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Nature Annular Solar Eclipse !! May 20, 2012
2012.05.09 16:14
Annular Solar Eclipse - May 20, 2012The best chance for avoiding clouds will be in the USA as the eclipse path ends. The problem will most likely be terrain which can be mountainous with few roads in places. Estimates for finding a clear area to view are well over 70% in favor of the well informed eclipse chaser as the eclipse will be in the late afternoon. In China and Japan the odds are not quite as favorable. At best a 50% chance given the typical weather of the season. Stay tuned to local weather forecasts the evening before and early morning of the eclipse. Eclipse Path Important note: This eclipse starts May 21st in China. As the eclipse path moves eastward it will cross the International Dateline before entering the USA where it is still be May 20th. Annular solar eclipse visible across the Pacific from the coast of China to the southwestern USA. The odd date for this eclipse results from the fact that it starts on the other side of the International Date Line. When the eclipse starts, it will be the 21st of May for the local time zones. As the eclipse progresses it passes over the date line headed eastward. This annular eclipse will be visible in the late afternoon in the USA on the 20th (local date/time). As the eclipse path meets the coast the sun will only be about 20-30 degrees above the horizon (30 degrees at the start of the partial phase, just over 20 during the annular phase). Maps: Michael Zeiler has prepared a series of detailed maps for this eclipse. Click here to view them. Important: You must use a solar filter or some other safe solar viewing method during an annular eclipse. Even at maximum, the eclipse will not cover the brightest parts of the sun. Look for pinhole effects on the ground (shadows of trees or bushes) or use some another projection viewing method to safely view the eclipsed sun. Photography tips for Annular Eclipses Commentary: The normal "rule of thumb" in eclipse chasing is that a total solar eclipse is worth any and all effort to see, no matter where it is in the world. An annular eclipse is worth driving or taking a short flight to see. A partial is worth looking at. Annular eclipses, so named because of the ring shape of the sun, are fun to watch however they lack the complete transformation seen during a total solar eclipse. If you live in the western part of the USA it is worth taking a look to see if you can get to the central line.
The sun's chromosphere and several prominences are seen on the left hand side of the solar disk. Red flaring on opposite side of the image is from the overexposed solar limb not completely covered by the moon. Hinode Observes Annular Solar Eclipse - 01.06.11
On January 4, the Hinode satellite captured these breathtaking images of an annular solar eclipse. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon, slightly more distant from Earth than on average, moves directly between Earth and the sun, thus appearing slightly smaller to observers' eyes; the effect is a bright ring, or annulus of sunlight, around the silhouette of the moon. Hinode, a Japanese mission in partnership with NASA, NAOJ, STFC, ESA, and NSC, currently in Earth orbit, is studying the Sun to improve our understanding of the mechanisms that power the solar atmosphere and drive solar eruptions.
The Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth during an annular solar eclipse |
On May 20, 2012, in the evening hour, there will be an annular eclipse (a sort of total eclipse).
The center line of the ecliptic band passes through in northern California, entire Nevada, southwestern Utah,
northeastern Arizona, mid-New Mexico, and northwestern Texas.
This is a great blessing the natuture provides us to the people in the southwestern US !!
This happens to be the western US, mainly the desert lands where sky stays clear
most of the time. There's a good chance that the sky will be clear in these desert areas.
Please check the map.
The totality will last about 7 minutes in the center part of the eclipse band in the map.
If you are not in the center, the duration will be shorter.
If anyone living near this area should drive to the area within the eclipse band
and find a place where western horizon (setting sun) is well visible to see the spectacular show
just before the sunset.
The annular eclipse is very rare occurence. Please don't miss it.
I saw one such annular eclipse that passed through Indiana many years ago (about year 2000).
At that time, they said the next annular eclipse would happen in 2012. That is now !!
We drove about an hour to the place in the middle of the eclipse band.
It happened in the mid-day and watched it in the parking lot of a MacDonald.
It was spectacular even with naked eyes.