(TAN): Astronomers and stargazers who take the pain of travelling tens of thousands of miles across the world to witness celestial wonders are largely going to miss the December 14 total solar eclipse that will be seen from across Chile and Argentina, thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic which has limited travel, reported Washington Post. Totality during the eclipse will reportedly last just over two minutes.
One thing that might be particularly spectacular about this eclipse is that it will supposedly meet a meteor shower. The Geminid meteor shower, which could slingshot dozens of shooting stars across the sky every hour, will have just peaked — meaning sporadic green meteors may make an appearance when the sun goes dark. Included in the path are the northern fringes of Patagonia, a South American region known for its natural beauty. It’s home to desert, volcanoes, the Andes Mountains, glaciers and breathtaking fjords.
A number of travel agencies offered combined sightseeing and eclipse tours, scouting out locations to build an itinerary years in advance. In the past several months, however, they have been forced to cancel their trips.
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Both Chile and Argentina last witnesses a total solar eclipse on July 2, 2019. That one featured a wide path of totality that crossed through La Serena, Chile, before passing south of Córdoba, Argentina. The eclipsing sun and moon set together just south of Buenos Aires. That was the first total solar eclipse globally since the “Great American Eclipse”.
A state of emergency in Chile exists until at least December 11. A 14-day quarantine will not be required after December 7 in Chile, but a negative PCR test will remain necessary. Upon entrance, additional regional travel restrictions may limit one’s ability to reach certain areas. Whereas in Argentina, the US Embassy has listed the country as
being at a Level 4 out of 4 “do not travel” advisory.
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