Nathaniel Cruz, deputy administrator for operations of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), said there will most likely be cloud cover in large parts of the country that may obscure the view of the partial solar eclipse, which will happen from 8 to 11 a.m. Philippine time.

“We might be able to view the partial solar eclipse partially,” Cruz told the Inquirer.

He blamed two low-pressure areas in the country for the cloud cover.

One low-pressure area was spotted southwest of Central Luzon while another one was detected east of the Visayas.

Still hopeful

Cruz said that if the eclipse occurred from March to May, the chances to view it completely would have been high.

Frederick Gabriana of the University of the Philippines’ Astronomical Society and an instructor of astronomy at the Rizal Technological University (RTU) said he and other observers were still hopeful they would get to see the eclipse.

“We still hope for the best. I will still bring out my telescope with the necessary filters so that if the sun comes out, I can observe the eclipse,” he told the Inquirer.

Gabriana said that if the cloud cover is still thin, the sun just might peek out. “Of course, it would be another thing if it rains.”

Total in Shanghai

The eclipse will be visible in Shanghai as a total solar eclipse and it will last an estimated five minutes and eight seconds. Gabriana said there would not be another eclipse of this duration until 2132.

The record for the longest total solar eclipse was recorded in the Philippines in June 1955 at seven minutes and six seconds in San Pablo City, and six minutes and one second in Metro Manila.

“For those born after 1955, like us, going to China for Wednesday’s eclipse will give us the chance to see the longest eclipse of our lifetime.

“Even if we chase total eclipses (going to different countries to wherever the total phase is), we will never experience another eclipse longer than this one. Unless we live for the next 123 years or until June 13, 2132,” Gabriana said.

Around 60 astronomy enthusiasts from various local associations have gone to China to view the total solar eclipse. Unfortunately, Gabriana did not make the trip.

In January 2010, there will be another partial solar eclipse that can be viewed in the Philippines but Gabriana said this would be seen as a total solar eclipse somewhere else.

Annular eclipse

It would be an “annular eclipse” in other parts of Asia, he said. An annular eclipse means the moon will appear as a big spot on the sun but will not cover the whole sun.

There will be another total eclipse that will be visible from Indonesia on March 9, 2016. This eclipse will appear only as a partial solar eclipse in Philippine skies.

In October 1995, Gabriana was part of the team that viewed a total solar eclipse in Languyan, Tawi-Tawi, that lasted two minutes and four seconds. But he said they were frustrated when it rained in the area.

“That’s why many in our team were determined to go to China to make up for that unfortunate missed event,” he said.