SolarEclipse2017:WheretoGo,HowtoObserveSafely
Prof.PatriciaReiffRiceUniversity
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)• Where(doIneedtogotoseeitbest?)• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)• How(doIobserveitsafely?)• When(isthenextone?)
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)• Where(doIneedtogotoseeitbest?)• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)• How(doIobserveitsafely?)• When(isthenextone?)
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)
– OnAugust21,2017,EVERYONEinthecon@nentalUSwillbeabletoseeatleastapar@alsolareclipse
– Mostwillsee50%ormore;Houston66%– Millionswillbeinthepathoftotality!– TheONLYcountrythatseestotalityistheUS!
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)– OnAugust21,2017,EVERYONEinthecon@nentalUSwillbeabletoseeatleastapar@alsolareclipse
– Mostwillsee50%ormore– Millionswillbeinthepathoftotality!
ImagecourtesyhRp://[email protected]
SolarEclipse101
ImagecourtesyhRp://[email protected]
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)• Where(doIneedtogotoseeitbest?)• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)• How(doIobserveitsafely?)• When(isthenextone?)
SolarEclipse101• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)– ASOLAReclipseisthemooncas@ngitsshadowontheEarth
– ALUNAReclipseistheEarthcas@ngitshadowonthemoon
– TotalitymeanstheENTIREsunwillbeblockedbythemoon,allowingustoseethecorona
SolarEclipse101
Solareclipse(fromhRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse)[email protected]
SolarEclipse101
Lunareclipse(fromhRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse)[email protected]
SolarEclipse101• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)– Movieonsolarversuslunareclipsegeometry:hRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse/anima@on/flatscreen/EclipseGeometry_1280R264H.mp4
SolarEclipse101• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)
– MovieofwhatatotalsolareclipselookslikefromEarth’ssurface– Phasesoftheeclipse:
Firstcontact:MoonstartstocoverSun(beginningofpar@alphase)Secondcontact:MooncompletelycoversSun(startoftotality)ThirdContact:MoonstartstouncoverSun(endoftotality)FourthContact:LastbitofMoonleavessun(endofpar@alphase)hRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse/anima@on/flatscreen/SolarEclipse_Earth_1280R264H.mp4
SolarEclipse101• Whatwillyousee?– MovieoftheDiamondRingandBaily’sBeadsasseenfromEarthLastpartofpar@aleclipseandbeginningoftotaliyhRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse/anima@on/flatscreen/BailysBeads_1280R264H.mp4
SolarEclipse101• Moon’sshadowfromorbit(anima@on)
hRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse/anima@on/flatscreen/SolarEclipse_Orbit_1280R264H.mp4
• Werecentlyhadfourtotallunareclipsesinarow:
• CourtesyhRps://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/
• Fourtotallunareclipsesinarow:
• PhotoscourtesyBrianVerkaart(Hawaii)
• NotedarkeratboRom(fartherfromedgeofumbra)
Selenelion• InHouston*two*ofthesewereselenelions:theeclipseatduskordawnsoyoucanseetheredsunANDtheredmoonattheSAMETIME.Thesun’sredlightpassedoverusandlitthedarkmoon!
SolarEclipse101
• Hereisananima@onofalunareclipseasseenfromEarth:
• hRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse/anima@on/flatscreen/LunarEclipse_Earth_1280R264H.mp4
SolarEclipse101• Hereisananima@onofalunareclipseasmightbeseenfromtheMoon:(noteitisaSOLAReclipseforthefolksontheMoon)hRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse/anima@on/flatscreen/LunarEclipse_Moon_1280R264H.mp4
SolarEclipse101• IftheMoonistoofarawaytocovertheen@resunwegetanannulareclipse:
Annulareclipse(fromhRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse)
SolarEclipse101• Ifthemoonistoofarawaytocovertheen@resunwegetanannular:
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)• Where(doIneedtogotoseeitbest?)• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)• How(doIobserveitsafely?)• When(isthenextone?)
