Although the mystery of eclipses has long been solved and they no longer cause the fear and trembling that unnerved the primitive man, eclipses continue to fascinate. A total solar eclipse in particular, is one of the coolest metereological phenomena and also one of the rarest. I saw a total solar eclipse in February of 1980 in New Delhi. We went up to the rooftop terrace of the house at the appointed time and the world went dark for just a few minutes. But even this short duration of the eclipse was enough to fool the birds - they started flying back to the treetop nests just as they would at dusk. It was an impressive celestial show.
Yesterday there was a total solar eclipse visible at various parts of the world cutting a long swath from Brazil to Mongolia. The path of the eclipse by-passed the United States which will witness the next total solar eclipse in the year 2017.
"Starting at dawn in eastern Brazil, then sweeping across northern Africa and central Asia before ending at sunset in Mongolia, the moon will block[ed] the light of the sun for several minutes today in a narrow band of territories. Observers in Africa, Europe and Asia who are outside that path will be treated to a partial eclipse.
Such a total eclipse is relatively rare--the next one for observers in the U.S. will not happen until August 21, 2017--because the moon must cross our planet's orbital plane exactly when it, Earth and the sun are aligned, and its nighttime side faces us. This eclipse will offer astronomers a chance to study the corona--a super-heated, spectral cloud of emissions surrounding the sun--and NASA scientists have set up camps in Africa to attempt to observe the direction and speed of matter in the solar atmosphere as it is shaped by the sun's magnetic fields.
This eclipse is even more special because whereas in most total eclipses totality lasts for less than two minutes, this time the moon will block the sun's light for more than four minutes in the center of the eclipse path. During those four minutes, the affected swath of land will be completely dark and stars will be visible in the sky, along with the normally indiscernable solar corona.
NASA has planned a series of webcasts, podcasts and live television coverage of the eclipse from Turkey beginning at 5 A.M. Eastern Standard Time. More information can be found here --David Biello"
Don't forget to see the NASA photos.
I've never seen a total eclipse, but did witness the May 10, 1994 annular eclipse. My main memory is of the dizzying rings of light cast on the ground by the sun's shadows, beneath tree leaves and, when I leaned over, below the curls of my then long hair. Even understanding what was happening, I remember finding the phenomenon unnerving in its demonstration of how small we are in comparison with the scale of natural phenomena, and thinking that I could well understand the number of myths and superstitions connected with eclipses.
Have you ever read Annie Dillard's "Total Eclipse"? I remember loving it enough in high school that I photocopied it in the library so that I could keep a copy in my boarding school dorm room with me, but I haven't read it in years...
Posted by: Anna | March 30, 2006 at 03:17 PM
It is quite a show - a solar eclipse, total or partial. That diamond ring, when it forms before and after the darkness is as amazing as it looks in photos. And yes, just because eclipses are now demystified as yet another natural occurance, does not make them any less exciting. Laymen and metereologists alike, get excited about a total solar eclipse and travel long distances to witness one.
No, I have not read Annie Dillard's book. Is it about eclipses or is the title metaphorical? I love books about nature and weather. I hope to review a couple of them here some day.
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | March 30, 2006 at 06:17 PM
Annie Dillard is a nature writer, and "Total Eclipse" is an essay about an actual eclipse. It's only ten or fifteen pages. I am quite a fan of good nature and science writing, as well, and would welcome more recommendations in that genre.
Posted by: Anna | April 03, 2006 at 02:09 AM