While the sun seems to get all the glory, every so often the moon decides to get in the way and steal the show. We all know that a solar eclipse happens when the moon obscures the sun. A solar eclipse only has to cast a part of a shadow, known as the penumbra, to be visible with solar eclipse glasses or light filters. Think of the shadow cast by the moon as a cone, if the cone doesn’t extend all the way to the earth’s surface, then it won’t create a shadow for us to be able to look at the eclipse without hurting our eyes. Every once in a while the moon is in just the right spot to completely shut out all light from the sun on a small area on the earth, this is a total solar eclipse. The only way to look at a solar eclipse is to be under the umbra of the moon, or it’s complete shadow. If you are not in the path of the umbra there is still enough sunlight to damage your eyes, do not look at the sun!
Cycles Of Circles
We haven’t had the chance to see a total eclipse in the continental U.S. since 1979. With the sun, moon and Earth all floating around each other in such a predictable manner, an eclipse may be rare but predictable. There are specific conditions that have to happen for any of the four types of solar eclipses. A partial eclipse only obscures part of the sun’s light and happens when the moon is not perfectly aligned between the sun and moon. An annular eclipse happens when the moon is aligned between the sun and earth but isn’t close enough for the umbra to extend to the earth’s surface and creates a shadow called the antumbra. While a total eclipse casts a complete shadow that reaches the earth and blocks all the sun’s light in a small area. There is also a hybrid eclipse where it switches between an annular and total eclipse. Even if you are not close enough to see an annular or total eclipse, you may still be able to see a partial eclipse with the help of solar eclipse glasses or light filters.
What Do I Get To See?
There are three ways to view an eclipse safely. When choosing a safe method to look at an eclipse you should take into consideration if you will be seeing an annular, partial, or total eclipse. The first method is to use solar eclipse glasses will allow you to look directly at a partial or annular eclipse and watch the entirety of a total eclipse. Make sure that everyone has their protective glasses on and remember that only when the sun’s light is completely blocked out, is it safe to look at a total eclipse with the naked eye. The second method includes special light filters available that you can affix to the end of a telescope that allow you to magnify the eclipse. This way a whole group of people can gather around and see a projection of the eclipse happening. Do not look directly into the telescope. There are also special telescopes designed for watching the sun and solar eclipses. The third method is low tech and is called a pinhole projector. You take a sheet of paper and using a pin, poke a hole in it. Now you can use a second piece of paper under the paper with a hole in it to view an image of the eclipse. Here is some more information on the solar eclipse from Forbes, as well as some advice to avoid buying bogus eclipse glasses. There are only four U.S. companies that NASA recommends to buy solar eclipse glasses from; Thousand Oaks Optical, TSE 17, Rainbow Symphony, and American Paper Optics. Make sure you buy proper eye protection and don’t get scammed. If you don’t know whether you get to see the total eclipse or just a partial eclipse, you should check out NASA’s site about the eclipse. There are useful tips on how to observe a partial eclipse safely and how to also be careful witnessing a total eclipse. Armed with all this information you are now ready to take full advantage of this opportunity to see the solar eclipse on August 21, 2017. So get together with some friends and family and make an event out of this unique occasion. Have fun and be safe.
– By Paul Arseneau
theQuizzical 