kaffra Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Skywatchers across the globe are preparing to watch a total eclipse of the Sun on Wednesday. An area spanning 14,500km (9,000 miles), from Ghana to Mongolia, will see the Moon completely cover the Sun for several minutes on 29 March. During the "totality", darkness will fall over the surrounding landscape and the solar atmosphere - or corona, normally hidden from view - is visible. Some countries have gone to great lengths to attract eclipse watchers. "Solar eclipses are the ultimate astronomical show," said Dr Robert Massey, senior astronomer at the UK's Royal Observatory Greenwich. "It's up there with the highest-rated television programme. If there is one thing you do to do with astronomy in your lifetime, go and see a solar eclipse. I think it's such a special event that you can't help but be moved by it Robert Massey, Royal Observatory Greenwich Eclipse myths "Day turns into night. Suddenly, in place of this brilliant Sun, you have something like a flower opening. You see the corona - the outer atmosphere of the Sun - radiating behind the dark silhouette of the Moon. "It's indescribable - utterly beautiful. I think it's such a special event that you can't help but be moved by it," he told the BBC News website. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the face of the Sun as seen from the Earth's surface. The track of the Moon's shadow across Earth is called the "path of totality". Skywatchers have been warned against looking directly at the partially eclipsed phases of the event. source and more information at BBC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orange Posted March 29, 2006 Share Posted March 29, 2006 Did we see anything over in the UK as was cloudy in the morning. :( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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