Total Solar Eclipse – 14 December, 2020

Total Solar Eclipse - 14 December, 2020

On December 14, 2020 a total solar eclipse will be visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses the Pacific Ocean, South America and the Atlantic Ocean.

This total solar eclipse, the last eclipse of 2020, will be visible from Chile and some parts of Argentina in the afternoon. Some regions of southern South America, south-west Africa, and Antarctica will see a partial solar eclipse.

Total Solar Eclipse 2020 World Map
Image Courtesy of Xavier Jubier – http://xjubier.free.fr/ and Google Maps. – Click Image to Enlarge

The total eclipse begins roughly 600km east of the Marquesas Islands in the south-central Pacific Ocean. The Moon’s central shadow races across the Pacific not touching land for over 6500 kilometers until reaching the small Chilean island of Mocha at 12:58 pm local time.

Below are some more detailed maps of the 2020 total solar eclipse across Chile and Argentina.

2020 Total Solar Eclipse – Chile

In Chile, the partial phase of this eclipse on 14 December, 2020 begins just before noon as the Moon takes a small ‘bite’ out of the Sun’s top-left limb. This is often called ‘First Contact’.

The Sun and Moon as seen just before noon ART on 14 December, 2020

Totality (the time when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s disk) occurs roughly an hour and 20 minutes after first contact. This is called ‘Second Contact’.

This total phase of the eclipse can only be observed in a narrow corridor some 90 miles in wide from northern to southern edge.

The total phase can be seen in portions of Araucanía Region, Los Ríos Region, and a very small part of Bío Bío Region. Cities in the path include Temuco, Villarrica, and Pucón.

Two large volcanoes are in the path of totality namely the active volcano ‘Volcán Villarrica’ and less active ‘Volcán Lanín’. Villarrica stands 2860 meters (9380 ft) in height. Lanin stands at 3776 meters (12388 ft).

Total Solar Eclipse 2020 - Lanin Volcano, Argentina
Lanin Volcano, Chile – Image Credit: Wikipedia

Detailed map – The Path of Totality through Chile

Total Solar Eclipse 2020 path - Argentina
Detailed map of the path of totality – Chile- CLICK TO ENLARGE

2020 Total Solar Eclipse – Argentina

Totality will also be visible across the sparsely inhabited Northern Patagonia Region, specifically the provinces of Neuquén and Río Negro), passing through cities including Piedra del Águila, Sierra Colorada, Ministro Ramos Mexía, Junín de los Andes, and parts of in San Martín de los Andes and San Carlos de Bariloche.

Total Solar Eclipse 2020 Map - Argentina
Detailed map of the path of totality – Neuquén, Argentina- CLICK TO ENLARGE
Total Solar Eclipse 2020 path - Argentina, Río Negro
Detailed map of the path of totality – Río Negro, Argentina- CLICK TO ENLARGE
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