Solar Eclipse Crosses America

ALLIANCE – A solar eclipse occurs virtually every year, but only once every 18 years does a total eclipse occur.

Some may consider the number of eclipses rather common, but the events are only visible from specific areas on the planet. Various factors direct the pathway of the eclipse such as the rotation and tilted axis of the earth as well as numerous other things that can sometimes seem to create unusual patterns.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) explains: an eclipse takes place when one heavenly body such as a moon or planet moves into the shadow of another heavenly body. There are two types of eclipses on Earth: an eclipse of the moon and an eclipse of the sun.

When the moon moves between the earth and the sun, it casts a shadow that is seen from the ground as a solar eclipse. During a full solar eclipse, the moon comes directly between the earth and sun. This creates a narrow pathway in a continuous line somewhere on the globe.

During a total eclipse, the moon casts two different shadows. The first is known as the penumbra, which then a partial obscuring of the sun. The second is known as the umbra. This is the shadow that completely obscures the sun and creates the total eclipse. The umbra is commonly called “the point of totality.”

Sometimes the moon does not come directly between the earth and sun resulting in a partial eclipse. During this type of eclipse, there are no locations on the planet one can see it in totality.

The third type of solar eclipse occurs when the moon does come directly between the earth and sun, but in these cases the moon is at its furthest from the earth. This creates a solar ring around the moon allowing the edges of the sun to show. It appears as a dark disc surrounded by a bright halo.

The last time a total solar eclipse made a pathway across the United States was in June 8, 1918. There were times when one touched a part of the U.S., but a route across the country is a rare thing indeed.

On August 27, 2017, the U.S. will see its first total solar eclipse in almost a century.

The pathway of the eclipse will pass through various communities, towns, cities and highways. Many of the communities in the path of the umbra are preparing special events for this date. This is the only chance most people alive today will witness such a rare occurrence, and it is anticipated the areas in the path of totality will see a lot of tourists, amature astronomers, scientists and others.

The umbra will contact the U.S. at the western portion of the Oregon and make its way to pass through South Carolina before reaching the Atlantic Ocean. The peak of the eclipse will occur at the coordinates 360 57’ 58.85” N / 870 38’50.76”. At this time the total eclipse will last for 2 minutes 40.3 seconds.

This location has the greatest eclipse point between Princeton and Hopkins, Ky. At the contact point near Salem, Org. the umbra will last 01m34.9s. Where it leaves the continent, the umbra will last 2 minutes 35.7 seconds.

If one has any interest in the eclipse, only those along the narrow path will see the eclipse in totality. It might be wise to make plans soon before all of the hotels, motels and recreational vehicle parks run out of vacancies.

 

Source References Available Upon Request