Other [Special] Everything to Know About the 2017 Summer Solar Eclipse

[Yisroel.Rabin 16,224]

Have you ever seen one of those photos of the Moon covering the Sun, creating a beautiful black circle with rays of light coming out from behind it in the sky? If you have, have you ever wanted to see it in real life, or know how it works and what happens during this spectacular phenomenon that is a solar eclipse? Well, you're in luck, because one is heading straight our way. Keep reading to learn more!

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You've probably heard of a solar eclipse. You've probably never really had the urge to see one that badly, and it probably wasn't on your list of 'top ten things to do one day.' Well, it should be. It's a rather rare and spectacular event, and if you're ready for them, down to the second, you can see some really cool and specific moments that occur during a solar eclipse.

 

They happen rather rarely, especially in North America. The next total solar eclipse in North America - after the upcoming one on August 21st - will be in 2024, and that's doubtful, as it'll be in April - meaning that clouds could be a problem. The last total solar eclipse in the United States was in 1979, and the last one that spread from coast to coast, like this one, was in 1918! So, as you can imagine, this is a rather spectacular event, and, if you live in North America, within driving distance from the spectrum, I advise hopping in a car and driving a couple of hours to view the rare phenomenon.

 

I'm currently in the process of planning to travel 12 hours with my two brothers to the view this once in a lifetime (for many) phenomenon. It'll be worth it, and definitely a great story to tell my friends and future children. So, if you're intrigued yet, let's go!

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What a solar eclipse is and how it works

 

Let's get basic! A solar eclipse is the phase in which our Moon passes over the Sun. There are two kinds of eclipses though; an annual and a total. It's incredibly lucky how the Moon and the Sun are close to the same size in the sky. That happens because even though the Sun is 400 larger than the Moon, it is 400 times farther away than the Moon as well. The Moon orbits the Earth in an ellipse, meaning it looks larger to us when it gets closer and smaller when it gets farther. So, when the Moon is at its farthest point in orbit (i.e. Apogee), it doesn't cover the Sun completely, but at its closest point (i.e. Perigee), it does. This causes the two different kinds of solar eclipses. The annual eclipse occurs when the Moon passes the Sun when it's at its farthest point in orbit, causing it to not completely block out the Sun. People describe it as a big bright glowing solar disc looking out from behind the Moon. However, when the Moon is at its closest stage it does block out the Sun, making it, of course, a total eclipse.

 

Apogee

 

Perigee

 

Solar eclipses don't happen too often, as mentioned above, with only a few hitting each continent over the course of several decades. The picture below shows all the solar eclipses between 2015 and 2040. The red curves are the annular eclipses, and the rarer blue curves are the total eclipse. These things could be a once in a lifetime experience, which shouldn't be given up so easily.

 

 

There are ranges where you can view the solar eclipse. In the image bellow (I'm using the upcoming solar eclipse as an example) you can see different shades across the map. The darkest shade is called the totality plane. It's where you can view... well, totality (the complete covering of the Sun by the Moon). The farther out you move, the less of the Moon will cover the Sun. For example, where I currently am, only 69% (great percentage, I know :lol:) of the Moon will cover the Sun.

 

 

However, your goal shouldn't just me to get inside the band (totality plane), your goal should be to get to the very centre of the band. At the edges of the plane, totality only lasts a few seconds, but in the very middle, it can last several minutes! We'll get more into where the longest totality duration is for the upcoming solar eclipse later.

 

 

What happens during a total solar eclipse

 

There are multiple fascinating things - besides the Sun being blocked by the Moon - that occur throughout the process of a total solar eclipse. There are four "segments" to a total solar eclipse, and they're named C1, C2, C3, and C4 (the 'C' stands for 'Contact time'). We're going to dive headfirst into these segments and describe what happens at during each one, but first, let's briefly describe them.

 

Contact Time 1, or more commonly referred to as C1, is the exact moment that the lunar disk touches the solar disc in the sky. The process of the Moon moving over the Sun before totality could take some time, usually over an hour. Then, C2 happens - which is the exact moment that the Moon covers the Sun. C2 only occurs when you're within the totality plane. Then, from C2 until C3, is totality. A few seconds, or minutes later, depending on where in the totality plane you are, C3 happens. C3 is the moment the Sun pokes out from behind the lunar disk again, and then traverses, for around an hour or so, until C4, which is the moment the lunar disk lets go of the Sun.

 

At C1, your surroundings begin to change. The temperature begins to decrease because the Sun is being blocked out by the Moon. Animals start to act differently because they think nighttime is falling, which, by the way, if you have a pet dog or cat, watch what happens. I'll link to a video of when animals really begin to go weird below.

