All about Eclipses
The beauty of an eclipse is something that always leaves people
breathless. But what exactly is an eclipse? During a new moon phase
there are times that the shadow of the moon falls on a small part of our
earth. This shadow is caused by the fact that the moon is smaller than
our earth this is also why we can only see this eclipse on small parts
of the earth. But a lunar eclipse can be seen in half of the earth this
side would be the nighttime side. Knowing that both solar and lunar
eclipses can occur two to three times a year there should be plenty of
time to make sure that you have your telescopes handy and ready to start
the watch of this beautiful event.
How to observe an eclipse the safe way
Many people have heard the saying not to look in the sun directly. So
many people believe that watching an eclipse is simply dangerous. But is
this true? The answer would simply be yes. When you look at the sun
right now your eyes feel the sun sting and you look away. With an
eclipse the sting of light is gone but the danger is still there. So
always make sure that you are protected against these dangers. There are
many different solar protection filters; some are safe while others are
still very dangerous. When in doubt simply don’t use them.
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When watching a lunar eclipse the danger is completely gone. It is very
safe to watch this take place and marvel at the beauty it brings. When
we have been through a solar eclipse we have seen the sky darken and the
temp drop a few degrees, and all this makes for a great spectacle. With
a lunar eclipse the signs and show is a little more subtle as the moon
simply gets covered up. And because it is already dark when this happens
we don’t see a change in color of the night or we don’t even feel a temp
drop. Nonetheless it is still quite a great thing to see happening,
especially if you have a telescope to take notice.
So always make sure you have the right dates and information for one
of these great and awesome spells of nature that are not to be missed.
When you are used to watching the night sky and seeing our universe come
full circle you will soon start understanding our way of life a lot
better. They say the sky is the limit but is this really true? Always
remember that our night sky is there to guide us through our daily lives
as it has for thousands of years and keep us safe at night. The only
question left is whether or not you are ready to learn to navigate at
night by simply watching the sky? |
