Make the most of your eclipse experience https://chasingrelativity.github.io What weather conditions are best during a solar eclipse? No question that the ideal conditions are clear skies. I observed a total eclipse in Cornwall, UK in 1999 and we were frustrated by fairly heavy cloud cover for most of the duration of the partial eclipse. Fortunately, we did have... Mon, 17 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0100 https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-17-weather/ https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-17-weather/ How dark does the sky get during totality? During a total eclipse of the Sun the entire photosphere of the Sun is blocked out. So, it’s obviously going to impact the brightness of the sky. The Moon’s shadow is only about 100 miles across so while you are experiencing totality... Wed, 12 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0100 https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-12-what-stars-and-planets-visible/ https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-12-what-stars-and-planets-visible/ If you are reading this blog post then we can assume that you have some knowledge of the event that will be happening on August 21st 2017. An eclipse of the Sun will result in the Moon’s shadow passing across the USA. It is estimated that 12 million people live... Fri, 07 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0100 https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-07-tell-your-neighbours/ https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-07-tell-your-neighbours/ How often do solar eclipses occur? Total solar eclipses occur roughly once every 18 months. The Moon’s orbit is at a 5.15° angle of the plane of the Earth’s orbit around the Sun. The Moon crosses the ecliptic twice in it’s journey around the Earth, once on it’s way up... Sun, 02 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0100 https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-02-total-exeligmos/ https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-07-02-total-exeligmos/ Is it safe to view a solar eclipse without eye protection? The simply answer is no. But let’s consider that question. For those lucky enough to be positioned in the umbral shadow of the moon the brief moments of totality can be viewed safely without the need for protection. The... Thu, 29 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0100 https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-06-29-watch-an-eclipse-safely/ https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-06-29-watch-an-eclipse-safely/ Nearly 100 years ago, Sir Arthur Eddington was involved in an ambitious expedition to observe the solar eclipse of May 29, 1919. His objective was to see if one of the claims made by Einstein’s general theory of relativity could be verified through observation. Einstein published his general theory of... Mon, 26 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0100 https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-06-26-relativity-confirmed/ https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-06-26-relativity-confirmed/ A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes in between the sun and the Earth’s. The moon casts its’ shadow on the Earth’s surface and those lucky enough to be in its’ path will have a front row seat to a celestial spectacle. Image: NASA/ESA On August 21st 2017 the... Sun, 25 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0100 https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-06-25-us-eclipse-2017/ https://chasingrelativity.github.io/2017-06-25-us-eclipse-2017/