 

Right before C2, a couple of weird phenomenons occur. A few seconds before totality (C2) there is a chance of something called Shadow Bands. Shadow Bands are little thin shadows, which some people describe as millions of serpentine like shadows, crawling in unison all around you. There isn't really any good pictures or videos of shadow bands on the internet, but there are a few. Here's the best one I could find.

 

 

If you're a good photographer, all you really have to do to capture a good quality video or photo of Shadow Bands is set a manual exposure on a camera, and set it on a white sheet or a light wall / concrete.

 

After that, just before C2, something traditionally known as "The Diamond Ring" occurs. The Diamond Ring actually looks like a diamond ring, if you're taking a photo of it. It happens right before the lunar disk covers the Sun, and there's a tiny ray of light poking out from behind the Moon. It looks very beautiful, and if you've got a good camera, you might be able to capture it.

 

 

Then, about five seconds before C2, there's something called Bailey's Beads. Bailey's Beads are basically small "beads" that are visible right before totality. Here's the best quality image of them I was able to find.

 

 

 

It happens because if the Moon's valleys and mountains, so instead of there being a tiny slit left before totality, there are tiny bumps that create tiny slits for light from the Sun to pass between, creating a bead shaped look. It happens very quickly, so if you want to capture it with a camera, you'll have to be taking pictures right at that instant.

 

C2 is, as mentioned before, the moment totality begins. Then it's safe to remove your glasses and look directly at the Sun. Totality, if you're lucky, can last about two and a half minutes, depending on your location and which eclipse we're discussing.

 

Somewhere in C2 is max totality. It's the most beautiful sight of the entire event. People have said to view the event in a flat field, because at totality the horizon looks like a 360° sunrise. Right before C3 (the moment totality is over) you (and I've gotta say this as a "safety precaution") have got to put your glasses back on because the Sun is about to pop out again and you don't want to hurt your eyes.

 

After C3, you have another chance to capture all the cool things again if you failed the first time. Bailey's Beads happens again, The Diamond Ring happens again, Shadow Bands could happen - although they're never guaranteed before or after. After that everything starts going back to normal. Things start getting lighter, the temperature starts getting normal again. However, animals get even more weird because they're confused as to why night was so short. Animals tend to act weird throughout the entire eclipse. Here's a slightly funny video of what happens in a zoo during the eclipse.

 

 

 

How to view and photograph a solar eclipse

 

It's of course well known that it's dangerous to look directly at the Sun. It can damage the retina of your eye and can, in some serious cases, cause you to go blind. Wear protective eye wear when looking at the Sun at all times (except at totality, during which you can view the Sun without any protective gear). Wear special "solar eclipse glasses," designed especially for the event. Sunglasses WILL NOT work well. You can find these special made glasses at a local 7-Eleven, Walmart, Toys R Us. Prices usually range between two and three US dollars. Check the pair for any signs of damage or turbulent lenses before buying them, as with such a large event, scams have entered the market.

 

Photographing a solar eclipse can be hard if you don't have fancy equipment. Most of the cool pictures you'll see only will be done with professional camera equipment, solar lens filters, and high functioning telescopes. I personally will most probably take only a few photos and enjoy the rest in real life, while it lasts. The photos I will be taking will be very amateur. Unless I can find that camera that randomly flies around my house, I'll be using my phone to take pictures. I'll use an extra pair of solar eclipse glasses as a filter for my lens, and simply take the pictures like that.

 

If you're fancy, and have the required equipment. Get a telescope, put a solar lens cap filter on it, aim your camera into the telescope, and snap pictures. Good luck with that!

 

 

The upcoming total solar eclipse

 

The main reason I made this article is because there will be a total solar eclipse passing straight through the United States, from coast to coast, in a few days, on August 21st. As mentioned above, the last time a total solar eclipse happened in the United States was in 1979, and the next one will be in April of 2024. Depending on where in the States we're discussing, it could happen some time in between the later morning and afternoon time. As I said before, this is a once in a lifetime thing, especially if you don't want to travel far to see one.

 

An animation of the eclipse on August 21st.

 

 

View on globe

 

Here's a chart of when C1 and C4 will happen in places which will experience max totality.

 

 

To view max totality, either live within the totality plane, or drive to the nearest point in the totality plane, preferably in the centre of it. To discover if you're location will experience totality, click here and enter your location. If you're within the totality plane, awesome! If you aren't, play around with the drop pin, and figure out where the nearest location that will experience totality is - and then figure out if you can somehow drive or even walk to it.

 

Good luck!

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That concludes this special article! I hope I've inspired you to get off your computer a bit and experience this once in a lifetime event. Let me know your thoughts on this article, and on solar eclipses in general.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

Edited August 22, 2017 by Yisroel.Rabin

[Yisroel.Rabin 16,224]

Note to readers:

 

Unless you plan to camp out, or something of the sort, hotels and motels throughout the whole totality plane are getting packed with reservations. Some places are now charing up to $10,000 just for one night in the plane. I'll most probably camp out in some field (or in a car :x), unless I find a cheap motel. I don't know about you, but I'm not too fond of paying $10,000 to stay in a trash can.

