The annular solar eclipse, which will be visible in the country, will coincide with the longest day of the year and Father’s Day, tomorrow, Sunday, June 21.
Ghela Quiron of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration  Space Science and Astronomy Section said that the two astronomical events taking place on the same day is a rare phenomenon  in the country.
According to Quiron, an annular eclipse happens when the Sun, Moon, and Earth align, and the Moon is at its “apogee,” or its furthest distance from the Earth.
“Because the moon is farther away from Earth, it seems smaller and does not block the entire view of the Sun, thus creating an ‘annulus’ or ‘ring of fire’ effect,” Quiron explained.
The weather specialist said that the phenomenon would be observed as a partial solar eclipse in the Philippines and has a good view in the northernmost parts of Luzon.
Quiron said the event is best viewed in Itbayat, Batanes and Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, which have an eclipse obscuration of up to 91 percent. Eclipse obscuration is the fraction of the Sun’s surface area covered by the Moon.
Eclipse obscuration in the Visayas and the Mindanao areas ranges from 52 to 66 percent and 43 to 58 percent, respectively.
PAGASA warned the public that they should never look directly at the Sun during any type of solar eclipse as it is dangerous and can damage the eyes. Quiron advised those who want to view the event to use eclipse glasses or binoculars and telescopes with solar filters or other alternative ways such as water reflection and pinhole projection.
Coinciding with this rare type of solar eclipse is the Philippines is the summer solstice at 5:44 a.m.
During this event, also called the June solstice, daytimes are their longest and nights are at their shortest.
PAGASA explained that this is the time when the Sun attains its greatest declination of +23.5 degrees and passes directly overhead at noon for all observers at latitude 23.5 degrees North, which is known as the Tropic of Cancer.
This event also marks the start of the apparent southward movement of the Sun in the ecliptic, PAGASA added. (Alexandria San Juan)