The
Great American Solar Eclipse will cross the United States next Monday
Afternoon, August 21, 2017. All areas of the United States will see the
eclipse, although a Total Eclipse of the Sun will only be seen in a
narrow Path of Totality (approx. 70.8 statute miles / 114 kilometers in width)
across the country from Oregon to South Carolina. NO PARTIAL PHASE OF
ANY SOLAR ECLIPSE / ECLIPSE OF THE SUN IS SAFE TO LOOK AT DIRECTLY, UNLESS YOU HAVE THE
PROPER TRAINING AND PROPER EQUIPMENT TO DO SO SAFELY; OTHERWISE
EYE-SIGHT COULD BE DAMAGED PERMANENTLY. This graphic shows one way
to safely view the partial phases of a Solar Eclipse by building a Solar
Pinhole Viewing Box (a.k.a. Pinhole Camera) as shown above. After building this box, you must turn your back to the Sun and allow the light from the Sun to go through the pinhole and shine on a white piece of paper on the other end of the box (NEVER LOOK THROUGH THE PINHOLE AT THE SUN!).
(Graphic
Source: Eric G. Canali, former Floor Manager of Pittsburgh's original
Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science and Founder of the
South Hills Backyard Astronomers amateur astronomy club.)
By Glenn A. Walsh
Reporting for SpaceWatchtower
One week from today, Monday, August 21
will be a special day in the United States as Americans encounter the
Great American Solar Eclipse, of which the Path of Totality (the only area where the Sun's direct light will be completely blocked by the Moon for a short period of time) will
cross the entire country from Oregon to South Carolina. Major cities
within the Path of Totality include Kansas City, St. Louis,
Nashville, and Columbia, South Carolina. These cities, along with
other areas within the Path of Totality, will experience a short
period of time (approximately two and one-half minutes) of a Total
Solar Eclipse / Total Eclipse of the Sun, weather-permitting, which
is a rare and beautiful sight.
However, the entire country will
experience a Partial Solar Eclipse / Partial Eclipse of the Sun,
weather-permitting. So everyone needs to be aware of the dangers of
directly viewing the Eclipse, but also the ways to safely experience
this remarkable astronomical event.
The last time a Total Solar Eclipse
crossed the United States was 99 years ago—on 1918 June 8. On that
date, the Eclipse Path of Totality moved from Washington State across
the country to Florida.
The August 21 Eclipse is also the first
time that Solar Eclipse Totality has reached the continental United
States since 1979 February 26. However, a Total Solar Eclipse did
reach Hawaii on 1991 July 11. Most of the continental United States
saw a Partial Eclipse of the Sun that day in 1991 (that was the last
Solar Eclipse observed by the general public, using the historic
10-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope, at Pittsburgh's original
Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science).
The next Total Solar Eclipse / Total
Eclipse of the Sun, which will cross part of the United States, will
occur in seven years, on 2024 April 8. This Eclipse will cross from
Texas through Ohio, Erie County, Pennsylvania (where an
Annular Eclipse of the Sun traveled on 1994 May 10), southern Ontario and
Quebec in Canada, New York State, and New England.
There is only one short
time period when it is safe to look at a Solar Eclipse / Eclipse
of the Sun directly, with no artificial precautions. This is when a
person is looking, specifically, at a Total Solar Eclipse /
Total Eclipse of the Sun, specifically, when the person is
within the Eclipse's Path of Totality, and specifically,
during the short time period (a few minutes, often less) when the
Eclipse is in the Total Phase. HOWEVER, all Partial Phases of
a Total Solar Eclipse / Total Eclipse of the Sun (which includes
Solar Eclipses / Eclipses of the Sun described as "Hybrid"),
leading up to the Total Phase, and after the Total Phase, are
dangerous to view directly unless you have the proper
training and proper equipment to do so safely. However, there are
several ways to indirectly view such an Eclipse, which
can be done safely when done with care.
The Great American Solar Eclipse will be seen as a Total
Eclipse within a Path of Totality, which will be a narrow band
stretching from Oregon to South Carolina with a width of
approximately 70.8 statute miles / 114 kilometers. The greatest eclipse will occur in the environs of western Kentucky / southern Illinois, where the Total Phase will last two minutes and forty seconds.
People viewing the Eclipse within this Path of Totality
will have approximately two and one-half minutes (depending on
specific location) during the Total Phase when they can, safely, look
directly at the Total Solar Eclipse / Total Eclipse of the Sun
without any Eclipse Glasses, Pinhole Cameras, or any other special
apparatus. HOWEVER, this approximately two and one-half
minutes is the ONLY time when viewing the Eclipse without any
special precautions is safe !!!
At all other times during the Eclipse, particularly
during the Partial Phase leading-up to the Total Phase, and during
the Partial Phase after the Total Phase, you should not look directly
at the Eclipse unless you have the proper training and proper
equipment to do so safely.
Of course, this is also true for the
larger part of the country which will only experience a Partial Solar
Eclipse / Partial Eclipse of the Sun. Again, there are indirect
methods of observing the Eclipse that can be employed, when done
with care !
