Sky enthusiasts are expected to witness the first solar eclipse of 2022 shortly, on April 30. According to Space.com, a partial solar eclipse will take place at the end of April, affecting parts of Antarctica, the southern tip of South America, the Pacific Ocean, and the Atlantic Ocean. The solar eclipse will begin at 2:45 PM EDT (18:45 UTC), and will be visible for the first time to sky observers in the viewing area. According to TimeandDate.com, the maximum eclipse will occur at 4:41 PM EDT (20:41 UTC), with the eclipse concluding at 6:37 PM EDT (22:37 UTC).
A solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun; in this case, it partially blocks the sun from viewers on Earth. During this month's partial solar eclipse, the moon will block 54% of the sun at its maximum. This is referred to as a partial solar eclipse since the moon passes in front of only a portion of the sun rather than covering it completely, allowing part of the sun to remain visible during the eclipse. The eclipse reaches its maximum stage at 4:41 PM EDT (20:41 UTC), as the point of the moon's shadow cone passes near the center of the Earth, according to EarthSky.org.
The eclipse on April 30 occurs just four days before the moon reaches its apogee, which is its farthest point from Earth. This will be the first of two partial solar eclipses in 2022, with the second one occurring on October 25. The next total solar eclipse will not be observed until 2023.
