Canucksbiggestfan Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Debut eclipse of 2012 sweeping south across North America this weekend Vancouver will witness a maximum 80 per cent partially eclipsed sun right around 6:15 p.m. local time. By David Dickinson, Postmedia News May 16, 2012 The first eclipse of 2012 graces Earth this weekend, and much of North America will witness the event Sunday night. On May 20, an annular eclipse will span the Pacific, from China and Japan at sunrise to the U.S. southwest at sunset. Unlike a total solar eclipse, an annular occurs when the moon is very near apogee, its farthest point from the Earth. It appears slightly smaller than the visible disk of the sun, leaving a bright "annulus" or solar ring amounting to about 5 per cent of the solar disk. The path of the eclipse — more than 200 kilometres wide — touches down at 8:56 p.m. GMT and departs the planet's surface at 2:49 a.m. the next day. Several unique locations lay within the central path of the eclipse, including Japan's Mt. Fuji, Utah's Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon and the Very Large Array of radio telescopes in Socorro, New Mexico. Although Canada won't see a full annular eclipse, most of the country from northern Quebec westward will see a deep partial. The farther south and west you are, the bigger the "bite" that the Moon will take from the sun. Vancouver, for example, will witness a maximum 80 per cent partially eclipsed sun right around 6:15 p.m. local time. A word of warning: though 95 per cent sun blockage seems like a lot, the remaining 5 per cent is surprisingly bright. You will need to take safety precautions when viewing the sun throughout all phases of the eclipse. That said, don't let the dire warnings that are sure to be repeated scare you away from watching the eclipse — it can be easily enjoyed with little equipment. The two safe methods for viewing solar eclipses are via projection or with an approved telescopic filter for observing the sun. Never use a filter that fastens to the eyepiece, as seen in some older telescopes; a safe filter fastens to the front of the telescope to avoid overheating and cracking. A homemade solar projector can be built with nothing more than a shoebox, some tape and aluminum foil. This is a "camera obscura," and it will come in handy also for observing the transit of Venus in just a few weeks on June 5 and 6. This will be the first annular eclipse to be seen from the United States since May 10, 1994. The drought of total solar eclipses over the U.S. will end five years from now on August 21, 2017 with a continent-spanning eclipse, and Canadian observers can expect the next total solar eclipse to cross central Ontario and northern Quebec on June 10, 2021. Eclipse-chasing can be an addictive hobby. If you want to catch it, start planning now! Read more posts by David Dickinson at AstroGuyz.com © Copyright © canada.com http://www.vancouver...2146/story.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr.Habitat Posted May 20, 2012 Share Posted May 20, 2012 Can I just film it with my iPhone and watch after? Hope its not cloudy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted May 20, 2012 Author Share Posted May 20, 2012 Can I just film it with my iPhone and watch after? Hope its not cloudy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 Anyone able to see it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 The moon slides across the sun, showing a blazing halo of light, during an annular solar eclipse at a waterfront park in Yokohama, near Tokyo, Monday, May 21, 2012. Millions of Asians watched as a rare "ring of fire" eclipse crossed their skies early Monday. The annular eclipse, in which the moon passes in front of the sun leaving only a golden ring around its edges, was visible to wide areas across the continent. http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/photos/9/9f39b426-ae56-4326-8299-b8bb9cd23d12.html?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrawfull Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I didn't see anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 I watched it online, saw the view from New Mexico and California. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonLever Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 I didn't see anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Vintage Canuck- Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Photo Gallery: Millions turn out to watch as ring-like eclipse crosses skies of Asia and western US: http://apne.ws/Jf1PiR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 The one time when sunny weather would have been perfect, it end up raining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonLever Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 The next Solar Eclipse to hit North America will be August 21, 2012. It will be a total eclipse that has it passing through Oregon state. http://en.wikipedia...._2017Aug21T.png Because we are so close to the path of the eclipse, that mean Vancouver will see almost a total eclipse. 90% + of the Sun blocked!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 The next Solar Eclipse to hit North America will be August 21, 2012. It will be a total eclipse that has it passing through Oregon state. http://en.wikipedia...._2017Aug21T.png Because we are so close to the path of the eclipse, that mean Vancouver will see almost a total eclipse. 90% + of the Sun blocked!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted May 21, 2012 Share Posted May 21, 2012 Photo Gallery: Millions turn out to watch as ring-like eclipse crosses skies of Asia and western US: http://apne.ws/Jf1PiR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canucksbiggestfan Posted May 21, 2012 Author Share Posted May 21, 2012 my favorite: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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