Celestial Christmas Gift

ggrappone writes: "If you call North America your home you'll be treated to a Christmas day eclipse. This article on CNN describes the rare event in more detail."

Comments

Eclipse Does Give Unique Quality To Sunlight

[weston]

The effect for most folks will be no more noticable then an high-altitude cloud.

It may not be extremely "noticeable", in that it's not something that demands attention. But it's definitely perceptible, and (I think) fairly unique. The dimming is not so pronounced as a cloud -- it's a much more gradual change in color and intensity. The only other phenomena I've experienced that brings to pass the same change of character in sunlight are fires; with some big enough blazes in the surrounding area, you get a similar color and subtle intensity shift.

More Details

[maggard]

Unfortunately unless one is watching for the eclipse it'll be unnoticable.

The popular perception of a solar eclipse is the skies & land growing dark as streetlights pop on & birds take cover for the night. While that does indeed happen for a full eclipse a partial one is much less impressive, particularly one as partial as this will be for most folks.

Taking a 'bite' out of a very bright light-source leaves - a very bright light-source. The effect for most folks will be no more noticable then an high-altitude cloud. The landscape will slowly (imperceptably) dim then later brighten very subtly.

That said the images of the sun will be very impressive. I'm going to assume a /.'ers know better then to look at the sun directly (sun = bright light in the 'big blue room'.) Even good sunglasses don't generally filter enough, particularly for the extended viewing like this. It *is* possible to permanently harm one's eyes this way and no, your reflexes won't save you if you override them.

One of the simplest (and thus kewlest) ways to view is to punch a hole in a piece of paper (or tinfoil or whatever else handy) and let the sun shine through. The hole should be ~.25mm and a second surface (prefereably white) ~20-50cm behind it (Your Milage May Vary) This will get you a view approximately the same as the fantastic photos you see but it'll be yours & real-time.

Good luck. Even for those of us in Northern parts of North America (Montreal) this will be an easy-to-miss event but if one takes the time & effort (& the weather cooperates) it can be an exciting one to catch.

Eh?

[Greyfox]

Christmas day eclipse on precisely the Christmas before the Millenium ends? That's a little bit creepy...

Aw, just the damn luck...

[laborit]

This had to happen NOW, didn't it? I'm sure the sun will be just THRILLED to receive this insult, after deciding to be merciful and give in to our pleading. I'll bet now he decides to turn around and not end Winter after all.

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Go ahead, blame me... I voted for Nader!

Thank goodness for this article...

[fleeb_fantastique]

If this article hadn't been written, I might have mistook Christmas day's eclipse for a failure to pay the electrical bill. Thanks, Slashdot!

- Trey

here's a better link

[fsck!]

heavens-above.com has very nice reports on this kind of thing, espically iridium flares and iis sightings. that link is generated by my preferences for east coast data, but that's easy enough to change.
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If it wasn't bad enough already...

[autocracy]

You see, it's already going to be raining where I'm at. And it's going to be cloudy. I'm also in a living hell: it never gets cold enough to snow. So much for a white Christmas. AND NOW YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S GOING TO GET DARK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY?

Consolation: I get a PlayStation2 and you don't!

It's all about the Karma Points...
Moderators: Read from the bottom up!

Safely looking at the sun

[john@iastate.edu]

You'll need either special glasses or telescope filters made especially for this purpose or you can use some welding goggles/helmets. They will need to have a #14 or higher filter in them (unfortunately most welders goggles are only #5 and most welders helmets are only #10, so be careful).