The solar eclipse of July 22, 2009 is the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century. The totality will last 6 minutes and 39 seconds but that’s in the ocean. The North Iwo Jima island in Japan will witness the totality closest to the maximum time. The Philippines will not be in the line of totality but if the weather cooperates, a partial eclipse should be visible here.
If the weather in Metro Manila is clear, the moon can be seen covering the sun by as much as half, or 49.5 percent, by Gabriana’s calculations. The eclipse can be viewed by residents in the metropolis from 8:32 a.m. to 11:01 a.m.
In Laoag City, 61.4 percent of the sun will be covered, 59.2 percent in Vigan City, 55.4 percent in Baguio City, 45.4 percent in Sorsogon, 36.6 percent in Cebu and 27.7 percent in Davao, according to Gabriana. (Source: Inquirer.net)
Caution: NEVER look directly at a solar eclipse even if it’s partial without any special filters! 
There are a few websites that will have a live webcast of the total solar eclipse event.
The Philippines will get another chance to see a partial solar eclipse on April 20, 2023. I’d be nearing my 40’s then. 
The last time Pinoys saw a total solar eclipse was in the morning of March 18, 1988 in southern Mindanao. So when do we actually get another total solar eclipse? Well, don’t get too excited.
21st century’s upcoming total solar eclipses in the Philippines!
April 20, 2042 – Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, north Pacific – 04m 51s
April 11, 2070 – Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines – 04m 04s
May 22, 2096 – Indonesia, Central Pacific, Philippines – 06m 07s
That’s 3 total solar eclipses in the Philippines this century. Let’s hope we’re still around to see at least the one in the year 2042. 
Not so fast though, we still have a problem…
This map shows the artificial night sky brightness here in the Philippines. Because of light pollution, we don’t see the night sky here in the city as it really is.
I remember when I was a kid, the night sky was filled with stars twinkling in all directions. I’m not sure but it might have been the Milky Way I was enjoying then. I just remember being awed by that spectacle but as the years go by, those stars faded from the sky. I first thought that the stars had died which is stupid because we would have seen hundreds of supernovas if they did. But I later learned that the true culprit was pollution, both air and light.
Light pollution also affects solar eclipses because instead of getting a dark night-like sky, the city lights brighten up the horizon and the rest of the sky. This obviously ruins the effect of the eclipse for everyone.
Right now, we’re faring better than Japan or the east coast of the United States. (Full world map here.) But things certainly won’t get any better as the years go by. I’m not sure but Metro Manila is now probably Class 7 in John Bortle’s Light Pollution Scale with that red spot there. Makes me wish I live someplace else like maybe in northern Luzon or in some Visayan island. 
So what do we do? Turn of all the lights?
The light pollution problem isn’t really brought to attention in the media that much compared to other issues like air pollution and global warming. But it’s just as important. It’s not just about seeing the stars better. Few people realize that we have way too many lights on than we really need even during daytime. Think about all the energy wasted. Most of the night light in big cities just goes out into space. We should definitely work in finding ways to use light more efficiently in the cities.
Assuming space travel is not yet that common, our grandkids may never be able to see a starlit night sky here on our planet. Some people might say that this is the price we pay for progress so we’ll just have to live with it. Well I think that’s a pathetic excuse. We don’t think global warming is a good price to pay just for the advancement of human civilization, do we?
Credits: 21st century solar eclipses and World Atlas of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness
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Filipino Catholic · Hobby Blogger · On and Off Web Developer · Frustrated Web Designer · Rabid Bookworm · Music Junkie · Technophile
Solar Eclipses and Light Pollution in the Philippines
If the weather in Metro Manila is clear, the moon can be seen covering the sun by as much as half, or 49.5 percent, by Gabriana’s calculations. The eclipse can be viewed by residents in the metropolis from 8:32 a.m. to 11:01 a.m.
In Laoag City, 61.4 percent of the sun will be covered, 59.2 percent in Vigan City, 55.4 percent in Baguio City, 45.4 percent in Sorsogon, 36.6 percent in Cebu and 27.7 percent in Davao, according to Gabriana. (Source: Inquirer.net)
Caution: NEVER look directly at a solar eclipse even if it’s partial without any special filters!
There are a few websites that will have a live webcast of the total solar eclipse event.
The Philippines will get another chance to see a partial solar eclipse on April 20, 2023. I’d be nearing my 40’s then.
The last time Pinoys saw a total solar eclipse was in the morning of March 18, 1988 in southern Mindanao. So when do we actually get another total solar eclipse? Well, don’t get too excited.
21st century’s upcoming total solar eclipses in the Philippines!
April 20, 2042 – Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, north Pacific – 04m 51s
April 11, 2070 – Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines – 04m 04s
May 22, 2096 – Indonesia, Central Pacific, Philippines – 06m 07s
That’s 3 total solar eclipses in the Philippines this century. Let’s hope we’re still around to see at least the one in the year 2042.
Not so fast though, we still have a problem…
I remember when I was a kid, the night sky was filled with stars twinkling in all directions. I’m not sure but it might have been the Milky Way I was enjoying then. I just remember being awed by that spectacle but as the years go by, those stars faded from the sky. I first thought that the stars had died which is stupid because we would have seen hundreds of supernovas if they did. But I later learned that the true culprit was pollution, both air and light.
Light pollution also affects solar eclipses because instead of getting a dark night-like sky, the city lights brighten up the horizon and the rest of the sky. This obviously ruins the effect of the eclipse for everyone.
Right now, we’re faring better than Japan or the east coast of the United States. (Full world map here.) But things certainly won’t get any better as the years go by. I’m not sure but Metro Manila is now probably Class 7 in John Bortle’s Light Pollution Scale with that red spot there. Makes me wish I live someplace else like maybe in northern Luzon or in some Visayan island.
So what do we do? Turn of all the lights?
The light pollution problem isn’t really brought to attention in the media that much compared to other issues like air pollution and global warming. But it’s just as important. It’s not just about seeing the stars better. Few people realize that we have way too many lights on than we really need even during daytime. Think about all the energy wasted. Most of the night light in big cities just goes out into space. We should definitely work in finding ways to use light more efficiently in the cities.
Assuming space travel is not yet that common, our grandkids may never be able to see a starlit night sky here on our planet. Some people might say that this is the price we pay for progress so we’ll just have to live with it. Well I think that’s a pathetic excuse. We don’t think global warming is a good price to pay just for the advancement of human civilization, do we?
Credits: 21st century solar eclipses and World Atlas of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness