Posted on 04/25/2014 9:42:12 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: It's eclipse season, and on April 29 around 06:00 UT the shadow of the new Moon will reach out and touch planet Earth, though only just. Still, if you're standing on the continent of Antarctica within a few hundred kilometers of 79 degrees 38.7 minutes South latitude and 131 degrees 15.6 minutes East longitude you could see an annular solar eclipse with the Sun just above the horizon. Because the Moon will be approaching apogee, the most distant point in the elliptical lunar orbit, its apparent size will be too small to completely cover the solar disk. A rare, off-center eclipse, the annular phase will last at most 49 seconds. At its maximum it could look something like this "ring of fire" image from last May's annular solar eclipse, captured by a webcast team operating near Coen, Australia. Otherwise, a partial eclipse with the Moon covering at least some part of the Sun will be seen across a much broader region in the southern hemipshere, including Australia in the afternoon.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & Copyright: Cameron McCarty, Matthew Bartow, Michael Johnson - MWV Observatory, Coca-Cola Space Science Center, Columbus State University Eclipse Team]
I’m not, nor will I ever be, “standing on the continent of Antarctica within a few hundred kilometers
of 79 degrees 38.7 minutes South latitude and 131 degrees 15.6 minutes East longitude...”
But I’m sure it will be spectacular. ;-)
The “horns of the bull” appearance would be appropriate for a Taurus* eclipse ...
(* Astronomically, now in Aries via precession.)
Well my problem is I will just happen to be there on the 30th instead on the 29th. What are the odds of that?
Pretty good, if you’re in the Navy, I guess. Sorry you’re going to miss the eclipse
by a day, and from the bottom of my heart, thank you for your service.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
