Eclipse Happens

7 Responses to Eclipse Happens

1. Michael Wright says:

   August 17, 2017 at 11:57 am

   Nice article particularly “totality zone is a swath … about 70 miles across … whisk across the country from west to east at a breathtaking 1,650 mph”

   Your mention of topography creating prediction issues which I didn’t first think it made a difference but as written thanks to LRO, “with atomic clocks, cell phones and hand-held GPS, people want to know when things are going to happen down to the exact second.” And then you use this article to educate people the Moon is CLOSE to earth.

   I remember seeing the 1979 eclipse where I read magazines when and where, went to library to look at topo maps and chose a place in Oregon where it was flat and wide open (near Hanford bombing range). Some clouds but got to see and feel this unusual event.

   Fast forward to 17% into the 21st century of all kinds of stuff on the internet. With highly detailed astronomical webpages, astronomical motel rates, really neat telescope and other viewing options. And plus all the human foibles of recalled sun visors, predicted areas of cellphone outages, communities running out of toilet paper, etc. Put away the phone and experience the moment. Come to think of it, hundreds of years ago many people had no idea what this was, and they let their imagination run wild.

   In a forum on QRZ, amateur radio operator Jeffrey wrote:
   “Why do we need [emergency communication] nets for a couple of minutes of the moon passing in front of the sun? The sun sets every night providing full darkness, unlike this event which will provide a dusk like situation for a couple of minutes. This isn’t a natural disaster, it’s an eclipse.”
   • Paul Spudis says:

     August 17, 2017 at 12:27 pm

     Your mention of topography creating prediction issues which I didn’t first think it made a difference

     Somehow, I forgot to include a key link in the piece that describes the contribution of LRO topography to eclipse prediction. I will try to have this added — thanks for reminding me about it.
2. Grand Lunar says:

   August 17, 2017 at 8:45 pm

   Looking forward to this event!

   I’m curious if we’ve managed to capture what the Earth looks like from the Moon during the solar eclipse. Might be difficult to spot, I imagine.

   From the map, I’m in the 70% zone (Arizona). Still enough to see something significant. Will be the second time I’ve seen this too.

   And I’ve found that two pieces of #10 welders glass give a nice view of the sun.

   Happy viewing to all that get the chance to view the event in all its glory!
   • Paul Spudis says:

     August 18, 2017 at 6:43 am

     I’m curious if we’ve managed to capture what the Earth looks like from the Moon during the solar eclipse.

     Close — some crews flew into Earth’s shadow during the return voyage from the Moon, the Apollo 12 view being the best. However, because the apparent diameter of Earth seen from the Moon is more than 3.5 times the reverse, a solar eclipse on the Moon is a much less impressive sight. The most beautiful part of a total solar eclipse on Earth is the view of the solar corona during totality; the Earth is so large, its disk blocks out BOTH the Sun and the solar corona.
     • J Fincannon says:

       August 18, 2017 at 9:58 am

       “I’m curious if we’ve managed to capture what the Earth looks like from the Moon during the solar eclipse.”

       Surveyor 3.
       http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/mapcatalog/Surveyor/press_releases/surveyor_III/
       “Surveyor III’s television camera photographs the Earth about midway through the eclipse of April 24, 1967. Brightest portion of the lighted ring around the Earth appears in the north polar regions – Alaska and the Bering Strait. The solar disc passed slightly north of Earth’s equator. This produced the extra brightness in the Northern Hemisphere. Picture was taken at 4:01 a.m. PST.”
       • Grand Lunar says:

         August 19, 2017 at 11:15 pm

         Many thanks, Dr Spudis and Fincannon for the images and the info!

         Here’s for clear skies for everyone on Monday.
     • Joe says:

       August 19, 2017 at 4:41 pm

       “The most beautiful part of a total solar eclipse on Earth is the view of the solar corona during totality; the Earth is so large, its disk blocks out BOTH the Sun and the solar corona.”

       Since a good part of basic mathematics, the underpinning of physical science/engineering was developed as a result of interest in understanding what was being observed in the sky by ancient cultures; modern technological civilization is (to a large degree) based on exactly these kinds of events.

       The moon has played a large part in out past in a theoretical sense. Can only hope it will play a large part in a more physical sense, in out future.

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