Solar Eclipses

Greg · 06-01-2008, 08:44 AM

Have you ever seen a solar eclipse?

I blundered across a really neat site about solar eclipses and got to thinking. If you watch enough movies, you would get the impression that solar eclipses are very common in human experience; however, I'm guessing that the vast majority of people have never had the opportunity to see one.

Miros1 · 06-01-2008, 01:21 PM

I've seen two lunar eclipses, but not a solar one.

Hokieman · 06-01-2008, 04:25 PM

I can remember seeing one when I was in grade school, some 40+ years ago, although I seem to remember that there have been others since.

Greg · 06-02-2008, 01:22 AM

Total Solar Eclipse of February 26, 1979

If you were in the United States and it was a total solar eclipse, that might have been February 26, 1979. That was the one I saw, which isn't surprising since it's the last total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States until August 21, 2017!

The 1979 eclipse was a fun adventure. I was living in Seattle at the time. A buddy of mine borrowed a small motorhome from his parents and we packed into it along with my girlfriend and some other folks, and drove down to the stonehenge replica at Maryhill, Washington.

Stonehenge at Maryhill, Washingon

A railroad tycoon named Sam Hill chose that site to build his stonehenge because it would be in the path of totality of that particular eclipse. We got there the night before and parked near Stonehenge. That was a good thing because by the next morning, cars were parked along the side of the road for miles!

The eclipse itself was awesome, but even better were the shadowbands that appear just before an after it as light is refracted between cracks in the visible limb of the moon. It's like a fish scale pattern dancing on the ground. If you are ever lucky enough to see a total solar eclipse, don't forget to look down, too!

Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017

If you live in the continental United States, don't miss it! Unless you are wealthy enough to fly around the world to see one, this may be the only chance you will ever have to see a total solar eclipse!

Solar eclipses happen twice a year, but for most of them, the sun's shadow misses the Earth completely. I don't know how often a total solar eclipse is visible from a single arbitrary point on Earth but I suspect that the duration is measured in thousands and thousands of years, so don't wait for one to come to your home town.

Total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017

This image shows the path of totality (the moving dot) and also the shadow of the sun as it moves across the face of the Earth. Totality will be visible a little bit north and south of the path of the dot.

Outside that area, but within the shadow, people will be able to see a partial eclipse, but don't be content with a partial eclipse when just a few hours on the road will put you in the path of totality. The difference between a partial eclipse--even 99% totality--and a total eclipse is quite literally the difference between night and day. And the difference between looking at pictures versus actually being there defies description!

Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024

Once you're hooked by seeing the one in 2017, you'll no doubt immediately start making plans to see the next one on April 8, 2024.

Interestingly, the path of the 2024 eclipse will pass at right angles to the 2017 eclipse, so somewhere in the central United States there will be a spot that is treated to two total solar eclipses in just 7 years.

Greg · 06-02-2008, 01:47 AM

Hmm... I was snooping around the list of solar eclipses on the Wikipedia. It says here that there was a total solar eclipse visible from the southeastern United States on March 7, 1970. That would have been about 40 years ago.

Greg · 06-02-2008, 02:13 AM

Solar Eclipse Crossroads in the Early 21st Century

Aha! I have found it! Look at this:

Solar eclipse paths over the continetal U.S. 2001-2040
Ref: NASA World Atlas of Solar Eclipse Paths

I took NASA's solar eclipse path maps for 2001-2020 and 2021-2040 and superimposed them to capture the whole 40-year cycle.

It looks like the Crossroads of Totality for the next two U.S. eclipses will be in southern Illinois and eastern Missouri, just south of St. Louis.

Sorry, Sita. There will be no solar eclipses visible from the UK before 2040.

Kaylyn · 06-02-2008, 05:41 AM

I remember seeing a solar eclipse when I was in 9th grade (about 1993-1994). I don't think it was total in our area, but we did go out in my science class with some blank film negative strips to look through to see it. I remember with the brightness it seemed like it should have been cloudy, but it was clear. About half the sun was covered, maybe a little more. This was in NW Louisiana, where I still live.

Now that I work night shifts driving locally, I have more opportunities to see lunar eclipses, which always fascinate me.

Greg · 06-02-2008, 12:06 PM

There was an annular eclipse on May 10, 1994 that swept across the central and northern United States. During an annular eclipse, the moon is too far away from Earth to completely block the sun's photosphere so it never gets to totality.

Kaylyn · 06-03-2008, 07:46 PM

That probably was it, then. Seems like I remember it being late in the school year, in springtime, so you're probably right.

Greg · 06-03-2008, 11:45 PM

From northern Louisiana, it probably would have looked something like this.

