Eclipse

 

August 18, 2017



Just a few hours remain before a narrow band across the entire North American Continent experiences a total solar eclipse on Monday.

Different from a lunar eclipse, which is the Earth’s shadow blocking out sunlight on the moon, the solar eclipse occurs when the moon itself blocks out the sun. The last time this was visible across the entire United States was in 1918.

The path of totality will touch 14 states, beginning on the Oregon coast and ending on the South Carolina coast and a partial eclipse will be visible from Canada, Central America, Mexico, Caribbean islands, Europe and Russia. The longest duration of totality will be over 2 ½ minutes just south of Carbondale, Illinois, and the largest-width viewing area near Cerulean, Kentucky.

A partial eclipse will be visible from Oklahoma, but keep in mind you must never look directly at the sun. Welding goggles are not dark enough so don’t be tempted. The sun’s rays can damage your eyes in a short time, so beware. Viewing glasses are available, so check local merchants. An indirect viewer can be made from a shoe or cereal box; directions are found on YouTube.

This won’t happen again until April 2024 so don’t miss this year’s eclipse, which will be partial in Alva, beginning at 11:30 a.m. and ending at 2:30 p.m. Communities in the band of totality are planning special events. so “Fly your Learjet to Nova Scotia to see a total eclipse of the sun.” – Carly Simon, “You’re so Vain,” 1972

 

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