Solar Eclipse this Saturday!

(Plain Text Version)

This Saturday October 14, 2023, an annular eclipse of the Sun will be visible in the continental United States.  The word “annular” comes from the Middle Ages and means “ring shaped.”  For people in the right place, the Moon will pass directly in front of the Sun.  Because the Moon will be in a distant part of its orbit, it will not cover the Sun completely.  So, the Sun will appear as a ring.  Here is a photo of an annular eclipse of the sun:

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap100122.html

The ring will appear along a path which includes Elko NV, Albuquerque NM, and San Antonio Tx.  For locations outside of this path, the Moon will cover one edge of the Sun.  Planning maps and timetables are available at:

https://www.greatamericaneclipse.com

https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/

To look at the Sun, reliable “eclipse glasses” are needed.  They are inexpensive, and available from many sources.  Before using the glasses, test them with the flashlight feature of your cell phone.  While wearing the glasses, look directly at the light source on the back of the phone.  You should see only a very dim dot of light. 

If you don’t have eclipse glasses, you can watch the eclipse by “pin hole” projection.  Here is a very good article:

https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety/projection

Astronomy at the Beach 2023 Was Well Attended

Astronomy at the Beach is an event enjoyable for all ages.  Like many other things, it lost momentum during the COVID pandemic.  This year, attendance is back up: 1200 people on Friday and 2080 on Saturday.  An estimated 30 telescopes were provided by club members on Friday night; 50 on Saturday night.

Here is a very good video made during the event:

The dates for Astronomy at the Beach 2024 have not been announced at this time.  It is typically held in late September.  For details, see: glaac.org or type “Astronomy at the Beach” into your search engine.

#RealSimpleAstronomy