KC AstroEvents 2000

December 25
Partial Solar Eclipse

July 16
Total Lunar Eclipse

December 25, 2000

Partial Solar Eclipse

The final eclipse of the Second Millennium is a partial solar eclipse on Christmas day. 

Fortunately, the event will be well placed for observers throughout North America (see this graph). First and last penumbral contacts occur at 15:26:37 UT and 19:43:12 UT, respectively.

Greatest eclipse occurs at 17:34:51 UT with a maximum eclipse magnitude of 72% from Northernmost Canada. Most of North America will witness the event with the exception of northwestern Canada and Alaska. 

In the San Francisco Bay Area the maximum eclipse of 18% occurs bright and early at 08:20 AM. The sun will be at an altitude of only 9°. The entire duration of the partial eclipse clocks in at 01h40m here on the Pacific Coast. 

If you live in the USA you might find your city in this table.

A detailed map (see this graph) can be used for estimating eclipse magnitudes and Universal Time of maximum eclipse for locations throughout the continent. 

Sun's altitude and azimuth, the eclipse
magnitude and obscuration are all given at the instant of maximum eclipse.

This event is the fifty-seventh eclipse of Saros series 122. The last central eclipse of the series was annular and occurred in 1874. The series ends with a partial
eclipse in 2235.

This cool animation shows the motion of the Moon's shadow across Earth's surface (courtesy of Dr. Andrew Sinclair). 

Find a spot where the skies are clear and the clouds are few. 

Dress warm. Bring a blanket and a pillow. 

And don't forget the popcorn. 

DETAILS are here:
http://www.christmaseclipse.com/

See what what the extent of the eclipse is in your area:
http://www.christmaseclipse.com/closeupxmas.html

Solar Eclipses for Beginners
(from MrEclipse.com)

Total Lunar Eclipse

In the wee hours of the morning a TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE will be visible! 

Find a spot where the skies are clear and the clouds are few. Dress warm. Bring a blanket and a pillow. And don't forget the popcorn. 

DETAILS are here:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/LEplot/LE2000Jul16T.gif

Lunar Eclipses for Beginners
(from MrEclipse.com)

Geomagnetic Sunstorms

When charged particles from the Sun hit the Earth's magnetic field geomagnetic storms arise. The next peak in sunspot activity will occur early this year. Magnetic storms are not rare, but great storms like the one forecast for early this year are.

Geomagnetic storms produce beautiful NORTHERN LIGHTS, but also pose a threat for satellite operators, power companies, and astronauts. They even shorten the life of oil pipelines in Alaska by increasing pipeline corrosion.

Earth’s magnetic field can undergo large and rapid fluctuations due to the interaction of charged particles ejected by the Sun that collide with the geomagnetic field. These solar ejections, traveling at more than a million miles an hour, are associated with sunspots which increase and decrease over an 11 year cycle. The number of geomagnetic storms also increases and decreases in concert with that 11 year cycle.

During the sunspot maximum we are going through now, smaller storms can occur rather frequently - even several times a week.

The last great magnetic storm occurred exactly 11 years ago this coming March 13. That storm caused the collapse of the Hydro-Quebec power system in Canada, leaving six million people in the dark. The blackout could have been much worse if it happened during daytime hours. WHAT COULD MAKE THINGS WORSE for us now is our increasing dependence on technology in general and on space-based technology in particular.

NASA produces daily SOLAR FLARE FORECASTS. Check their SPACEWEATHER site for science news and information about the Sun-Earth environment:
http://www.spaceweather.com
 

USGS GEOMAGNETIC DATA is available at:
http://geomag.usgs.gov

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