Total solar eclipse, Canadian guide, eclipse projector instructions

Morning Coffee – By Aaron Hall

Weather forecast for Monday, August 21, 2017

Today – A mix of sun and cloud. 30 percent chance of showers late this afternoon with risk of a thunderstorm. Fog patches dissipating early this morning. High 31. Humidex 38. UV index 8 or very high.

Tonight – Partly cloudy. 30 percent chance of showers early this evening. 40 percent chance of showers overnight. Risk of a thunderstorm. Wind becoming southwest 20 km/h after midnight. Low 22.

Solar eclipse taking place today

The Canadian Space Agency says looking directly at the Sun, without appropriate protection, can lead to serious problems such as partial or complete loss of eyesight. Here are some more details from the Canadian Space Agency to prepare you for today’s eclipse:

What is an eclipse?

An eclipse occurs when the light of a body outside Earth’s atmosphere (Sun, Moon, planets, etc.) is temporarily blocked by another body. Eclipses don’t just happen on Earth: they also take place on other planets, like Jupiter and Neptune.

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth.

From the locations along the Moon’s umbra trajectory, it appears as if the Sun has gone dark. Depending on the distance between the Sun and the Moon and their positions, it is possible to see three kinds of solar eclipses:

– Total eclipse: the Moon completely covers the Sun

– Annular eclipse: the Moon is closer to the Sun; hence the Moon appears smaller than the Sun. A ring of light from the Sun is always visible

– Partial eclipse: the Sun and the Moon are not perfectly aligned, so only a part of the Sun is hidden by the Moon

On August 21, 2017, a total solar eclipse will cross the entire United States (from west to east). Fourteen US states will be lucky enough to witness it in its totality, and the other US states and Canada will be treated to a partial eclipse, Canadian Space Agency officials stated.

The path of totality is a narrow corridor approximately 100 to 115 km wide where the Sun will appear to be completely covered by the Moon for a short period of time (between two and three minutes). This is the most spectacular part of the eclipse, as those who are lucky enough to be in this corridor will be able to see the Sun’s corona, the chromosphere, prominences and streamers. Proper eye protection is essential before and after totality.

For those outside the path of totality, the Sun will appear to be partially covered by the Moon (partial eclipse), and proper eye protection is required at all times.

Will this solar eclipse be visible in Canada?

In Canada, a partial eclipse will be seen from almost every Canadian city.

See the map below to find out how much of the Sun’s surface will be covered by the Moon and at what time it will occur depending on your location.

How to safely watch a solar eclipse

Looking directly at the Sun, without appropriate protection, can lead to serious problems such as partial or complete loss of eyesight.

During a solar eclipse, it is imperative to wear special glasses with filters designed for eclipse watching (ISO 12312-2 international standard) to prevent eye damage. Regular sunglasses will not protect your eyes sufficiently.

There are other ways to watch an eclipse, such as an eclipse projector, which you can easily learn how to make.

For hundreds of years, astronomers have used different methods to observe the Sun safely. One of them, the eclipse projector, allows you to view a small image of the Sun through a closed box. You will see the Moon taking “bites” out of the Sun!

You will need

– An empty cardboard box (the longer it is, the larger the image of the Sun)

– White paper

– Scissors

– Aluminum foil

– A pin

– Tape

How to build your projector

– Open the box and, using tape, cover one of the inner sides with white paper.

– On the opposite side of the white paper, cut two holes side by side and at least 10 cm apart (one for the Sun, the other to look in).

– Cover the Sun hole with aluminum foil and tape it in place.

– Grab your pin and poke a tiny hole in the aluminum foil.

– Seal the box tightly.

– Decorate the outside of your new projector to make it your own! (optional)

How to use your projector

– Turn your back to the Sun.

– Look through the eye hole and try to position yourself so that you see a projection of the Sun on the white paper.

– When the Moon starts going over the Sun, you will see its shadow slowly covering the Sun.

When will the next solar eclipse be visible in Canada?

The Canadian Space Agency says the next total solar eclipse to be visible in Canada will occur on April 8, 2024, when the path of totality will cross Mexico, the United States and eastern Canada.

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