On Friday, August 1st, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun producing a total solar eclipse. The narrow path of totality stretches from arctic Canada through Greenland, Siberia, and Mongolia, and comes to an end in China, where millions of people will witness the event. Even more people will see the partial eclipse, visible from almost all of Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia and a corner of North America. The action begins at approximately 09:20 UT (5:20 am EDT) when the Moon's shadow first hits Earth in northern Canada and begins its rapid sweep toward China.
The crescent sun rising above the waves marks the beginning of a solar eclipse. The narrow path of totality stretches from arctic Canada through Greenland, Siberia, and Mongolia, and comes to an end in China, where millions of people will witness the sun's ghostly corona. Even more people will see the partial eclipse, visible from almost all of Europe, the Middle East, India, Asia and a corner of North America.
On July 31st, the SOHO spacecraft detected a comet plunging toward the sun and it appears headed for closest approach during Friday's total eclipse. Experienced astronomers in the path of totality may be able to photograph the doomed comet shining like a 5th or 6th magnitude star about 2o from the edge of the eclipsed sun. The Minor Planet Center has just released an ephemeris for the comet, newly named C/2008 O1 (SOHO).
SPACE WEATHER
1 comment:
My hubby love this stuff, I'm sure he will be following it.
Debbie Hamilton
Right Truth
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