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Posts Tagged ‘Solar Eclipse Viewing’

06/27/2023 – Ephemeris – Preparing to view the upcoming solar eclipses safely

June 27, 2023 Comments off

This is Ephemeris for Tuesday, June 27th. Today the Sun will be up for 15 hours and 33 minutes, setting at 9:32, and it will rise tomorrow at 5:59. The Moon, 1 day past first quarter, will set at 2:21 tomorrow morning.

In preparation for the two solar eclipses that will be visible in North America in the next 10 months, I’m going to spend some time describing what the Sun is, and how it appears to us. First point: Never look at the Sun without proper and approved filters. Inexpensive eclipse glasses work fine for the partial phase of a solar eclipse. However, most features, like sunspots, are generally too small to be seen with them. Do not use these glasses with binoculars or a telescope. The plastic filters will melt through in a fraction of a second. Glass filters can shatter from the heat. The only safe solar filter for telescopes is one placed in front of the telescope tube, so it’s only exposed to ambient light and heat. If confused, just ask your local amateur astronomer.

The astronomical event times given are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan (EDT, UT –4 hours). They may be different for your location.

Addendum

The eclipse glasses must contain a statement that it “Conforms to and meets the Transmission Requirements of ISO 12312-2, Filters for Direct Observation of the Sun.” Click or tap on the image to enlarge it.
This is a filter for a small telescope that must fit snugly in front of the telescope. I bought this for the 2017 total solar eclipse and have used it occasionally ever since. Note the tiny scratches. I will have to check it out to see if they affect the image. Even a tiny pinhole can ruin the view. It’s not that they are dangerous, unless it’s a really big one. A single pinhole can be covered up, but too many will ruin the view.
Categories: Ephemeris Program, Observing, Sun Tags: , , ,

05/18/2012 – Ephemeris – Eclipse viewing from the Sleeping Bear Dunes this Sunday

May 18, 2012 1 comment

Ephemeris for Friday, May 18th.  Today the sun will be up for 14 hours and 56 minutes, setting at 9:07.   The moon, 2 days before new, will rise at 5:14 tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow the sun will rise at 6:09.

For Sunday’s solar eclipse the Grand Traverse Astronomical Society will team up with the National Park Service for eclipse viewing at sunset on Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. We’ll be stationed at either stop 3, the Dunes overlook, or stop 9 the Lake Michigan Overlook.  There we will have telescopes for safe viewing of the eclipse, and the park service will have a number of eclipse viewer glasses that are safe to use.  Our telescopes have special solar filters that fit in front of the telescope, and another special solar telescope to see the gasses above the bright ball of the sun.  The eclipse will start at 8:19 p.m. And last until sunset at 9:10 p.m.  If it’s  overcast, the viewing will be canceled.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan.  They may be different for your location.

Addendum

Views from the observation points.  I took these shots May 12th.

View from the Lake Michigan Overlook. The trees won't interfere.

View from the Lake Michigan Overlook. The trees won’t interfere.

Sunset from the dune Overlook. The dunes andd scrub will cause the sunset at that point up to 5 minutes before the Lake Michigan Overlook.

Sunset from the dune Overlook. The dunes and scrub will cause the sunset at that point up to 5 minutes before the Lake Michigan Overlook.

Categories: Ephemeris Program, GTAS Outreach Event, Solar Eclipse Tags: ,