This is how to see a solar eclipse in Cancun

This article explains when the solar eclipses of 2022 will occur and provides recommendations to see them safely.

This is how to see a solar eclipse in Cancun
Eclipses of the Sun 2022: Dates and guide to see them from Cancun. Photo by Jordon Conner / Unsplash

This 2022 we will witness different astronomical phenomena, among them two solar eclipses, so here we tell you when they will occur and if it will be possible to see them from Mexico, mainly from the city of Cancun.

What is a solar eclipse?

Its name comes from the Greek "ékleipsis" and means "disappearance" or "abandonment". There are three types of eclipses:

Apophis asteroid impact alert is activated.
Total solar eclipse: for a total solar eclipse to occur, the Sun, Moon and Earth must be in a straight line.
Annular solar eclipse: occurs when the Moon is aligned between the Sun and the Earth, but is at its farthest point from the Earth.
Partial solar eclipse: occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are not exactly aligned. The Sun will appear to have a dark shadow on only part of its surface.

In the case of a total eclipse, you will be able to observe the Sun's wonderful atmosphere which is also known as the "Solar Corona". This is the outermost layer that extends for a million kilometers above the atmosphere and has a very low density, but a very high temperature of almost 2 million degrees Celsius.

When will there be a solar eclipse in Mexico?

This 2022 there will be two solar eclipses:

April 30: it will be visible in southern South America, the southeastern Pacific Ocean and the Antarctic Peninsula; unfortunately it will not be visible in Mexico.

October 25, 2022: it will be visible in Greenland, Iceland, Europe, northeastern Africa, the Middle East, western Asia, India and western China, but not in Mexico.

Although we will not be able to witness the two previous ones, the good news is that we will have two total lunar eclipses:

May 16: it will be visible in Europe, Africa, South America and North America, including Mexico.

November 8: it will be visible for those in Asia, Australia, the Pacific, South America and North America, including Mexico.

How to see a solar eclipse in Cancun?

You don't need to go to any special place to see the eclipse, but the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) recommends "a nice, uncovered place with good visibility of the sky", so you could do it from a beach in the hotel zone, Malecón Tajamar or any other open space that allows you to appreciate this great spectacle.

How long does the solar eclipse last?

Partial solar eclipse on April 30: it will begin at 18:45 UTC and will last four hours. Its maximum point will be at 20:41 UTC.

Solar eclipse of October 25: it will begin at 08:58 am UTC and will last four hours. Its maximum point will be at 11:00 am.

NASA recommendations seeing a solar eclipse

Use special solar eclipse viewing glasses (compatible with ISO 12312-2 standards).
Never look directly at the Sun without the proper glasses, you could seriously injure your eyes.
Do not use normal sunglasses to view the eclipse.
Make an inexpensive and safe solar viewer, just with wooden slats, lenses, rubber bands, paper and popsicle sticks.