This week’s solar eclipse to be visible from Romania

A partial solar eclipse, during which the moon will cover more than half of the sun’s disc, will also be visible from Romania. The eclipse will take place on Friday, March 20, between 10:48 and 13:04 and the peak will be at 11:55, according to the astronomical observatory in Bucharest. “It will be visible from across the country, best from the northwest region and not so good from the southeastern extreme, but it will not be a big difference,” according to researcher Adrian Sonka from the Astronomical Observatory "Amiral Vasile Urseanu" in Bucharest. Observers in Bucharest will see the sun's surface 43% covered by the moon's shadow at the peak of the eclipse. In Satu Mare, in northwestern Romania, the coverage will reach 55%. People can watch the eclipse without astronomical instruments. For safety, observers should use a green welding filter, according to specialists. The eclipse will not be visible however if the sky will be covered by a compact ceiling of clouds. The eclipse will be total at the North Pole and in the surrounding regions, including the Faroe Islands. It will be the only such phenomenon visible in Romania this year and over the next five years. The next sun eclipse visible from Romania will take place on March 21, 2020, when the moon will cover 11% of the sun’s disc. Romania has last seen a solar eclipse in 2011. Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com