Page 84 - All About Space 68 - 2017 UK
P. 84

The Great American Eclipse



                                                                                                        Each phase of the eclipse holds
                                                                                                       its own wonder, as the Moon cuts
                                                                                                            across the light of our Sun



















      © Rick Fienberg / TravelQuest International / Wilderness Travel  Worldwide




              Free







          telescope


          Exploratorium      access
          Beginning at 6pm                     “ A fleeting phenomenon that hasn't occurred
          (BST) or 10:15am (PDT),
          Exploratorium will be                 across the USA for 99 years, the eclipse
          broadcasting the event
          via its website and also              promises to be something very special”
          through its mobile app.
           www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse
                                                rushes through the Moon's valleys, causing beads on   of totality, it will get very dark during totality, which
                                                one side. The light levels plummet and everything   can be dramatic. However, if you're lucky, the drop
          NASA's Live Stream                    looks strange; the final bead makes the Moon look   in temperature that the Moon shadow causes can
          NASA will host an Eclipse
                                                like a beautiful diamond ring, and signals the start   evaporate cloud for the few minutes of totality, so
          Megacast providing unique
          broadcast coverage across             of totality. The corona appears suddenly afterwards   don't give up hope.
          multiple channels, allowing           as a glowing crown around the hole in the sky.  If you're at an organised event, they're likely to
          the agency to interact with             As well as the mesmerising corona, solar   be showing a livestream of the eclipse on NASA TV,
          scientists and members.               prominences – huge explosions of plasma on the   which is what the rest of the world will be watching.
                                                surface of the Sun – are visible, most easily to those   A rare, fleeting phenomenon that hasn't occurred
           www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov/eclipse-live-stream  using binoculars or a small telescope. All optical   across the USA for 99 years, the Great American
                                                equipment needs filters for the partial phase, but not   Eclipse promises to be something very special
          Slooh Observatory                     for totality, because the eclipsed Sun is no brighter   that will get millions of people all asking the same
          This online telescope                 than a Full Moon. Bright star Regulus in Leo will   question: when is the next eclipse?
          platform will be streaming            be visible just to the top-left of the Moon and Sun,
          the eclipse from Elk Creek
          Campground in Stanley,                with planet Venus further to the right. Totality will
          Idaho, which rests directly           end with beads emerging and growing into another
          in the path of totality.              diamond ring, and viewers should reach for their
                                                solar eclipse glasses once more.
           www.live.slooh.com                     So where should you stand? Not only should you
                                                head into the path of totality, but get as close to its
          Time and Date                         centre-line as possible to maximise the duration
          Through Time and Date,                the total eclipse, which will peak at 2 minutes 41
          you can enjoy user-                                                                                                 ©Courtesy Mark Margolis / Rainbow Symphony
          generated footage from                seconds in Illinois and Kentucky. By now, most
          various points along the              hotels are fully booked, but it's easy enough to
          eclipse's path. You can also          camp, or drive into the area for eclipse day (though
          contribute yourself.                  that's a risky strategy if traffic predictions are to be
                                                believed). West of the Mississippi – Oregon, Idaho,
           www.timeanddate.com/live             Wyoming and Nebraska – has the best weather   You can view the event safely by wearing special eclipse
                                                prospects. If it is cloudy where you are in the path   glasses which prevent eyesight damage

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