Eclipse!
Tue Mar 22, 2005 18:59 (UTC -5)Ah… nothing’s more beautiful than the moon moving in front of the sun. A while ago I was wondering when the next solar eclipse would be. Today the thought slipped back into my mind, so I decided to find out. It turns out that a partial eclipse is headed our way on April 8. In fact, much of Central America and a portion of the United States south of a line running from San Diego to New York will get a glimpse as well. But have a look for yourself at this NASA page on the eclipse.
Above are some details on viewing the eclipse in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, near me. Many of you readers will find it helpful, too, because you’re my friends and you live nearby. If you live in the U.S. but nowhere near me, you can see how the eclipse will look and when it will occur near you by clicking the graphic above. Remember, not all of the country will be able to see it.
The first (and last) solar eclipse I got a glimpse of was probably the eclipse of December 14, 2001. (I’m not sure exactly, but I do know that it was between 1997 and 2003, it occurred shortly before sunset, and the moon partially obscured the sun on the left. So this image gallery confirmed my suspicions.) I did try to look at the sun (YES I KNOW IT’S BAD FOR YOU BUT WE ALL DO IT ONCE IN A WHILE WHATAREYAGONNADO), and I do recall that it was really bright (maybe more so than usual, but probably not). I couldn’t appreciate it fully, though, because I don’t think we were prepared to view the eclipse properly.
I want this eclipse to be different, however. It’s not occurring during school, so I have a chance of seeing it (I remember missing an eclipse in 1997 or 1998 because it was during the school day; must’ve been February 26, 1998). And things are different. I have a good point-and-shoot camera. My dad and my friend have good real cameras. They’ve both expressed interest in going out to some wide-open spaces to see the eclipse (the sun will be setting, after all).
After looking at prices of solar filters, I thought I’d be sunk. They’re pretty expensive, and I couldn’t find any that are made for my camera. But after doing a little more digging, I found a site that sells bits of solar filter material that you can use for telescopes, cameras, or general viewing. That’s the ticket! We could also try other methods of general viewing, though.
All I can hope for now (besides that my camera, with its 3X optical zoom and 6X digital zoom, doesn’t make the sun look like a dot) is good weather. The weather here in Florida is infamous for being wayward (I just looked out the window. How long have those dark clouds been there?). We could perhaps stand a bit of cloudiness so that the clouds act as a natural filter. But hopefully the skies will be cloud-free (near the sun, at least). I could still use the filter material for sun photography (sunspots, y’know) and future eclipses… maybe the 2012 transit of Venus.
Mirrors reverse images. Ever wonder how others really see you? The True Mirror can help you find out. It’s a non-reversing mirror. I think the site exists solely to plug their insane Hair Part Theory, which states that how a person’s hair is parted influences how others perceive them. The mirrors are really expensive, too.
