Eclipse Report · 8:12pm Mar 20th, 2015
This morning’s eclipse was great fun. I wasn’t expecting to see much as it had been overcast for most of this week. But amazingly, just as the time of first contact approached, the sun broke through the clouds and we could see the moon move across the sun, covering 85% at the maximum point. The cloud actually acted as quite a good solar filter making it easier to take photos.
What I love about these events is the way it gets everyone outside, in public areas, with goggles, pinhole cameras, colanders and spoons. All having fun, making friends and talking about science.
I’m now itching to watch a total eclipse. It’s time to plan a summer holiday in the US for August 2017.
And if you hadn’t noticed I wrote a short story to mark the event: The Art of Eclipse Engineering.
Spoons?
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I only vaguely remember the solar eclipse that happened when I was a kid. It was a partial where I lived, but all the news channels were showing the eclipse from where it would be total. Unfortunately, it was during school hours, so while we all got to watch it on the TV, no one was allowed outside to see it.
Those pictures make it look like the moon just rolled over the sun from left to right.
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It's a real shame that so many schools don't let children go outside to view it. Solar eclipses (even partial ones) don't happen all that often, and kids learn a lot from watching something like this.
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Here's a rather better montage than anything I could do: https://flic.kr/p/rHyArg