Eclipse is better in a cloudless sky

Accra, March 27, GNA - A meteorologist on Sunday said for the eclipse of the sun to be spectacular and noticed, there should be a nearly cloudless sky on Wednesday March 29.

He said; " If the sky is overcast with clouds in any part of the corridor where the eclipse may pass it may be unnoticed."


Mr Ayitari Juati, officer in-charge of the Airport Meteorological Office, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that Ghana would be the first country in Africa to experience the eclipse.


He said the last time an eclipse occurred on the Continent was 87 years ago on May 29, 1919.


Mr Juati explained that the eclipse would begin from north-eastern Brazil and travel through the Atlantic Ocean, cross the Equator and make a land fall at Princess Town near Axim in the Western Region. He said Ghana would experience the eclipse between 0800 hours and 0930 hours and would last for about one to four minutes in the southern sector of the country while the northern sector would partially notice it under a minute.


Giving details, Mr Juati said the highest intensity of the eclipse would last for a little over three minutes and would be experienced within the corridors of Princess Town, Axim, Takoradi and its environs in the Western Region.

It would continue through Breman Asikuma in the Central Region, Cape Coast, Saltpond, Winneba, Dunkwa-On-Offin as well as Bawjiase and its environs in the Central Region.


Mr Juati said in the Eastern Region, the eclipse would pass through Koforidua, Begoro, Akim Oda and its environs and then move through Kpeve and Ho in the Volta Region and then cross to Togo. He said towns along the second corridors of Prestea, Nkawkaw, Accra, Tema, Jasikan, Dzodze and its environs would experience the eclipse for a little over two minutes.


Other towns and cities in the northern sector of the country will observe the eclipse partially under a minute. Mr Juati noted that although there had been total eclipse visible somewhere on the earth in most years, some were more conveniently observed than others.


" Eclipse where the path totally crosses major population centres, generate most interest in the public, " he added.