SolarEclipse101• IFYOUPOSSIBLYCAN,GOTOTOTALITY• Trytobenomorethan1-2hoursfromcenterlineandplanalocaPon
• ExpectHEAVYtraffic-STARTEARLY!• Don’tdrivewhensun>50%covered• Findahotelanhouraway…thoseintotalityarefullorveryexpensive(e.g.TopekaKSischeap)
InteracPveMapfromxJubier.free.fr–checkyourlocaPon’sPmesandcoverage!• IFYOUPOSSIBLYCAN,GOTOTOTALITY
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)• Where(doIneedtogotoseeitbest?)• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)• How(doIobserveitsafely?)• When(isthenextone?)
SolarEclipse101• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)– Mul@sensoryexperience– Onlywaytoseethediamondringandcorona– Shadowsgetsharp– Birdsroost– Temperaturefalls,windspickup– Cloudsbecomemoretransparent– EachoneISdifferent!Awe-inspiring!
SolarEclipse101• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)– Mul@sensoryexperience– Onlywaytoseethediamondringandcorona– Shadowsgetsharp– Birdsroost– Temperaturefalls,windspickup– Cloudsbecomemoretransparent– EachoneISdifferent!
DiamondringsIhaveseen
SolarEclipse101• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)– Mul@sensoryexperience– Onlywaytoseethediamondringandcorona– Shadowsgetsharp– Birdsroost– Temperaturefalls,windspickup– Cloudsbecomemoretransparent– EachoneISdifferent!
NASAspacecrafdomonitortheSun,andbycombiningthreeimagescangiveusanimageofthesun’sinnerandoutercorona
Butnothingbeatsbeingthere!!
• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)– Mul@sensoryexperience– Onlywaytoseethediamondringandcorona– Shadowsgetsharp– Birdsroost– Temperaturefalls,windspickup– Cloudsbecomemoretransparent– EachoneISdifferent!
SolarMaxcoronasaremoresymmetric–thiswillbeminimumsoelongated
• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)– Mul@sensoryexperience– Onlywaytoseethediamondringandcorona– Shadowsgetsharp– Birdsroost– Temperaturefalls,windspickup– Cloudsbecomemoretransparent– EachoneISdifferent!
Celebrate!
• “sunset”allaroundyou(thesearemyfisheyeimagesfromvariouseclipses)(China,2008)
• Thiswillbenear-noon–bestfortheshadowandforshadowbands
• Moonshadowapproachingat>1000mph!(Libya,2006)
• Cloudsbecomemoretransparent–weevensawVenusthruthethinclouds(Ternate,2016)
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)• Where(doIneedtogotoseeitbest?)• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)• How(doIobserveitsafely?)• When(isthenextone?)
SolarEclipse101• How(doIobserveitsafely?)– Eyeprotec@onKEYduringpar@alphase– Specialfiltersfor binocularsandcameras– OnlyDURINGTOTALITYisitsafetoviewwithnakedeyeorunshieldedbinoculars
– Projec@ontechniquesusingbinocularsortelescope– Pinholecameraslastresort(makeacardboardscreen)
SolarEclipse101• How(doIobserveitsafely?)– Eyeprotec@onKEYduringpar@alphase– Specialfiltersfor binocularsandcameras– OnlyDURINGTOTALITYisitsafetoviewwithnakedeyeorunshieldedbinoculars
– Projec@ontechniquesusingbinocularsortelescope– Pinholecameraslastresort(makeacardboardscreen)
Safeobserving!
