NSRI warns of cosmic ‘trifecta’

A view of a partial solar eclipse seen over Eger, 127km northeast of Budapest, Hungary, on Friday. Picture: Peyter Komka

A view of a partial solar eclipse seen over Eger, 127km northeast of Budapest, Hungary, on Friday. Picture: Peyter Komka

Published Mar 20, 2015

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Cape Town - The cosmos is expected to do spectacular things over the next few days but the occurrence of a rare celestial “coincidence” has sea rescue authorities worried.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) warns that the new moon spring tide, with its strong rip currents and higher- and lower-than-normal high and low tides, could be further affected by a “trio of space events”.

Friday will see a “cosmic coincidence” or “trifecta”, which means the equinox, a solar eclipse and a super moon occur on the same day.

The solar eclipse thrilled thousands of sky gazers on remote Arctic islands on Friday but clouds disappointed some viewers of the rare celestial show that was also partly visible for millions in Europe, North Africa and Asia.

A super moon occurs when the moon orbits closer to Earth, and this only happens a few times each year. The equinox is the beginning of autumn for the Southern Hemisphere and the spring tide happens with the new moon phase and brings exaggerated high and low tides.

This combination is not expected again until 2034.

The astronomical phenomena will almost certainly see even stronger rip currents on Friday than the kind normally experienced with the usual, twice-monthly spring tide, said NSRI spokesman Craig Lambinon.

The tide is set to peak on Saturday on the day of the new moon, and the stronger rip currents are expected to last for several days.

Cape Argus and Reuters

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