. | . |
Rare US total solar eclipse excites Americans coast-to-coast By Jean-Louis SANTINI Washington (AFP) June 22, 2017 For the first time in almost a century the United States is preparing for a coast-to-coast solar eclipse, a rare celestial event millions of Americans, with caution, will be able to observe. During the eclipse on August 21 -- the first of its kind since 1918 -- the moon will pass between the sun and Earth, casting a dark shadow and making visible the sun's normally obscured atmosphere, or solar corona, as well as bright stars and planets. Observers will be able to see the moon's 70-mile (113-kilometer) wide shadow from Oregon in the west to South Carolina in the east over the course of more than two daylight hours, with two minutes of darkness engulfing 14 states. Almost 12 million Americans live within this strip of the country, while some two-thirds of the nation's population reside within a day's car ride, said Martin Knopp of the Department of Transportation. The US will be the only country to experience the total eclipse, and international visitors are expected to descend for the event. Spacecraft, NASA aircraft, more than 50 high-altitude balloons and astronauts aboard the International Space Station will capture images. "Never before will a celestial event be viewed by so many and explored from so many vantage points -- from space, from the air, and from the ground," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. A total eclipse has not covered regions of the contiguous US since 1979. There will be another in 2024, which will cover regions of the country from Texas to Maine. NASA will broadcast live video of the cosmic event, and watch parties are expected to be held in parks, libraries and stadiums nationwide. The continental US outside of the total eclipse strip will experience a partial solar eclipse, according to Rick Fienberg, a spokesman for the American Astronomical Society. NASA has strongly cautioned against directly looking with the naked eye at the sun outside of the total eclipse window. The only method to safely observe a partially eclipsed sun is with eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers, the US space agency said -- ordinary sunglasses are not enough. And according to Fienberg, even a 99 percent partial eclipse is not nearly as awe-provoking as the total eclipse event. "It's literally the difference between day and night," he said. "Going through life without ever experiencing 'totality' is like going through life without ever falling in love."
Berkeley CA (SPX) Jun 22, 2017 Are you wondering what the total solar eclipse in late summer will look like from your patio? Or where to travel to get the best view of the eclipse? You can enter the ZIP code or name of your city or town and see an animation of how the Sun will move across the sky over a three-hour period - sped up 1,000 or 4,000 times - and how much of a bite will be taken out of the Sun by the eclipsin ... read more Related Links Solar Science News at SpaceDaily
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |