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25 facts you should know about the August 21, 2017, total solar eclipse [Coast to Coast]
Astronomy Magazine ^ | Tuesday, August 5, 2014 | Michael Bakich

Posted on 03/26/2015 7:06:18 PM PDT by Star Traveler

As I write this blog, I realize that the event is more than three years away. But it’s going to be so huge that I thought I’d list some of the important details for our readership, the general public, and the media. Hey, it’s never too early for knowledge, right? Anyway, these are the facts.

1. This will be the first total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. in 38 years. The last one occurred February 26, 1979. Unfortunately, not many people saw it because it clipped just five states in the Northwest and the weather for the most part was bleak. Before that one, you have to go back to March 7, 1970.

(Excerpt) Read more at cs.astronomy.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: 19700310; 19790226; 2017; 201708; 20170821; eclipse; solareclipse
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To: Star Traveler
hat one in 2045 would be the fourth one in the “lower-48” that I will have been able to see. But, I kinda don’t think I’ll make it to that one. And actually, I’m wondering if civilization will make it to that one ... :-) ...

I'll be 79 then, so far if God willing, I plan to drive and see it. Like you, I wonder if civilization will be around then, I sure would hate to be distracted watching for zombies with a loaded M1 Garand take away from the eclipse. B-)
81 posted on 03/27/2015 8:28:55 AM PDT by Nowhere Man (Mom I miss you! (8-20-1938 to 11-18-2013) Cancer sucks)
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To: iowacornman
Bella Lagose time!!

Bela Lugosi, one of my very favorite actors. Boris Karloff was one as well. I cried when they passed away, but that was decades ago.
82 posted on 03/27/2015 8:55:53 AM PDT by TheOldLady (Pray for Obama... Psalm 109:8 -- Look it up.... I donate monthly. Give it a try! It's great!)
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To: NorthMountain

Nova Scotia will be fine in 2017 for 364 days...just don’t go there on August 21.


83 posted on 03/27/2015 9:27:36 AM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Star Traveler
If I miss another Eclipse will I know that I missed it?
I never even noticed the ones previously.
84 posted on 03/27/2015 9:34:43 AM PDT by MaxMax (Pay Attention and you'll be pissed off too! FIRE BOEHNER, NOW!)
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To: MaxMax

If you happened to fall asleep for about three minutes, you probably would have missed it ... LOL ... and that would be three minutes, only, in the last 38 years ... :-) ...


85 posted on 03/27/2015 10:08:58 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Star Traveler
Source: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety.html

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Eye Safety During Solar Eclipses

Fred Espenak
Adapted from NASA RP 1383 Total Solar Eclipse of 1998 February 26, April 1996, p. 17.

The Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye only during the few brief seconds or minutes of a total solar eclipse. Partial eclipses, annular eclipses, and the partial phases of total eclipses are never safe to watch without taking special precautions. Even when 99% of the Sun's surface is obscured during the partial phases of a total eclipse, the remaining photospheric crescent is intensely bright and cannot be viewed safely without eye protection [Chou, 1981; Marsh, 1982]. Do not attempt to observe the partial or annular phases of any eclipse with the naked eye. Failure to use appropriate filtration may result in permanent eye damage or blindness!

Generally, the same equipment, techniques and precautions used to observe the Sun outside of eclipse are required for annular eclipses and the partial phases of total eclipses [Reynolds & Sweetsir, 1995; Pasachoff & Covington, 1993; Pasachoff & Menzel, 1992; Sherrod, 1981]. The safest and most inexpensive of these methods is by projection, in which a pinhole or small opening is used to cast the image of the Sun on a screen placed a half-meter or more beyond the opening. Projected images of the Sun may even be seen on the ground in the small openings created by interlacing fingers, or in the dappled sunlight beneath a leafy tree. Binoculars can also be used to project a magnified image of the Sun on a white card, but you must avoid the temptation of using these instruments for direct viewing.

The Sun can be viewed directly only when using filters specifically designed for this purpose. Such filters usually have a thin layer of aluminum, chromium or silver deposited on their surfaces that attenuates ultraviolet, visible, and infrared energy. One of the most widely available filters for safe solar viewing is a number 14 welder's glass, available through welding supply outlets. More recently, aluminized mylar has become a popular, inexpensive alternative. Mylar can easily be cut with scissors and adapted to any kind of box or viewing device. A number of sources for solar filters are listed below. No filter is safe to use with any optical device (i.e. - telescope, binoculars, etc.) unless it has been specifically designed for that purpose. Experienced amateur and professional astronomers may also use one or two layers of completely exposed and fully developed black-and-white film, provided the film contains a silver emulsion. Since all developed color films lack silver, they are always unsafe for use in solar viewing.

