Two amazing celestial events have happened recently. On October 14th, 2023, an annular eclipse occurred, and on April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse took place.These were the last to happen on the continental US until 2045. Do you know about solar eclipses?
Why do these happen?
By chance, our Sun is about 93,000,000 miles away from us. Our Moon is about a quarter of a million miles away from us, or about 400 times closer than the Sun.The Moon is approximately 2,000 miles in diameter; the Sun is over 800,000 miles across, or about 400 times larger. Therefore, if you are able to see them in the sky, they appear the same size.
The Moon, when it is in its New Phase – you can’t see it because its lit side is on the side opposite us – passes directly in front of the Sun. If the Moon is just a bit further away from us in its orbit, it won’t completely cover the Sun, but will show a “ring” of sunlight around it. If it is closer to us, it will completely block out the light of the Sun. What you see is the corona, the “atmosphere” of the Sun, not normally seen because the Sun’s brilliance overpowers this solar part.
Total vs Annular
To observe these, there are places that the observer must be. Called the path of annularity for the annular eclipse, and the path of totality for the total one, anyone wishing to see these beautiful occurrences will have to travel.
When the Moon does pass directly in front of the Sun, but is in just a slightly farther part of its path around the Earth,instead of losing the entire ball of the Sun, the Moon is a bit too small to completely cover it. A “ring” of sunlight surrounds our Moon. This is an annular eclipse, from the Latin word “annulus,” meaning ring.
In 2023 and 2024,, the United States witnessed both of these natural phenomena. An annular eclipse occurred on Saturday, October 14, 2023. Several months later, on April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse traveled across much of the country, in the opposite direction.
To view each eclipse completely you needed to be in these paths. Everyone not within the “path of annularity” in October or the “path of totality” April 8th, experienced some loss of the Sun. Those closer to the actual paths, of course,the more was observed of the Sun being blocked.
Protect your eyes!
Except for the few minutes of total solar eclipse, you must protect your eyes. Commercial eclipse glasses are available, and you must use them, even with 99% of the Sun covered.
Are you ready for solar eclipses?
Solar eclipses do occur rather frequently, often once each year; however, the next time one will be visible from the continental United States will be in 2045. Otherwise, to see one before that, plan to travel, sometimes to exotic countries, to see one again.
Are you ready for solar eclipses? Two took place within the United States in the past few months. Don’t miss ever seeing one!
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