thedrifter
07-17-09, 09:02 AM
Longest solar eclipse of century to darken Okinawa sky
Philip O'Neill
The first full solar eclipse over Japan in almost half a century will be visible from Okinawa Wednesday; safe viewing a must.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (July 17, 2009) -- The moon will grace Okinawa with a rare, natural phenomenon, as a solar eclipse plunges the island into darkness, Wednesday.
The eclipse is projected to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. and last until noon.
Although the event seems as though it will last for a good amount of time, maximum sun disruption will only last a few short minutes.
Though a beautiful sight to behold, looking at the eclipse without proper eye protection can be very dangerous. Without proper precautions the sun's radiation can destroy eyesight.
"Avoid staring at the sun directly because direct viewing can damage the retina," said Dr. Glen Hikida, an optometrist for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, "Retinal damage occurs without a feeling of pain or other warning signs because of the lack of pain sensors."
Effects of an injury do not appear for several hours. Appropriate safety measures are vital in order to enjoy the eclipse without causing blindness.
Viewing can only be done properly and safely with the use of special eye wear made for the purpose of looking at the sun or by looking through shade #14 welder's glass. An alternate method of observation is by means of a pinhole projector.
The pinhole method focuses the image and projects it onto an alternate surface in a way that is safe for viewing in an indirect way. Further detailed instructions for pinhole projection, as well as viewing directions can be found online at www.exploratorium.edu; follow the links from Eclipse 2009.
For eclipse glasses, solar filters and welder's glass #14 look locally in large stores and supermarkets.
For a solar eclipse to occur, the moon must be in the "new moon" phase. The moon's orbit brings it between the sun and Earth, perfectly placed to obstruct the view of the sun from the Earth. This is in contrast to a lunar eclipse, during which the Earth moves between the sun and moon and subsequently casts a shadow that blots out the moon.
"For Japan, this is going to be the first eclipse of its kind since July 21, 1963," said Makoto Irei, a public relations officer for the Public Relations Center of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. "An eclipse of this kind will not happen again for another 46 years on September 9, 2035. However, total solar eclipses are visible every year from all over the world."
The eclipse will begin over India and move across to China, then travel over Japan. It will then cross the Amami Islands and Iwo Jima before continuing further across the Pacific Ocean.
Ellie
Philip O'Neill
The first full solar eclipse over Japan in almost half a century will be visible from Okinawa Wednesday; safe viewing a must.
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa (July 17, 2009) -- The moon will grace Okinawa with a rare, natural phenomenon, as a solar eclipse plunges the island into darkness, Wednesday.
The eclipse is projected to begin at approximately 9:30 a.m. and last until noon.
Although the event seems as though it will last for a good amount of time, maximum sun disruption will only last a few short minutes.
Though a beautiful sight to behold, looking at the eclipse without proper eye protection can be very dangerous. Without proper precautions the sun's radiation can destroy eyesight.
"Avoid staring at the sun directly because direct viewing can damage the retina," said Dr. Glen Hikida, an optometrist for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, "Retinal damage occurs without a feeling of pain or other warning signs because of the lack of pain sensors."
Effects of an injury do not appear for several hours. Appropriate safety measures are vital in order to enjoy the eclipse without causing blindness.
Viewing can only be done properly and safely with the use of special eye wear made for the purpose of looking at the sun or by looking through shade #14 welder's glass. An alternate method of observation is by means of a pinhole projector.
The pinhole method focuses the image and projects it onto an alternate surface in a way that is safe for viewing in an indirect way. Further detailed instructions for pinhole projection, as well as viewing directions can be found online at www.exploratorium.edu; follow the links from Eclipse 2009.
For eclipse glasses, solar filters and welder's glass #14 look locally in large stores and supermarkets.
For a solar eclipse to occur, the moon must be in the "new moon" phase. The moon's orbit brings it between the sun and Earth, perfectly placed to obstruct the view of the sun from the Earth. This is in contrast to a lunar eclipse, during which the Earth moves between the sun and moon and subsequently casts a shadow that blots out the moon.
"For Japan, this is going to be the first eclipse of its kind since July 21, 1963," said Makoto Irei, a public relations officer for the Public Relations Center of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. "An eclipse of this kind will not happen again for another 46 years on September 9, 2035. However, total solar eclipses are visible every year from all over the world."
The eclipse will begin over India and move across to China, then travel over Japan. It will then cross the Amami Islands and Iwo Jima before continuing further across the Pacific Ocean.
Ellie