The Solar Eclipse
PLEASE REMEMBER TO NEVER LOOK AT THE SUN DIRECTLY
Always use an approved solar filter, or watch the reflection in a pool of water, or use a pinhole viewer
See the stages of an eclipse
Read the reports that are arriving
What is an eclipse ?
An eclipse is the name given to an event that occurs when the light from the sun is prevented reaching a planet (or satellite) by another planet (or satellite)Normally, our planet, the Earth is lit up by the sun. Very occasionally the moon passes around the Earth across the sun. When this happens a solar eclipse takes place.
When the Earth blocks the light from the sun to the moon we see a Lunar Eclipse
How long does it take for a solar eclipse to occur ?
From the moment that the moon begins to cross in front of the sun, until it moves back out the way takes about 2 and a half hours. See the pictures below for the times of the eclipse in England.What happens during a solar eclipse ?
During a solar eclipse (as will happen on August 11th 1999) the moon prevents light from the sun reaching the Earth. The Earth is then put into a shadow by the moon, and day becomes dark.The solar eclipse always goes through the same stages. This allows scientists to predict what will happen precisely. The four stages are;
First Contact (9.57am UK) - The top right of the sun is hidden - looking as though the moon has eaten it
Second Contact (11.10am UK) - The sun is now hidden. Only beads of light shining through the moons valleys can be seen. These create BAILEY'S BEADS - the most famous of which creates a diamond ring effect in the sky
Totality (11.11am UK) - The sky darkens and appears to be purple, not blue. Stars (and planets) become visible. At this time the moon has completely covered the sun in the sky
Third Contact (11.13am UK) - As the moon begins to move away, BAILEY'S BEADS reappear. The sun begins to brighten in the sky and the darkness disappears
Fourth Contact (12.32pm UK) - The moon moves away from the sun, leaving the lower left side last. The eclipse has now finished.
The stages of an eclipse - Totality is in the centre
Pictures Copyright TES Primary Magazine
Eclipse account written by Mr. Widdowson
I was lucky enough to be in France during the Eclipse. (In fact I was in EuroDisney on holiday with my daughter). As the clocks were an hour ahead in France, the Eclipse was due to take place shortly after middday on the 11th August.
Everyone who entered the park that morning was giving a pair of Mylar filter glasses free of charge. These glasses had been designed to allow roughly 3 minutes of continuous solar viewing, or a longer period of occasional viewing.
The glasses seemed pointless though, as the whole morning was spent with a thick, heavy grey sky hovering overhead.
At about 11.30 (10.30 in the U.K.), people began to find a clear area in the park, and waited. The sky remained grey, the sun remained hidden, and the glasses remained in their packets.
Suddenly though, from nowhere it seemed, the sky cleared. The grey cloud was replaced with a brilliant blue sky. It seemed as though the sun itself had cleared away the clouds to allow everyone a view of the event.
Everyone began to use their glasses to view the eclipse. The sun had already lost a large section to the moon, and was quickly vanishing. The moon raced across the sky and covered more and more of the sun. By this time nobody was queueing for an attraction and even the staff of Disneyland were looking skyward. The moon covered more and more of the sun until only a small sliver of light on the left hand edge was visible.
The most remarkable feature I found was that although most of the sun was covered, the light from the visible part was still enough to send strong shadows across the floor.
Disneyland, Paris, at just after midday on August 11th 1999
Although EuroDisney was not in the path of totality, the light did rapidly fade. So much so that streetlamps lit thinking it was nightime. The swans in the lake stopped swimming, and the birds stopped chirping and flying around from tree to tree.
The most unusual aspect encountered was the image of people casting shadows on the ground, while the lights were on, and a strange twilight effect all around.
It was, for me, a once in a lifetime event, and one that will remain with me for ever.
Return to the;
Eclipse account written by Mr. Widdowson
I was lucky enough to be in France during the Eclipse. (In fact I was in EuroDisney on holiday with my daughter). As the clocks were an hour ahead in France, the Eclipse was due to take place shortly after middday on the 11th August.
I was lucky enough to be in France during the Eclipse. (In fact I was in EuroDisney on holiday with my daughter). As the clocks were an hour ahead in France, the Eclipse was due to take place shortly after middday on the 11th August.
Everyone who entered the park that morning was giving a pair of Mylar filter glasses free of charge. These glasses had been designed to allow roughly 3 minutes of continuous solar viewing, or a longer period of occasional viewing.
The glasses seemed pointless though, as the whole morning was spent with a thick, heavy grey sky hovering overhead.
At about 11.30 (10.30 in the U.K.), people began to find a clear area in the park, and waited. The sky remained grey, the sun remained hidden, and the glasses remained in their packets.
Suddenly though, from nowhere it seemed, the sky cleared. The grey cloud was replaced with a brilliant blue sky. It seemed as though the sun itself had cleared away the clouds to allow everyone a view of the event.
Everyone began to use their glasses to view the eclipse. The sun had already lost a large section to the moon, and was quickly vanishing. The moon raced across the sky and covered more and more of the sun. By this time nobody was queueing for an attraction and even the staff of Disneyland were looking skyward. The moon covered more and more of the sun until only a small sliver of light on the left hand edge was visible.
The most remarkable feature I found was that although most of the sun was covered, the light from the visible part was still enough to send strong shadows across the floor.
Disneyland, Paris, at just after midday on August 11th 1999
Although EuroDisney was not in the path of totality, the light did rapidly fade. So much so that streetlamps lit thinking it was nightime. The swans in the lake stopped swimming, and the birds stopped chirping and flying around from tree to tree.
The most unusual aspect encountered was the image of people casting shadows on the ground, while the lights were on, and a strange twilight effect all around.
It was, for me, a once in a lifetime event, and one that will remain with me for ever.
Return to the;
Disneyland, Paris, at just after midday on August 11th 1999
Although EuroDisney was not in the path of totality, the light did rapidly fade. So much so that streetlamps lit thinking it was nightime. The swans in the lake stopped swimming, and the birds stopped chirping and flying around from tree to tree.
The most unusual aspect encountered was the image of people casting shadows on the ground, while the lights were on, and a strange twilight effect all around.
It was, for me, a once in a lifetime event, and one that will remain with me for ever.
Return to the;