SolarEclipse101• How(doIobserveitsafely?)– Eyeprotec@onKEYduringpar@alphase– Specialfiltersfor binocularsandcameras– OnlyDURINGTOTALITYisitsafetoviewwithnakedeyeorunshieldedbinoculars
– Projec@ontechniquesusingbinocularsortelescope– Pinholecameraslastresort(makeacardboardscreen)
Pinholeprojec@on…punchaholeinaboxandputapieceofpaperintheotherend
Pinholeimage(dim)^Image^fromreaders(bright)
SolarEclipse101• How(doIobserveitsafely?)– Eyeprotec@onKEYduringpar@alphase– Specialfiltersfor binocularsandcameras– OnlyDURINGTOTALITYisitsafetoviewwithnakedeyeorunshieldedbinoculars
– Projec@ontechniquesusingbinocularsortelescope– Pinholecameraslastresort(makeacardboardscreen)
Pinholeprojec@on…punchaholeinaboxandputapieceofpaperintheotherendPinholemakesdimimage–toobigisfuzzy
largerholefocusedbyreadersisbrighter
SolarEclipse101• How(doIobserveitsafely?)– Eyeprotec@onKEYduringpar@alphase– Specialfiltersfor binocularsandcameras– OnlyDURINGTOTALITYisitsafetoviewwithnakedeyeorunshieldedbinoculars
– Projec@ontechniquesusingbinocularsortelescope– Pinholecameraslastresort(makeacardboardscreen)
Funwayforapinholeprojec@on:Punchholesincardboardandphotographitsshadow!
SolarEclipse101• Eclipseshades:cheapandeasy!(Butnomagnifi-ca@on!)
SolarEclipse101Binocularshavenumbers:AxBmeansAmagnifica@onandBaperture.• Binocularswithsolarfiltersarethebestforpar@aleclipses• [email protected]
SolarEclipse101• Whenthefiltersareon,itcanbehardtofindthesun.
• First,CLOSEYOUREYESandfacethesun(feelitwarmonyourface)
SolarEclipse101• Thenbringthebinocs(zoomedOUT)uptoyoureyeswithoutmovingyourhead…itshouldbeinornearthefieldofview.Thenzoomin.
• But,painintheneckifit’snearlyoverhead!
SolarEclipse101• Needsolarfiltersforeachlens(RainbowSymphony)• Needa“binoculartripodadapter”(photostoreorAmazon)
BinocularprojecPon• ThiseclipsewillbeHIGHINTHE
SKY(nearsolarnoon)formuchoftheUS,andregularbinocularswithsolarfilterswillcraneyourneck.
• Solu@on:Binocsontripodwithadapter–onelensuncovered
• Alignbyminimizingtheshadowofthebinocs
• DANGER:Ensurethatpeopledon’tlookthroughthebinoculars!!KeeptripodveryLOWtoground [email protected]
BinocularprojecPon• Ideallyputtheimageintoa
shadowareaandusewhitecardboardtoprojecttheimageonto.
• DANGER:Ensurethatpeopledon’tlookthroughthebinoculars!!KeeptripodveryLOWtoground
• Mayheatupyourbinocs,souseacheappairthathasthetripodmoun@ngscrew(zoomisgood)
• Requires“binoculartripodadapter”availableonline(notsoldinmoststores)
SolarEclipse101• Cri@calitems:BinoculartripodadapterSolarfiltersTripod
SolarEclipse101• “SunspoRer”
–notcheapbutVERYsafeandallgetagoodview.
• Easytoalign
SolarEclipse101• How(doIobserveitsafely?)– Eyeprotec@onKEYduringpar@alphase– Specialfiltersfor binocularsandcameras– OnlyDURINGTOTALITYisitsafetoviewwithnakedeyeorunshieldedbinoculars
– Projec@ontechniquesusingbinocularsortelescope– Pinholecameraslastresort(makeacardboardscreen)
Threesafewaysdemonstrated:filteredbinoculars,binocularprojec@on,and“SunspoRer”[email protected]
SolarEclipse101• Ac@vi@esforgroups:– Punchingboardsforpinholepictures– Measuretemperature– SunspoRer– FilteredcamcorderonaTVtomonitorprogress– Readingchart(smallestfontreadable)– Photographingeclipsesundertrees,strawhats– WatchinglivevideofeedonNASATV
SolarEclipse101• Who(willbeabletoseeit?)• What(isasolareclipseversusalunareclipse)• Where(doIneedtogotoseeitbest?)• Why(doIneedtogotototality?)• How(doIobserveitsafely?)• When(isthenextone?)
