur on 2 August 2027.

The Last Partial Solar Eclipse

The last partial solar eclipse in Singapore occurred on 21 June 2020.

It was a brilliant sight, with a complete “ring of fire” observed around the moon as it obscured the sun in many countries.

In parts of Northern India where the Greatest Eclipse was observed, the moon covered nearly 100% of the sun.

A lunar eclipse happens when Earth moves between the sun and the moon, blocking sunlight from falling on the moon.

Hence, a partial lunar eclipse occurs when only a portion of Earth’s shadow shields the moon.

As a result of the eclipse, the moon may appear reddish as only minimal sunlight reaches the moon at some stages.

Remember to view the eclipse using equipment with proper solar filters, as viewing it with the naked eye may damage your vision.