Eclipsing the Sun

Story Links Live Images of the Eclipse Local Solar Eclipse Events NASA's 1998 Eclipse Page

By Blaine P. Friedlander Jr.
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, February 3 1998; Page B05

For those among us stranded on Earth, nature treats us to a solar eclipse on Thursday, Feb. 26. Stretching along a thin line from the Pacific Ocean, through Central America and into Caribbean, the eclipse will be total for the fish, a few spots of land and ocean liners.

Those on the North American continent will be treated to a partial eclipse, meaning that in some areas, including the District of Columbia and environs, it may be barely noticeable.

Nevertheless, the eclipse begins here at 12:22 p.m. It will last an hour and 42 minutes. It peaks at 1:14 p.m. EST, when about 22 percent of the sun will be covered by the moon, according to Fred Espenak, an astronomer at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt.

Warning: Do not look directly at the partial solar eclipse with the naked eye or with sunglasses. Severe, permanent eye damage likely will result. Viewing the eclipse through binoculars or a telescope also is extremely dangerous. The lens's focal point will direct the sun's rays into your eye, causing blindness.

There are easy, safe ways to view the solar eclipse. For example, the University of Maryland's astronomy department will set up properly fashioned telescopes on McKeldin Mall at the sundial location on the university's campus, from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. on Feb. 26. Two telescopes will safely project the eclipse onto a screen. Using special solar filters, the astronomers there will set up a third telescope for safe, direct viewing.

Special eclipse-viewing glasses will also be available at the University of Maryland event, according to astronomer Siobhan Dinyes. The university's astronomy department also will operate a heliostat at the Computer and Space Sciences Building at Regents Drive and Stadium Drive. The live, solar image will be displayed on a monitor in the lobby. Information, call 301-405-3001.

You also may view the eclipse safely from the monitor of your computer by watching it through the Internet. A live image of the eclipse will be available at http://www.solar-eclipse.org.

In addition to the special events and Web sites, inexpensive eclipse viewers are available for you locally. Hands On Optics of Gaithersburg (301-482-0000) sells safe, specialized mylar filters for $2 each. The viewers are 3-by-5 cards with the mylar filter in the cutout portion of the card.

As the moon's shadow shifts across the Earth's surface, many North American sites will experience different times for totality and partiality of the solar eclipse, according to NASA's Espenak. For example, West Palm Beach, Fla., gets a 47.5 percent partial eclipse at 1:01 p.m., and Miami gets a 49.6 percent partial solar eclipse at 1 p.m. Chicago will see but a 4.9 percent solar eclipse at 11:55 a.m. CST. Espenak's calculations show totality's greatest duration to be just east of the Galapagos Islands and west of Colombia's Pacific coast, where totality is slightly longer than 4 minutes, at 17:28 UT (Universal Time, formerly Greenwich Mean Time).

While waiting for those precious few partial eclipse moments, our neighboring planets put on their own midwinter show. Saturn stands out this month, shining at a 0 magnitude (bright) in the southwest after the sun sets.

After months of enjoying its evening show, the radiant Venus returns for morning duty. In the southeast, just before the sun comes up, find Venus beaming at a negative 4th magnitude (very bright). You won't miss it. Earth's sister planet frolics with a crescent moon on the morning of Feb. 23.

* Feb. 5 -- University of Maryland astronomer Ed Schmahl discusses "Imaging Solar Flare Gamma Rays" at the university's astronomy department open house. Gaze upward afterward, through the university observatory's telescope. 8 p.m. The observatory is located on Metzerott Road, between Adelphi Road and University Boulevard. Group reservations, 301-405-3001. Web: http:www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse.

* Feb. 7 -- Learn about the upcoming solar eclipse from Fred Espenak of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and one of the world's leading eclipse experts, at the regular meeting of the National Capital Astronomers. 7:30 p.m., in the Lippsett Amphitheater in the Clinical Center (Building 10) of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda.

* Feb. 14 -- The Montgomery College Planetarium in Takoma Park presents "African Skies." The planetarium is located on Fenton Street. Parking is available in the faculty lot. 7 p.m. Information, 301-650-1463.

* Feb. 17 -- David DeVorkin of the National Air and Space Museum's Department of Space History will discuss George Carruthers's lunar observatory, which flew to the moon aboard Apollo 16. At the Gold Seal, Milestones of Flight Gallery, Air and Space Museum. Noon. Information, 202-357-2700.

* Feb. 20 -- University of Maryland astronomer Mike Stark explains "X-ray Pulsars, Timekeepers of the Cosmos," at University of Maryland astronomy department open house. The university observatory's telescope will be available after the lecture. 8 p.m. Information, 301-405-3001.

* Feb. 28 -- Learn about the latest instrumentation on the space telescope in an all-day seminar -- "Hubble Space Telescope: Current Discoveries" -- sponsored by the Smithsonian Associates. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Resident members, $60; senior members, $54; general admission, $80. Code: 1W0417. Jefferson Auditorium, Department of Agriculture, 12th Street & Independence Drive SW. Reservations and information, 202-357-3030.