13.5 Eclipse Observing
195
Fig. 13.9 Image of a total solar eclipse showing the corona. (Image courtesy of
NASA/Gopalswamy)
dark that can be seen moving and undulating in parallel on plain-coloured surfaces,
occurring before and after totality. There has been a number of explanations for the
cause of this banding, but exact answers fail to materialise, perhaps hampered by the
difficulty of imaging the effect. The most likely explanation is that it is a scintillation
effect from the atmosphere, which becomes visible when the Sun is reduced to a
point light source, which would occur just before and after totality, the same time
at which the shadows are observed. It is analogous to stellar scintillation, but with
the effect reversed in direction. The effect seems to have different levels of intensity
between eclipses, with no shadow banding seen at some. Whatever is happening,
using a pale surface to capture shadow banding during a total eclipse will contribute
to our understanding of the effect and the atmosphere.
Given that there is a maximum of seven solar eclipses occurring in any one year and
any one site seeing only one total solar eclipse in a typical human lifetime, planning
is important. You will likely be travelling to see a total eclipse. Fortunately, solar
eclipses can be predicted hundreds of years in advance, which will give you plenty of
time to select a location on the path of totality and book flights and accommodation.
I have seen multiple eclipses, including three total solar eclipses, and I generally
plan two years in advance. Generally, it is best to stay away from urban areas and
national parks. Not that they are bad observing locations, just that everyone else will
think they are a good location, and you will also spend a considerable amount of
time in traffic trying to get away from the site after the eclipse and will have to pay
significantly more for accommodation.
Perhaps most of all, you should not observe a solar eclipse alone, especially if
observing somewhere remote. Part of this is safety; it isn’t going to go completely
dark, but accidents do happen. Most of all, experiencing a total solar eclipse is
something you should do with other people. Watch eclipses with friends!
195
Fig. 13.9 Image of a total solar eclipse showing the corona. (Image courtesy of
NASA/Gopalswamy)
dark that can be seen moving and undulating in parallel on plain-coloured surfaces,
occurring before and after totality. There has been a number of explanations for the
cause of this banding, but exact answers fail to materialise, perhaps hampered by the
difficulty of imaging the effect. The most likely explanation is that it is a scintillation
effect from the atmosphere, which becomes visible when the Sun is reduced to a
point light source, which would occur just before and after totality, the same time
at which the shadows are observed. It is analogous to stellar scintillation, but with
the effect reversed in direction. The effect seems to have different levels of intensity
between eclipses, with no shadow banding seen at some. Whatever is happening,
using a pale surface to capture shadow banding during a total eclipse will contribute
to our understanding of the effect and the atmosphere.
Given that there is a maximum of seven solar eclipses occurring in any one year and
any one site seeing only one total solar eclipse in a typical human lifetime, planning
is important. You will likely be travelling to see a total eclipse. Fortunately, solar
eclipses can be predicted hundreds of years in advance, which will give you plenty of
time to select a location on the path of totality and book flights and accommodation.
I have seen multiple eclipses, including three total solar eclipses, and I generally
plan two years in advance. Generally, it is best to stay away from urban areas and
national parks. Not that they are bad observing locations, just that everyone else will
think they are a good location, and you will also spend a considerable amount of
time in traffic trying to get away from the site after the eclipse and will have to pay
significantly more for accommodation.
Perhaps most of all, you should not observe a solar eclipse alone, especially if
observing somewhere remote. Part of this is safety; it isn’t going to go completely
dark, but accidents do happen. Most of all, experiencing a total solar eclipse is
something you should do with other people. Watch eclipses with friends!