Ring of fire: Millions to witness the burning moon of an 'annular' eclipse on Sunday
By Rob Waugh
PUBLISHED: 11:33, 17 May 2012 | UPDATED: 12:41, 17 May 2012
Millions of people in the western United States and Asia will watch the sun turn into a 'ring of fire' this weekend.
Shadows on the ground will also turn into crescents and 'rings' of light as moon covers as much as 94% of the sun this Sunday.
Shadows on the ground will also turn into crescents and 'rings' of light as moon covers as much as 94% of the sun this Sunday
WHAT CREATES THE 'RING OF FIRE'? ANNULAR ECLIPSES EXPLAINED
Not every eclipse of the Sun is a total eclipse. On occasion the Moon is too small to cover the whole of the Sun. This is because of the Moon's orbit around Earth which is oval or elliptical in shape.
As the Moon orbits Earth its distance varies from about 221,000 to 252,000 miles. This 13 per cent variant makes its apparent size, from our perspective, vary by the same amount.
If n eclipse occurs while the Moon is on the far side of its elliptical orbit, it appears smaller than the Sun and can't completely cover it - creating the 'ring of fire' effect due this weekend.
'Because some of the sun is always exposed during the eclipse, ambient daylight won't seem much different than usual. Instead, the event will reveal itself in the shadows. Look on the ground beneath leafy trees for crescent-shaped sunbeams and rings of light,' says Nasa.
'Near the center-line of the eclipse, observers will experience something special: the ring of fire,' say Nasa experts. 'As the Moon crosses the sun dead-center, a circular strip or annulus of sunlight will completely surround the dark lunar disk. Visually, the sun has a big black hole in the middle.'
The event is an annular solar eclipse. It occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking everything but a bright ring of light.
Early risers in parts of China, Taiwan and Japan may catch a glimpse, weather permitting, around dawn on Monday.
The eclipse will be visible Sunday afternoon over parts of Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Much of the rest of the country will see a partial solar eclipse, but the East Coast will miss out. Some three dozen national
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...nular-solar-eclipse-Sunday.html#ixzz1vDJNE46H
By Rob Waugh
PUBLISHED: 11:33, 17 May 2012 | UPDATED: 12:41, 17 May 2012
Millions of people in the western United States and Asia will watch the sun turn into a 'ring of fire' this weekend.
Shadows on the ground will also turn into crescents and 'rings' of light as moon covers as much as 94% of the sun this Sunday.
WHAT CREATES THE 'RING OF FIRE'? ANNULAR ECLIPSES EXPLAINED
Not every eclipse of the Sun is a total eclipse. On occasion the Moon is too small to cover the whole of the Sun. This is because of the Moon's orbit around Earth which is oval or elliptical in shape.
As the Moon orbits Earth its distance varies from about 221,000 to 252,000 miles. This 13 per cent variant makes its apparent size, from our perspective, vary by the same amount.
If n eclipse occurs while the Moon is on the far side of its elliptical orbit, it appears smaller than the Sun and can't completely cover it - creating the 'ring of fire' effect due this weekend.
'Because some of the sun is always exposed during the eclipse, ambient daylight won't seem much different than usual. Instead, the event will reveal itself in the shadows. Look on the ground beneath leafy trees for crescent-shaped sunbeams and rings of light,' says Nasa.
'Near the center-line of the eclipse, observers will experience something special: the ring of fire,' say Nasa experts. 'As the Moon crosses the sun dead-center, a circular strip or annulus of sunlight will completely surround the dark lunar disk. Visually, the sun has a big black hole in the middle.'
The event is an annular solar eclipse. It occurs when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking everything but a bright ring of light.
Early risers in parts of China, Taiwan and Japan may catch a glimpse, weather permitting, around dawn on Monday.
The eclipse will be visible Sunday afternoon over parts of Oregon, Northern California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Much of the rest of the country will see a partial solar eclipse, but the East Coast will miss out. Some three dozen national
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...nular-solar-eclipse-Sunday.html#ixzz1vDJNE46H