[marc.jp_44 20,837]

I don't know about you, but I'm not too fond of paying $10,000 to stay in a trash can.

Stingy much. Edited August 8, 2017 by Marc

[Yisroel.Rabin 16,224]

Stingy much.

Yes, many stinges.

[Musa 5,352]

Nice article but I'm not gonna read it. 

[Kurt_KurtDGreat 2,259]

Lovely article, enjoyed the topic and the fact it's a bit different from the others :) Shame I won't be able to view this, I wish you clear skies and best of luck! ;)

[Yisroel.Rabin 16,224]

Yisroel lol, next time do an article about my birthday k :lol:?

 

Lovely article, enjoyed the topic and the fact it's a bit different from the others :) Shame I won't be able to view this, I wish you clear skies and best of luck! ;)

Thanks. :P

[Magenta 5,165]

Rip us in the east :/

[Skills.n.Girls 767]

There was one few years back, which was a total. I was in the damn school and had no chance to see it.  -_-  <_<

 

:( Come on.

[Hex 11,520]

Yisroel lol, next time do an article about my birthday k :lol:?

Introduction:

Joseph Gayetty made you in 1857.

 

How To:

1. Cut the toilet paper depending on how much you need.

2. Wipe.

3. Throw the used paper in the dustbin.

4. Wash yourself.

5. Flush

6. Repeat.

 

Advantages:

1. Good

 

Disadvantages:

1. Deforestation

2. Waste

 

Conclusion:

We should use you, you're good when it comes to being clean.

Edited August 12, 2017 by Hexed

[9.S 180]

Who cares. This is a game, not a NASA forum.  :P 

Edited August 18, 2017 by 9.S

[r_mikaykay1 0]

Yeah. Thanks for the article. I'll be right here enjoying the view. 

[Possibility 282]

Thank god I live in Vermont! I'm gonna go to the library where they give out those special Eclipse Glasses and look at the sun. I love the library.  :P

[bc200214_777 582]

Of course I have to be in China on vacation and of course I'll miss an amazing eclipse  <_<

[omarhero1 401]

Amazing article, truly love how you put it all together :3

keep it up buddy and i hope you catch the best moments.

[StrongTanki786 0]

I also want to take part in this, how can I take part in this.

[Darkest 158]

What a lovely Tanki-related article! 

[pwhite 120]

Where I live (central new jersey) will be in a partial, but I am going with my mother to North Carolina by the Tennessee and Georgia borders.

[RIDDLER_8 5,553]

I have seen solar eclipses before. They are an amazing sight to see because it turns day into night. We should have animated solar eclipses in Tanki Online maps.

[FTW 240]

and that might be the end of our honorary earth lol.

[r_Bangla1 52]

If Yisroel's post was too confusing, try watching this 2 minute video

[rockstar3984 50]

Yisroel!! Dude!! That was a big book of info. Frankly enjoyed reading it. In fact i learned whole new things with this topic. I appreciate your hard work. Thumbs up for you. And i do have partial eclipse visible from my place(48.78%), Better than absolutely nothing. 

[S-H-A-R-V-A-N 84]

Nice article

I once saw the solar eclipse too. It was probably last year. I was at school. Special arrangements were done so that pupils could see the solar eclipse by using the special protection. I still remember one of my friend stole an eclipse glasses and we were able to see the eclipse more than 1 time. :D :D :lol:

[r_Bangla1 52]

Nice article

 

I once saw the solar eclipse too. It was probably last year. I was at school. Special arrangements were done so that pupils could see the solar eclipse by using the special protection. I still remember one of my friend stole an eclipse glasses and we were able to see the eclipse more than 1 time. :D :D :lol:

He sounds like a great friend to have :lol:

[Yisroel.Rabin 16,224]

I also want to take part in this, how can I take part in this.

Read the topic. :lol:

 

What a lovely Tanki-related article! 

Thanks. :P

 

Where I live (central new jersey) will be in a partial, but I am going with my mother to North Carolina by the Tennessee and Georgia borders.

Bice bro! :D Take pics, and share them here, even if they suck. :P

 

If Yisroel's post was too confusing, try watching this 2 minute video

 

 

I already watched that. :x

 

Yisroel!! Dude!! That was a big book of info. Frankly enjoyed reading it. In fact i learned whole new things with this topic. I appreciate your hard work. Thumbs up for you. And i do have partial eclipse visible from my place(48.78%), Better than absolutely nothing. 

Thank you so much! :wub: