A total solar eclipse that will cross much of the continental United States along with parts of Mexico and Canada on Monday will be one of the most spectacular celestial phenomena in recent memory. Here's what you need to know:
What is a total solar eclipse?
This phenomenon occurs when the moon moves in front of the sun and completely blocks its face, causing the bright sky to darken in just a few seconds, turning into twilight. The path of the moon's shadow is called a total path, and Monday's eclipse will be about 115 miles wide, starting at 9 a.m. and taking about an hour to pass northeast through 15 U.S. states from Texas to Maine. Ends at approximately 1:30 PM Central Time and 3:35 PM Eastern Time.
How rare is it?
The most recent total solar eclipse in the United States was in 2017, which is unusual for just seven years apart. The last total solar eclipse before that occurred in 1979, and the next one that will be visible in the continental United States will be until August 2044. He is one of only 16 other times in the past 155 years that a total solar eclipse has occurred in at least a portion of the lower 48 states.
Wasn't there just a solar eclipse?
Last October's spectacular “Ring of Fire” show was a so-called annular solar eclipse, with the moon moving directly in front of the sun at or near its furthest point from Earth, enough to cover the entire planet. This happens when the size is not large enough. face of the sun NASA's guide to different types of solar eclipses can be found here.
Why is this special?
An estimated 31.6 million people will live in the path of the total solar eclipse, nearly triple the number in 2017. This will be longer and wider than almost all previous total solar eclipses because the moon will be closer to Earth and cast a wider shadow. . The total time at a particular location will also be longer. Seven years ago, the world's longest duration was 2 minutes and 42 seconds. It will be 4 minutes and 28 seconds in Torreon, Mexico on Monday, but it is expected to take 3 1/2 to 4 minutes almost everywhere along the way.
How can I watch it?
If you live or can travel somewhere on the path of wholeness, congratulations. you have a front row seat. Keep in mind that you'll need eclipse glasses to look up at times other than a few minutes of full solar eclipse (more on this later). But anyone in North America outside the path should be able to see at least varying proportions of the partial eclipse, and NASA plans to livestream the entire event here. You need to be careful here. Long-range weather forecasts call for rain and clouds across much of the southern and central United States on Monday, so the best visibility is likely to be in the east.
And this is NASA's Eclipse Explorer. Enter your US address or zip code here to see what you can see from that location.
What can you expect?
You can find NASA's guide to the stages of a total solar eclipse here. The first contact is when the moon's outer edge first appears to touch the sun, decreasing in size until the beginning of a partial solar eclipse and the crescent sun is total (second contact). Just before totality, look for (in order) the shadow band, bailey's bead, and diamond ring, three of the most memorable stages of a total solar eclipse.
According to NASA, shadow bands are long, rapidly moving, dark bands separated by white space that can be seen on the sides of buildings or on the ground just before totality. Bailey's beads are short-lived rays of light from the sun that flow through valleys along the moon's horizon, giving way to the diamond ring effect, the last single bright spot of light just before the end of direct sunlight.
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The outermost part of the Sun's atmosphere, the corona, is only visible during a total solar eclipse, and after a total solar eclipse, the same effect occurs in reverse. In most locations, the partial solar eclipse phase will last 70 to 80 minutes, according to NASA.
How can I watch safely?
To view the eclipse directly, you will need special eclipse glasses. Regular sunglasses, frosted or darkened glass, or other methods that do not provide the necessary eye protection will not be effective. NASA's must-read solar eclipse safety guide on the subject says: “Viewing bright parts of the sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or telescope without a special-purpose solar filter installed in front of the optics can quickly cause serious damage to the eyes. ” Don’t do what Donald Trump did in 2017.
Many stores, businesses, schools, and libraries still offer glasses for free or at a low cost (Google is your friend here), but you need to make sure they've been rated for safety. Last month, the American Astronomical Society issued a handy list of suppliers of safe solar viewers and filters (certified to ISO 12312-2), warning that unsafe fakes and counterfeits are out there.
Experts advise against taking photos of the eclipse with your phone (unless protected by a solar filter), as your camera may be damaged. Nasa has an idea here.
What if I don't have eclipse glasses?
You can create a box pinhole projector by following the steps in this video, courtesy of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. An even easier method is to use something with small holes, such as a kitchen colander, to project the image onto the ground. And remember, many locations around the country, including science centers and zoos, will be hosting special eclipse events so you can safely view the eclipse.