Unsafe filters include color film, some non-silver black and white film, medical x-ray films with images on them, smoked glass, photographic neutral density filters and polarizing filters. Solar filters designed to thread into eyepieces which are often sold with inexpensive telescopes are also dangerous. They should not be used for viewing the Sun at any time since they often crack from overheating. Do not experiment with other filters unless you are certain that they are safe. Damage to the eyes comes predominantly from invisible infrared wavelengths. The fact that the Sun appears dark in a filter or that you feel no discomfort does not guarantee that your eyes are safe. Avoid all unnecessary risks. Your local planetarium or amateur astronomy club is a good source for additional information.

In spite of these precautions, the total phase of an eclipse can and should be viewed without any filters whatsoever. The naked eye view of totality is completely safe and is overwhelmingly awe-inspiring!

Sources for Solar Filters

References

Chou, B. R., "Safe Solar Filters," Sky and Telescope, August 1981, p. 119.

Marsh, J. C. D., "Observing the Sun in Safety," J. Brit. Ast. Assoc., 1982, 92, 6.

Pasachoff, J. M., and Covington, M., Cambridge Guide to Eclipse Photography, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York, 1993.

Pasachoff, J. M. Field Guide to the Stars and Planets, 4th edition, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, 2000.

Golub, L. and Pasachoff, J. M. Nearest Star: The Exciting Science of Our Sun, Harvard University Press, 2001.

Reynolds, M. D. and Sweetsir, R. A., Observe Eclipses, Astronomical League, Washington, DC, 1995.

Sherrod, P. C., A Complete Manual of Amateur Astronomy, Prentice-Hall, 1981.

2012 Jun 01

///////////////////LibWhacker sez/////////////////////

Remember: #14 Welder's Glass is safe PROVIDED there are no manufacturing defects in the glass or other damage caused by rough or improper handling, damage that you may not be able to see with your naked eye.

The real question is, how can you tell if a glass is damaged or defective? Are you willing to bet your eyesight on it? Unless you have lots of sophisticated equipment with you, you probably can't.

But by all means, do buy some #14 glass from a reputable source. It's not expensive. I've used it many times looking for large sunspots and viewing partial eclipses, without ill effect.

Still, whatever you do, DO NOT plant yourself on your back in the grass and stare up at the Sun for an hour or two at a time, say, thinking you'll be safe just because you're using a #14 welder's glass.

To protect your eyesight, you have to be a little more circumspect than that, viewing only a few seconds at a time, in full awareness that damage is cumulative.

Be a little skeptical about advertised features, as I'm sure you already are when reading or listening to ads.

As the article says, the safest way to view the sun, whether during an eclipse or not, is by projecting its image on a flat surface and only looking that (don't look directly through the projecting lens!).

Also interesting: In order to fully appreciate an eclipse you must, at some point, put down the glass and look at the sun with your naked eye, au naturel, BUT ONLY DURING THE MINUTE OR TWO OF TOTALITY.

Therefore, you MUST know when totality begins and ends for your location. It'd be nice if you could tag along with an astronomy club that has an astronomer on site to keep track of such things, who will tell you when to start naked eye viewing and when to stop.

86 posted on 03/27/2015 10:31:53 AM PDT by LibWhacker ("Every Muslim act of terror is follow by a political act of cover-up." -Daniel Greenfield)
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To: Ken H

Your so vain


87 posted on 03/27/2015 10:36:39 AM PDT by DainBramage
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To: LibWhacker

Here are some glasses from a link I gave above ...

http://www.greatamericaneclipse.com/store/


88 posted on 03/27/2015 10:37:29 AM PDT by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Star Traveler

I plan to be off the coast of S.C. in my sail boat under the path.

If not, in the car driving I-26 looking for clear.


89 posted on 03/27/2015 12:40:49 PM PDT by Conan the Librarian (The Best in Life is to crush my enemies, see them driven before me, and the Dewey Decimal System)
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To: Star Traveler

bookmark


90 posted on 03/28/2015 7:15:52 PM PDT by Steve0113
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To: iowacornman
Except for Obama power generation.
91 posted on 03/28/2015 7:17:46 PM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: Star Traveler

I’m hoping Kentucky will be my fourth. Saw 1979, Curacao in 1998? & France in 1999... Traveled to the 2nd and 3rd. The one in 1979 I was in elementary school.


92 posted on 03/31/2015 1:55:30 PM PDT by abner (I have no tagline, therefore no identity.)
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