Solar Eclipse This Weekend!

 
18 years ago residents of continental United States could watch a solar eclipse from home...this weekend, you can do it again!  But be ready...your next opportunity won't be until 2023!

On Sunday, May 20th an annular eclipse can be viewed in the United States from a diagonal path starting in northern California/southern Oregon and traveling down to Lubbock, Texas.  If you live in this path, you can watch the new moon move in front of the sun and completely block it, except for a bright ring around the outside of the sun (sometimes called a Diamond Ring or Ring of Fire).  Most of the rest of the country can see a partial eclipse from their locations.  Click here for an interactive map showing what time the eclipse occurs in your area--click on your location on the map for details like the start, stop, and maximum eclipse times. Unfortunately, the times are all in Universal Time; but, you can check here to translate UT to your time.  Parts of Asia can also see the eclipse on May 21st.

In a solar eclipse, the moon blocks the sun from our view on Earth.  If Earth and the moon had orbits that were tilted the same degree, a solar eclipse would occur every month; but, since our orbits are at different angles, solar eclipses are more rare.

If you intend to watch the eclipse (and you definitely should!), remember not to look directly at the sun unless you have eclipse glasses.  Check out this page for more ways to safely view an eclipse!

Let me know if you and your family watch it!!



I may share at any of these parties!