Belize to Witness an Eclipse of a Lifetime

The Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology is hosting a first of its kind solar eclipse viewing on Saturday. It’s an educational and engaging experience for the country, as it celebrates the wonders of science and culture. At Maya archaeological sites across the country, including Altun Ha, Lamanai and Cerro Maya, persons will be able to go and witness the eclipse. Meanwhile, at the House of Culture in Belize City, there will be live performances, a Pok-ta-pok demonstration and vendor stalls all centred around the celestial phenomenon of a solar eclipse. The annular eclipse takes place for a little over two minutes beginning at eleven-thirty-four a.m. on Saturday. Today, the ministry’s communications officer Kevin Chen shared details.

Kevin Chen

Kevin Chen, Communications Officer, Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology

“So we’re actually, portions of the Corozal District, the Orange Walk District and the Belize District and itsy bitsy parts of the Stann Creek District will have the full viewing, the front seat experience to this eclipse. They will be able to see the moon directly over the sun. So they will get one hundred percent visibility of the annular eclipse. This eclipse is a perfect opportunity for us to bring elements of education, elements of culture and elements of science and technology together to maximize the viewing experience for students, for the general public and anybody who would want to join in. So the ministry through NICH and the Institute of Archaeology is having activities and other viewing experiences at the Altun Ha, Lamanai and Cerro Maya Archaeological Reserves – those are located ideally in the path of the eclipse. So what you can accept there? You go in – it’s a Saturday of course so standard fees apply at those sites. You go in, you get glasses, there will be snacks on a first come first served basis. Bring out the entire family to enjoy the event at those sites. And then for Belize City, we are having an event at the government house so we’re going to bring together some students, members of the cultural community, Miss Felicita Cantun – a well known Yucatec Maya leader from Yo Creek in Orange Walk. She is coming and she will be doing a sacred fire ceremony, a fuego sagrado ceremony at that event. And we are also having a demonstration of the Pok-ta-pok Maya game. So those are the thing you can look forward to on Saturday.”