Posted by: Bubo Observatory
*** 2024 TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE APRIL 8 ***
SAFETY FIRST: Never look at the sun without proper certified solar viewing filters! (More on that below.)
On April 8, 2024, in a rare alignment technically called “syzygy”, the moon will pass between earth and the sun, temporarily blocking the sun’s light along a path starting in the southern Pacific ocean, across Mexico, the USA, and eastern Canada, from southernmost Ontario and Quebec, across central New Brunswick, western Prince Edward Island, the Madeleine Islands, and across central Newfoundland before heading out into the Atlantic ocean.
This path is actually the shadow of the moon on the earth as it passes in front of the sun, and “moves” at 2600km/h across the planet’s surface because the moon is moving slowly eastward in its orbit while the earth is rotating as well.
The “path of totality” you will hear of is the “stripe” across the earth’s surface where the eclipse will be total; if you are just to either side you will see a partial eclipse (the moon will not cover the whole solar disc). The path of totality is about 100-180km wide, and about 480km wide including the total and partial eclipse shadow. If you are too far from the path of totality you won’t even see a partial eclipse.
In this particular event, the moon is close enough to earth in its elliptical orbit that it will completely cover the solar disc, resulting in a total solar eclipse. Other times, the moon may be far enough away in its elliptical orbit that it does not cover the whole solar disc, resulting in an “annular” eclipse; a ring of the sun is seen around the disc of the moon. This phenomenon is partially good timing on our part: the moon is slowly moving away from the earth; many millions of years ago the moon was closer to earth, and during an eclipse it would cover an area in the sky much bigger than just the sun, and we wouldn’t even see the solar corona. Millions of year from now the moon will appear too small in the sky, and we will never get to see the corona because all eclipses will be annular. So we are very lucky to be here and now, to be able to see a total solar eclipse that allows us to see the corona, and even nearby planets and stars. The reason we get to see this phenomenon is because the sun is about 400 times farther away than the moon, but the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, so when the moon passes in front of the sun it can fully cover the sun’s disc, allowing us to see the solar corona, close by planets and stars, otherwise too dim to see in the glare of the sun. Quite the coincidence of happenstance!
*** NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN WITHOUT PROPER EYE PROTECTION!!! ***
Looking at the sun for even a moment can cause permanent damage to your eyes, so don’t, even during an eclipse!
Proper eye protection can only be assured by using certified “eclipse shades”. These are designed to protect your eyes from the visual brightness, and also the invisible infra-red (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) that actually do the damage. So don’t. JUST DON’T.
The only viable alternatives are #14 welders goggles or shades, failing that, make yourself a “shoebox camera” or “camera obscura”, directions for which are easily found on the webernets.
The same goes for your equipment; taking pictures of the sun can easily ruin your camera or phone; if you are compelled to take pictures and don’t have a proper filter, cover your lens with your eclipse shades!
Binoculars and telescopes pose significant dangers if not filtered properly, which means a certified filter that covers the whole aperture(s). These devices concentrate light; if pointed at the sun without full aperture protection they can actually start a fire! This includes overheating and burning themselves as well as anything in their optical path. NEVER LOOK THROUGH ANY OPTICAL DEVICE WITHOUT PROPER PROTECTION!!!
Stay hydrated, wear your sunblock, stay safe and have a great time viewing this once-in-a-lifetime event!
Clear Skies!|
John and Bubo