Its called nature’s most awesome phenomenon and its real name is The Total Eclipse of the Sun.
WHAT IS AN ECLIPSE
To start with I will tell you a little about the moon. The moon is a cold , rocky body about 34760Km in diameter. It has no light of its own but shines when sunlight is reflected from its surface. The Moon orbits the Earth once in every 29 and a half days.
There are four types of solar eclipses.
• Total
• Partial
• Annular
• Hybrid
Total Solar Eclipse: occurs when the Moon is close to the Earth and the Moon's shadow hits the Earth, For one to see the Total Solar Eclipse, one would have to be in the region of the Eclipse’s PATH OF TOTALITY(that is the region from which the total eclipse can be seen). The maximum duration of Totality is 7m 31s. The Moon appears to be larger than the Sun when a total eclipse occurs.
Paritial Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon's shadow misses the Earth but passes very close to it. (A Partial eclipse occurs on either side of the path of Totality).
Annular Eclipse occurs when the Moon's shadow hits the Earth but the Moon is far from the Earth, it will not be large enough to cover the Sun completely. A ring of Sun remains around the Moon. The maximum duration of Annularity is 12m 30s.
A Hybrid Eclipse is where the Moon is at such a distance that the eclipse is Annular in some areas and Total in other areas. The duration is usually very short for these types of eclipses.
WHEN IS THE NEXT ECLIPSE
For all who are itching to experience a Total Solar Eclipse, it is with great pleasure that the Ministry of Tourism and Modernization of the Capital City announces that you will have the chance to experience a Total Solar Eclipse on the 29th of March 2006.
On the 29th March 2006, There will be a Total Solar Eclipse with an expected magnitude of 1.052 and an expected duration of 4 minutes and 32 seconds which will be visible in Ghana and some other countries around the world.
PUBLIC WARNING AND SAFETY
An eclipse is a thing of beauty but if proper care is not taken, it can be very costly to the eye.
It is a known fact that looking directly at the sun without the proper protection during an eclipse can cause permanent damage to the eye.
SOLUTION
All is not lost however, one can still have a look at the sun during the eclipse by using a solar filter. For the moment it is recommened that the general public uses the SHADE NUMBER 14 WELDER’S GLASS to view the eclipse.
CAUTION
VIEWING THE ECLIPSE WITH THE NAKED EYE WILL CAUSE IRREVERSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE EYE.
|