SolarEclipse101• When(isthenextone?)– Roughly2solareclipseseveryyear(butmaybepar@alonly)
– Roughly2-3lunareclipseseachyear– Atleastapar@allunar2weeksbeforeorateratotalsolareclipse
– NexttotalintheUSgoesthruTEXAS,April8,2024!– (annularonOct23,2023alsothruTexas)
SolarEclipse101• When(isthenextone?)– Roughlyeveryyear2solareclipses(butmaybepar@alonly)
– Roughly2-3lunareclipseseachyear– Atleastapar@allunar2weeksbeforeorateratotalsolareclipse
– NextoneintheUSisinTEXAS,April8,[email protected]
SolarEclipse101• PHOTOGRAPHY:Hardtogetaperfectshot.Havetodorangeofexposuresandputthemtogetheraferwards.BesureyoucanmanuallysetexposureandPme,andTURNOFFFLASH!
• Shortexposuresseeprominencesandchromosphere• Longexposuresgetthecoronabutoverexposetheprominences
• PRACTICEWITHTHEFULLMOON–GETDETAIL• YOUREYESWITHBINOCULARSISTHEBEST
SolarEclipse101• VIDEOGRAPHY:Again,beabletochangeexposure(“iris”)andsetmanualfocustoinfinity
• Prac@ceonthefullmoon• VideocamerawithLCDviewfindingpanelissafetotakeofffilterjustbeforediamondring…andwillshowsomecoronawiththering(butmightoverheatiflefonthesunpasttotality)
• SetupavideocamerasoitcapturesYOUandthesun–yourownreacPonsandsoundswillbethemostfunmemoryyouhaveoftheevent.
SolarEclipse101• ThisisamulPpleexposuredigitallycombinedbutgivestheeffectthatyoureyesseewithbinoculars
CourtesyDruckmüllerwww.zam.fme.vutbr.cz
SolarEclipse101• ThisisamulPpleexposuredigitallycombinedbutgivestheeffectthatyoureyesseeiftheskyisveryclear
CourtesyDruckmüllerwww.zam.fme.vutbr.cz
SolarEclipse101• FIRSTTIMERS:JUST
ENJOY–don’tspendyourtotalitybehindalens!!
• AlwaysputfiltersclosesttoSun
• Becarefulwithviewfindercameras
• Besureyoucanadjustexposureandfocus
• BesureyoucanturnOFFtheflash!
• Prac@ceonfullmoon• Nomovingater95%-
youmighttripoversomeone!
SolarEclipse101• Thisisadigi@allycombinedimagefromseveralatvariousexposures.
• CourtesyFredEspenakMrEclipse.com(fromNASAdownloadpage)
SolarEclipse101
• Moreinforma@on:– hRp://space.rice.edu/eclipse– NASASite:hRp://eclipse2017.nasa.gov– Joinoureclipsenewslist:hRp://bit.ly/Eclipse2017
SolarEclipse101
• SolarFiltersforbinoculars:– hRp://www.rainbowsymphonystore.com/
• Highqualityphotofiltersfromphotostores– E.g.onlinephotostores(B&H,etc)– Brickandmortarphoto&astronomyshops
SolarEclipse101EquipmentRecommenda@ons• Bestbinoculars:Zoom8-20x50(ok:nonzoom10or12x35or50)(checkbylookingatstars)
• Bestcamera:SLRwithmanualfocusandexposure,300mmormoretelephoto(ok:digitalcamerawithop@calzoom,“sunsetmode”).DONOTUSEDIGITALZOOMorFLASH
• Bestcamcorder:HDor4Kwithmanualfocusandexposureop@on.(ok:othercamcorderswithLCDviewfinder).Forgroups,linktoTVsetorschoolvideo
SolarEclipse101• Thispowerpointmaybeusedfreelyfornon-commercialeduca@onaluse.• Contactmeororiginalownerforpermissionsforanyofmyimagesandanima@ons.….......”DoctorPat”,RiceUniversity
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