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Show This Christmas Day, the cosmosis lining up a heavenly spectacle. Solar Eclipse BY DAVID H. LEVY Z What you § David H. Levy OMORROW MORNING, | Christmas Day, the shadow of the Moonwill race across North America,resulting in a partial eclipse of the Sun,If you live ina Northern state, you’ll see moreof it than in the South. = But no matter where you are, you'll be witnessing the marvel of our solar system in motion. Eclipses happen when the Earth, Moonand Sun form line. A similar configuration occurs about every two weeks—at the new Moon andthe full Moon—butseldom dothe three heavenly bodiesline up so exactly that we get an eclipse. When the Moonis in the middle ofthe lineup,thereis an eclipse ofthe Sun; whenthe Earth is in the middle, we see an eclipse of the Moon. A total eclipse. Tomorrow's solar eclipse will be partial—the Moon’s shadow won't fully blot out the Sun. Instead, you’ll see a crescent Sun hanging in the sky. A total eclipse—arare and spectacular event—happens when the alignmentis perfect, and the Sun is completely blocked by the Moon. On Aug.11, 1999, I was lucky enough to witnessa totalsolar eclipse from the deck of the Regal Empress, 217 miles southeast of Nova Scotia. As the shadow of the Moon swept across the Look For The = might see: § p Rieu conn at ea 1 partial Science Editor David H. Levy believes an eclipse in 1604 helped to inspire one of grandest "s tragedies. Atlantic, I watched the Sun take on a crescent shape. Within 15 minutes, the crescent shrankto a thin, curvedline. Everything was still—sky,sea, people. Soon,the crescent becamea brightpointof sunlight that winked,then vanished. In its place was a jeweled crown. I stared, then yankedthefilter off my telescope and peered through. (Only during the minute or so oftotal eclipse is it safe to look at the Sun withouteye protection.) Surrounding the darkened Sun was a pearly white corona oflight. From the rim, ruby-red tongues of hot gas arched majestically into space, Enveloping the Sun wasanare of darkness—the shadowofthe Moon, more clearly visible than I had ever seenit before. Within that arc, I saw bright HowTo View AnEclipse Safely ® DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY at the Sun.Its ultraviolet (UV) ® PUT A TINY PINHOLE i. apiece of paper and project and infrared radiation can be the Sun’s image through the catastrophic—it literally pinhole and onto another piece can burn a hole in your retina, of paper. Do not look directly leading to blindness. at the Sun throughthepinhole. © USE ECLIPSE SAFETY GLASSES ® LOOK AT THE GROUND (often available at camera and telescope stores)or No. 14- = Never look directly at the Sun unless you're wearing Special strength welding glasses. Normal sunglasses, even those that block out UV radiation, are not enough. Nor are dark photo negatives. @ PROJECT THE SUN onto white in the shadow ofa tree. Often, you can see many crescent Suns projected through spaces betweenthe leaves, @ FOR TOTAL ECLIPSES ONLY: During the minute or so when cardboard or paper using a the Sun is completely covered by the Moonin a total eclipse, eclipse telescope or binoculars, Do not it is safe to look directly at safety glasses. look through an unprotected telescope or one with filtered the Sun, even through a telescope. But you should eyepiece. The eyepiece filters can shatter due to the concentrated heat of the Sun. resume the protective measures mentioned here the In a partial eclipse instant that the Sun reappears, of the Sun, like tomorrow's, aportion of 's outer shadow,or penumbra, covers part of the Earth, t varily obscuring the Sun from view. PAGE 8 - DECEMBER 24, 2000 - PARADE MAGAZINE |
