suddenly the horizon turns orange. Clouds glow strange shades of purple and pink, and the Sun itself swells ... bigger and redder than ever. Another lovely sunset.
You've probably seen so many that you hardly notice any more. But, if you live in North America, pay attention next Monday for something extraordinary as twilight approaches.
The setting Sun will be a crescent.
It's a solar eclipse. On June 10th, just as many Americans are sitting down for dinner, the Moon will pass almost directly in front of the Sun. Unlike a total solar eclipse, this eclipse will be partial. Only a fraction of the Sun's bright surface will hide behind the Moon -- between 20% and 80% depending on where you live.
If you decide to skip dessert and dash outside for a glimpse, don't look directly at the eclipse. Even when our star is partially covered, it's still bright enough to blind you. Instead, use a safe solar filter like #14 or higher welding glasses to protect your eyes.
Better yet, project an image of the Sun onto a screen through binoculars or a telescope. But, be careful! Never look through the optics. Keep your eyes on the projection screen, not on the eyepiece. Adjust the focus knob until projected sunspots appear crisp and sharp. Almost anything can serve as a screen -- a paper plate or a light-colored wall, for example.
Eclipses that happen low in the sky are easy to observe indoors, too. Simply find a room with a west-facing window and draw the shades. Any tiny crack or opening will cast an outline of the crescent Sun onto the far wall.
The partial eclipse will last about two hours. Unfortunately, sky watchers along the eastern edge of North America won't see any of it. In Miami, Washington D.C. and New York City, for example, the eclipse begins and ends after nightfall. However, almost everyone in the United States west of Atlanta can see some of the event (weather permitting). Observers in the south and central U.S. are best-placed to see a deep eclipse at sunset.
Eclipse Times in Selected US Cities - (1) start time (2) maximum (3) end time
Atlanta, GA - EDT (1) 8:29 p.m. - (2) after sunset - (3) after sunset
Detroit, MI - EDT (1) 8:30 p.m. - (2) 9:07 p.m. (15%) - (3) after sunset
St. Louis, MO - CDT (1) 7:28 p.m. - (2) 8:14 p.m. (28%) - (3) after sunset
Indianapolis, IN - EST (1) 7:29 p.m. - (2) 8:11 p.m. (22%) - (3) after sunset
Dallas, TX - CDT (1) 7:27 p.m. - (2) 8:22 p.m. (48%) - (3) after sunset
Denver, CO - MDT (1) 6:21 p.m. - (2) 8:22 p.m. (40%) - (3) 8:08 p.m.
Phoenix, AZ - MST (1) 5:19 p.m. - (2) 6:23 p.m. (65%) - (3) 7:21 p.m.
San Francisco - PDT (1) 5:06 p.m. - (2) 6:16 p.m. (65%) - (3) 7:19 p.m.
Los Angeles, CA - PDT (1) 5:13 p.m. - (2) 6:22 p.m. (71%) - (3) 7:23 p.m.
Honolulu, HI - HST (1) 1:04 p.m. - (2) 2:42 p.m. (41%) - (3) 4:06 p.m.
more info on nasa's website
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