When Lomé, Togo Viewers Watched the Solar Eclipse in 2018

The media often makes claims that can sometimes be misleading. This is evident in the case of an alleged total eclipse telecast by UTV at 4:30 PM on August 2, 2018, from Ghana, a claim which we will debunk and clarify further. This article will provide a detailed breakdown of the event and correct the misunderstanding regarding the timing and visibility of the eclipse for viewers in Lomé, Togo, on longitude 31°E.

Sorting Fact from Fiction

Firstly, it is crucial to understand the sequence of events and the truth behind the claim. The media report in question is quite misleading, for there was no total eclipse on August 2, 2018. In reality, a partial solar eclipse was observed on August 11, 2018, but it was visible from the High Arctic region. Unfortunately, Ghana did not experience a solar eclipse on the reported date.

The Correct Information

The confusion arises from the difference in longitudes and the associated time zones. The longitude of 105°W relative to Greenwich and 31°E create a significant time difference. For every 15° of longitude, there is an approximately one-hour time difference. Therefore, someone on 105°W longitude is 136° west of someone on 31°E longitude. This difference equates to almost 9.10 hours.

Assuming the broadcast was at 4:30 PM GMT from Ghana (105°W), we can use the longitude difference to determine the local time for viewers in Lomé, Togo (31°E). With a time difference of 9 hours and 4 minutes, the eclipse broadcast would be seen 9 hours and 4 minutes earlier in Lomé, Togo.

Calculating the Local Time

To visualize this, we move the eclipse broadcast time back 9 hours and 4 minutes. Since the broadcast time was 4:30 PM BST/GMT, subtracting 9 hours and 4 minutes from this time gives:

4:30 PM - 9 hours 7:30 AM 7:30 AM - 4 minutes 7:26 AM

Therefore, local viewers in Lomé, Togo, would have seen the eclipse broadcast at around 7:26 AM local time, depending on the actual timing of the broadcast from Ghana.

Conclusion

The apparent solar eclipse telecast from Ghana on August 2, 2018, was a misreport. The correct information indicates that a partial solar eclipse on August 11, 2018, was only visible in the High Arctic, and there was no eclipse in Ghana on the reported date. For viewers in Lomé, Togo, on longitude 31°E, the eclipse would have been observed 9 hours and 4 minutes earlier at around 7:26 AM local time.