Partial Eclipse, sort of

06-01-2008, 08:44 AM	#1
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Solar Eclipses Have you ever seen a solar eclipse? I blundered across a really neat site about solar eclipses and got to thinking. If you watch enough movies, you would get the impression that solar eclipses are very common in human experience; however, I'm guessing that the vast majority of people have never had the opportunity to see one. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

06-01-2008, 01:21 PM	#2
Miros1 Goddess for Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: NY State Posts: 3,303	I've seen two lunar eclipses, but not a solar one. __________________ A game that horrible Odessa-person introduced me to: http://www.puzzlepirates.com/?affili...163251&lang=en I'm spreading the addiction by corrupting all my friends (and attempting to make in-game money when they try the game).

06-02-2008, 01:22 AM	#4
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Total Solar Eclipse of February 26, 1979 If you were in the United States and it was a total solar eclipse, that might have been February 26, 1979. That was the one I saw, which isn't surprising since it's the last total solar eclipse visible from the continental United States until August 21, 2017! The 1979 eclipse was a fun adventure. I was living in Seattle at the time. A buddy of mine borrowed a small motorhome from his parents and we packed into it along with my girlfriend and some other folks, and drove down to the stonehenge replica at Maryhill, Washington. Stonehenge at Maryhill, Washingon A railroad tycoon named Sam Hill chose that site to build his stonehenge because it would be in the path of totality of that particular eclipse. We got there the night before and parked near Stonehenge. That was a good thing because by the next morning, cars were parked along the side of the road for miles! The eclipse itself was awesome, but even better were the shadowbands that appear just before an after it as light is refracted between cracks in the visible limb of the moon. It's like a fish scale pattern dancing on the ground. If you are ever lucky enough to see a total solar eclipse, don't forget to look down, too! Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017 If you live in the continental United States, don't miss it! Unless you are wealthy enough to fly around the world to see one, this may be the only chance you will ever have to see a total solar eclipse! Solar eclipses happen twice a year, but for most of them, the sun's shadow misses the Earth completely. I don't know how often a total solar eclipse is visible from a single arbitrary point on Earth but I suspect that the duration is measured in thousands and thousands of years, so don't wait for one to come to your home town. Total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 This image shows the path of totality (the moving dot) and also the shadow of the sun as it moves across the face of the Earth. Totality will be visible a little bit north and south of the path of the dot. Outside that area, but within the shadow, people will be able to see a partial eclipse, but don't be content with a partial eclipse when just a few hours on the road will put you in the path of totality. The difference between a partial eclipse--even 99% totality--and a total eclipse is quite literally the difference between night and day. And the difference between looking at pictures versus actually being there defies description! Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024 Once you're hooked by seeing the one in 2017, you'll no doubt immediately start making plans to see the next one on April 8, 2024. Interestingly, the path of the 2024 eclipse will pass at right angles to the 2017 eclipse, so somewhere in the central United States there will be a spot that is treated to two total solar eclipses in just 7 years. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

06-02-2008, 01:47 AM	#5
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Hmm... I was snooping around the list of solar eclipses on the Wikipedia. It says here that there was a total solar eclipse visible from the southeastern United States on March 7, 1970. That would have been about 40 years ago. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

06-02-2008, 02:13 AM	#6
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	Solar Eclipse Crossroads in the Early 21st Century Aha! I have found it! Look at this: Solar eclipse paths over the continetal U.S. 2001-2040 Ref: NASA World Atlas of Solar Eclipse Paths I took NASA's solar eclipse path maps for 2001-2020 and 2021-2040 and superimposed them to capture the whole 40-year cycle. It looks like the Crossroads of Totality for the next two U.S. eclipses will be in southern Illinois and eastern Missouri, just south of St. Louis. Sorry, Sita. There will be no solar eclipses visible from the UK before 2040. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

06-01-2008, 04:25 PM	#3
Hokieman Solar Max Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 520	I can remember seeing one when I was in grade school, some 40+ years ago, although I seem to remember that there have been others since.

06-02-2008, 05:41 AM	#7
Kaylyn Rescuer of Kittens Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Shreveport/Bossier City, LA Posts: 125	I remember seeing a solar eclipse when I was in 9th grade (about 1993-1994). I don't think it was total in our area, but we did go out in my science class with some blank film negative strips to look through to see it. I remember with the brightness it seemed like it should have been cloudy, but it was clear. About half the sun was covered, maybe a little more. This was in NW Louisiana, where I still live. Now that I work night shifts driving locally, I have more opportunities to see lunar eclipses, which always fascinate me.

06-02-2008, 12:06 PM	#8
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	There was an annular eclipse on May 10, 1994 that swept across the central and northern United States. During an annular eclipse, the moon is too far away from Earth to completely block the sun's photosphere so it never gets to totality. __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?

06-03-2008, 07:46 PM	#9
Kaylyn Rescuer of Kittens Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Shreveport/Bossier City, LA Posts: 125	That probably was it, then. Seems like I remember it being late in the school year, in springtime, so you're probably right.

06-03-2008, 11:45 PM	#10
Greg Da Guy Wut Owns Dis Joint Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 3,566	From northern Louisiana, it probably would have looked something like this. Partial Eclipse, sort of __________________ Who are all these people and what do they know?