No eclipse for Scifest visitors

FRIDAY’S total solar eclipse may be happening at the same time as the continent’s biggest science extravaganza but that does not mean that visitors to Scifest Africa, which starts today, will get to see it with their own eyes.

Rhodes University mathematics education professor Marc Schäfer – who is passionate about astronomy – yesterday said the solar eclipse would only be totally visible in a relatively thin strip in the north Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and the British Isles.

He said although the rest of Europe and north Africa would experience a partial eclipse of about 40% of the sun, South Africa would see nothing.

“This [partial eclipse] covers an area mostly in west Africa and diagonally across to Egypt … the rest of Africa will experience no covering of the sun.”

According to Schäfer, the biggest natural impact of a total solar eclipse is on the production of green energy.

“The European Union estimates that solar energy production will temporarily decrease up to about 30% of normal production.”

Although a solar eclipse could also impact on weather processes and lead to a wind and temperature decrease in the northern hemisphere, Schäfer said it would have minimal to no impact on southern hemisphere weather patterns.

Experts say a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the earth and the sun.

“The moon and the sun are perfectly aligned in such a way that the moon partially or fully obscures the sun,” Schäfer said.

“This can only occur during new moon.”

The eclipse also has minimal to no impact on tides as the broader alignment of the moon, earth and sun is the same as during any other new/full moon cycle.

The week-long Scifest Africa kicks off today and is themed “Science Alight”.

A highlight will be the presence of a top-flight National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) delegation that includes astronauts who have been on Mars missions. —