I figured I should write a Racine specific blog for the upcoming partial solar eclipse. On May 20th, there will be an annular solar eclipse. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun but doesn't quite cover the Sun. The Moon has an elliptical orbit...remember "Super Moon" a couple of weeks ago? The Moon was larger because it was near perigee, or the closest it gets to Earth. Well, two weeks later, the Moon is near apogee, the farthest it gets from Earth. Therefore, the Moon appears smaller, too small to entirely cover the Sun. If you are near the center line of an annular eclipse, you see a "Ring of Fire" around the Moon.
The center line of this annular eclipse passes over Japan, the Pacific Ocean, northern California, Nevada, northern Arizona (guess where I will be?), New Mexico and the eclipse ends in west Texas. However many people north and south of the center will see a partial eclipse, including Racine.
Now to observe the eclipse, you don't want to just look at it with your eyes. Even partially covered near sunset, the Sun is still bright enough to cause eye damage. Fortunately, eclipse shades are cheap (a buck or two). You can get them from various places. American Science and Surplus (6901 W Oklahoma in Milwaukee) carries them and I bet the Milwuakee Public Museum might as well. You can also make a pinhole viewer to observe the eclipse. Whichever you choose, you can also use it to watch the upcoming transit of Venus on June 5th (future blog).
Unfortunately, I don't see anything on the Racine Astronomical Society website indicating they will be having an event. The telscopes in the domes may have limits as to how low in the sky they can observe and, since this is sunset when the Sun is very low, they may choose not to open for it.
If you don't live in Racine and want to know what is visible from your location, check out NASA's interactive eclipse map. Just click on your location and you will get the details.
Oh, and I will be in the Grand Canyon, in the path of annularity, for this eclipse and yes, there will be pictures!
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10 comments:
May 20th? How am I suppose to remember this? Lots of 5th between now and then.
Well, I will post a reminder closer to then, but I wanted to get this up so people had more time to track down eclipse shades or make the pinhole viewer.
Welcome Back Hale
I need eclipse shades. It's a good excuse to go to American Science and Surplus. That store is fantastic.
American Science and Surplus is a lot of fun. Worth the trip. If you haven't been there, you should go.
Please no ideas for Drew! LOL
The weather forecast says we may be cloudy or raining for this, but it's clear now.
I've been watching it here: http://events.slooh.com/
Very cool link, thanks to Vince Condella.
Just got back from taking a peek at the eclipse. Tried something like shown in the quick and easy method in this website. It actually worked better on my car door. Anyways, it was a good experience, to see another eclipse.
I missed it. It was overcast until sunset. Then there was a thin line of light on the western horizon. I should have sought out a flat horizon, but that takes some doing from where I live.
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