Solar eclipse on May 20th. Anyone traveling to see it?

[Passepartout]

The first total- though annular- eclipse of the sun in 18 years to be visible in the United States will occur before sunset May 20th. It will be partly visible from much of the USA- like Pac-Man with a bite out of it from 55-to 90%. The moon is further away from the Earth, so it's shadow will not block the entire disc of the sun (that's called annularity), so we won't see the bright 'fingers' of the corona at totality. The best viewing will be from roughly the California/Oregon border across central Nevada and the Nat'l parks of S. Utah, and ending visibility at sunset S. of the Texas Panhandle.

We will drive a few hours to central Nevada. to see it.

Here's an interactive map and some info: http://www.nature.nps.gov/features/eclipse/

Jim

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by Passepartout

The first total- though annular- eclipse of the sun in 18 hears to be visible in the United States will occur before sunset May 20th. It will be partly visible from much of the USA- like Pac-Man with a bite out of it from 55-to 90%. The moon is further away from the Earth, so it's shadow will not block the entire disc of the sun (that's called annularity), so we won't see the bright 'fingers' of the corona at totality. The bedt viweing will be from roughly the California/Oregon border across central Nevada and the Nat'l parks of S. Utah, and ending visibility at sunset S. of the Texas Panhandle.

We will drive a few hours to central Nevada. to see it.

Here's an interactive map and some info: http://www.nature.nps.gov/features/eclipse/

I bought a solar filter for my telescope.

Between this, and Venus transiting the sun in June (next time that will happen is 250 years from now), it seemed like a good time for the filter.

Pity it's not happening on the 21st. I'd meet you in central NV. As it stands, I'll have to watch the show before I go to work.


PS -- I'm sure there are a few people just DYING to hit the reply key to tell me I could blind myself. No need. I know what I'm doing with solar filters. Nobody has to warn me about the dangers of looking at the sun with a 12" telescope.

[theo]

Originally Posted by Passepartout

The first total- though annular- eclipse of the sun in 18 years to be visible in the United States will occur before sunset May 20th. It will be partly visible from much of the USA- like Pac-Man with a bite out of it from 55-to 90%. The moon is further away from the Earth, so it's shadow will not block the entire disc of the sun (that's called annularity), so we won't see the bright 'fingers' of the corona at totality. The best viewing will be from roughly the California/Oregon border across central Nevada and the Nat'l parks of S. Utah, and ending visibility at sunset S. of the Texas Panhandle.

We will drive a few hours to central Nevada. to see it.

Here's an interactive map and some info: http://www.nature.nps.gov/features/eclipse/

Jim

To conserve fuel, I will plan to stay right here in coastal New England for the viewing. Scientifically savvy folks might be immediately inclined to say that the eclipse can't even be seen from here at all --- but with a few preparatory shots of Jack Daniels, who knows?...