Of course, observing the Eclipse, live, on the Internet
or on Television are obvious ways to view the event very safely.
Several organizations, including NASA, will be live-streaming video
of the Total Solar Eclipse / Total Eclipse of the Sun on their
web-sites. Some television stations and / or networks may also air
portions of the Eclipse event, particularly Cable Television Channels
that specialize in news or science.
Throughout the country, many planetaria, astronomical observatories, science
museums, college (or high school) science departments, amateur astronomy clubs, and public libraries are planning
Eclipse “watch parties” where NASA's live-stream video can be
seen inside while solar observing equipment, including a telescope,
operated by a trained astronomer, will show the local event outside
(weather-permitting).
For instance, in south suburban Pittsburgh, a public
Eclipse viewing event will occur at the Mount Lebanon Public Library,
16 Castle Shannon Boulevard (near Washington Road) at the southern
end of Mount Lebanon's Uptown business district (sponsored by Friends of the Zeiss).
An indirect way of viewing the Eclipse is by creating a
Solar Pinhole Viewing Box, also known as a Pinhole Camera. As
pictured at the top of this blog-post, you find a box large enough to
fit your head for viewing. On one end of the box, inside, you place a
white piece of typing, printer, or photocopy paper. At the other end
of the box you cut-out a small hole, then cover the hole with
aluminum foil, with a pinhole placed in the middle of the aluminum
foil.
When standing with your back to the Sun, the Sun will
shine through the pinhole and project a small image of the Sun on the
white piece of paper. Do not expect a large or bright image of
the Sun, since the pinhole cannot enlarge or brighten the image.
If you can use “Eclipse Glasses,” this is another
safe way to look at the Sun, PROVIDED the Eclipse Glasses are
genuine and undamaged. Unfortunately, there are some hucksters
(particularly on the Internet) trying to sell unsafe glasses, which
they call Eclipse Glasses. Before purchasing a pair of Eclipse
Glasses, be sure they come from one of the vendors approved by the
American Astronomical Society (AAS). Check this AAS web-site for a
list of approved vendors:
Eclipse Glasses are fragile. Once you purchase Eclipse
Glasses, you should handle them gently at all times. Click the
following link for instructions on the proper way to handle and use
Eclipse Glasses:
For many years, it has been said that Number 14 Welder's
Glass (only the Number 14 rating of Welder's Glass is safe for
eye-sight) can be used to safely view a Solar Eclipse / Eclipse of
the Sun. Although there are no guarantees, Number 14 Welder's Glass
(which are actually designed for welding jobs) may be safe for
viewing an Eclipse. However, due to the great brightness of the Sun,
Number 14 Welder's Glass may be uncomfortable to use for Eclipse
viewing.
Internet Links to Additional Information ---
Great American Solar Eclipse:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/astrocalendar/2017.html#GASE
Solar Eclipse / Eclipse of the Sun: Tips for Safe Viewing:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/FAQ/soleclipse/solareclipseviewingtips.html
Eclipse: Link >>>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse
Solar Eclipse / Eclipse of the Sun: Link >>>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse
Solar Corona: Link >>>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corona
Solar Chromosphere: Link >>>
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromosphere
Photos of New U.S. Postage Stamp Marking Great American Solar Eclipse:
Link >>>
http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2017/06/astronomical-calendar-2017-june.html
Solar Haiku (in anticipation of the Great American Solar Eclipse) By Diane Woodward Dorff:
Link >>>
http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/poetry/dorffd/solarhaiku.html
Historic 10-inch Siderostat-Type Refractor Telescope at Pittsburgh's original Buhl Planetarium and Institute of Popular Science:
Link >>>
http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/11/75th-anniversary-americas-5th-public.html
2017 August 21 -
Public observing session for the Great American Solar Eclipse, co-sponsored by
Friends of the Zeiss and the Mount Lebanon Public Library. The Mount Lebanon Public
Library estimated public attendance at 300. Members of Friends of the Zeiss
participating in this event were Glenn A. Walsh, Lynne S. Walsh, James McKee, and
Josie Dougherty(eighth-grade student who had just attended NASA's Space Camp in
Huntsville, Alabama).
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/history.html#GASE
Related Blog Posts ---
"Citizen Science: Aug. 21 Great American Solar Eclipse Mega-Movie Project."
2017 July 24.
"Strong Solar Flare Seen, Although Approaching Sunspot Minimum." 2017 July 15.
"Special Solar Eclipse Stamp to be Unveiled During Stonehenge-Type Solstice Event in Wyoming." 2017 June 19.
Photos of New U.S. Postage Stamp Marking Great American Solar Eclipse:
Link >>>
http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2017/06/astronomical-calendar-2017-june.html
Safe Public Viewing of the Great American Solar Eclipse
Monday, August 21, 2017
Mt. Lebanon Public Library, South Suburban Pittsburgh
More Info: Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/archivenews/releases/poster-flyer/2017SolarEclipse-Flyer.htm
Source: Glenn A. Walsh Reporting for SpaceWatchtower, a project of Friends of the Zeiss.
2017 August 14.
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Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
<
http://www.planetarium.cc >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
<
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* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear:
<
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Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
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