Perhaps you’ve experienced an eclipse in your lifetime; the anticipation, squinting upwards at a surreal sight, the world changing around you in real-time. If you’ve never witnessed one and you have an innate curiosity to do so, you’re not alone. Scientists have studied eclipses across the world for hundreds of years, and many outside of the scientific community have drawn their own conclusions, finding a deeper meaning in these celestial events.
Although some eclipses happen relatively often, between two and four times per year, they are not seen the world over, and typically span an area just 50 miles wide. This goes some way to explaining why the audience for each eclipse is statistically smaller than you might expect.
Although there are several types of eclipse – lunar, partial solar and annular solar for example – arguably the most well known is a total solar eclipse. This is largely due to its remarkable visual display. As the moon passes in front of the sun, casting a shadow over the Earth, it temporarily turns day into night and creates a diamond ring effect in the sky.
In the early morning on December 4th 2021, a total solar eclipse just like this will occur over the Southern Ocean between the South Orkney Islands and South Georgia. There are a number of expedition ships planning their route to be within the zone of totality when it takes place. In fact, it will only be possible to gain access to the 2021 solar eclipse path on board an Antarctic cruise. It’s the first total solar eclipse over Antarctica since 2003, and it will be a further 75 years before it happens again.
This eclipse will unfold in an unusual manner, moving from east to west rather than west to east, a phenomenon which is only possible in the Polar regions and can be seen more clearly on our 2021 solar eclipse map. Although there is no way to guarantee a clear sighting if the weather gods aren’t on side, you can be thankful that the eclipse is happening during the austral summer. If it were to happen during Antarctic winter – April to October – this area wouldn’t be accessible, even to the most eager adventurers.
Despite its popularity, only a handful of people will get to experience December 2021’s Antarctica eclipse. The lucky few will find themselves in a setting that is truly unique; picture it unfolding low on the horizon in an expanse of remote ocean. The experience will go far beyond the 40-70 seconds when the moon passes the sun; it is enriched by the voyage in its entirety with bustling penguin rookeries, majestic scenery on an unprecedented scale, and the immense sense of discovery that encompasses every Antarctic voyage.
This 2021 total solar eclipse in Antarctica will be a fascinating event for us all, but particularly those able to be present at the moment to witness it onboard an Antarctica solar eclipse cruise. After a year living in the shadow of a global pandemic, the shadow of the moon sounds like a rather magical idea indeed.
