Whether you're an avid amateur astronomer or just like snuggling up with a loved one under the stars from time to time, watching the sky put on a show is magical no matter where you're from in the world.

South Africa has had a few gigantic celestial experience over the years - from every kind of Super moon you can imagine to spectacular meteor shows. But if the professionals are to be believed, then one astronomy phenomenon we won't be seeing any time soon is a total solar eclipse.

The next one that will be visible over our skies will be in 2030. It kind of makes you wish you had take the last one a bit more seriously.

PICS: Stunning 'strawberry moon' makes a northern appearance + must-visit stargazing spots in SA

However, if you marvel at orderly, seasonal and quite awe-inspiring beauty of it all and use it as your north star for choosing inspirational destinations - the following list of remaining 2019 highlights is where and when you can see an eclipse or two.

July: Total solar eclipse at twilight

Visible from the middle of the South Pacific, it would be best to see it from a luxury cruise ship - with many planning around the event. Other spots to view the eclipse includes Chile's Elqui Valley among the world's biggest telescopes, as well as western Argentina.

If you would love to see it, now's the time to plan a trip to one of these spots.

QUICK GUIDE TO CHILE:

16 July: Partial lunar eclipse

The Southern Hemisphere will get a turn with this partial lunar eclipse, expected to peak around 21:30.

12-13 August: Perseid Meteor Shower

One of the brightest, this meteor shower is debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, which goes around the sun every 133 years.

21-21 October: Orionid Meteor Shower

It will be peaking overnight, the second meteor shower caused by debris from the famous Halley's Comet.

11 November: Mercury crossing the Sun

This only happens every 13 years, where from Earth Mercury will look like a small teardrop on the surface of the sun. The Hong Kong Space Museum will be holding a special public viewing at Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront. You'll need some strong binoculars to be able to see the tiny planet.

QUICK GUIDE TO HONG KONG:

View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Discover Hong Kong (@discoverhongkong) on May 19, 2019 at 9:09pm PDT

17-18 November: Leonid Meteor Shower

This meteor shower is named after the constellation Leo and comes from the Comet Tempel-Tuttle.

24 November: Venus and Jupiter's 'Double Kiss'

The goddess of love and the god of sky and thunder will be in arms reach of each other at dawn on these days. From Earth, it will look like they're only two degrees apart, and on the 30th the moon will be joining in on the party.

13-14 December: Geminid Meteor Shower

Instead of a comet, these shooting stars are thought to be the debris of an asteroid, specifically the 3200 Phaethon.

21-22 December: Ursid Meteor Shower

The meteors will be active from 17 to 26 December, but peaking overnight on 21-22 December. They are named after the constellation of Ursa Minor.

26 December: Annular Solar Eclipse in South Asia

On the opposite side of the supermoon spectrum, you also get micro-moons when the moon is at its furthest from Earth, and if you're in Saudi Arabia, Oman, southern India, northern Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Singapore on Boxing Day this year, you'll see a solar eclipse with a micro-moon.

Because the moon won't be close enough to block out the sun, it will create a 'ring of fire' around the celestial being, which you can only look at using solar safety glasses.

Over the next 10 years - Matador suggest you head to these destinations you need to head to for a full blown solar eclipse:

July 2, 2019 — South Pacific, Chile, Argentina
December 14, 2020 — South Pacific, Chile, Argentina
December 4, 2021 — Antarctica
April 8, 2024 — Mexico, Continental US, Eastern Canada
August 12, 2026 — Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, Spain
August 2, 2027 — Morocco, Spain, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Somalia
July 22, 2028 — Australia, New Zealand
November 25, 2030 — Botswana, South Africa, Australia
March 30, 2033 — Eastern Russia, Alaska
March 20, 2034 — Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Sudan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, China

Find Your Escape by searching and comparing flight prices here. You can also sign-up for the Traveller24 Weekly Newsletter – Subscribe here. Or download the News24 App here, to receive expertly curated travel ideas and deals directly to your mobile.

Traveller24.com | SA in for a decade-long\, solar-eclipse sighting drought - but you could head to these interesting destinations

SA in for a decade-long, solar-eclipse sighting drought - but you could head to these interesting destinations

Post a comment 0