Solar Eclipse Visible in the United States This Sunday, Web Broadcast on Saturday
OutdoorHub Reporters 05.18.12
At sunset on May 20th, the sky will turn into a “burning ring of fire.” But before you get your doomsday gear out, know that the “burning ring of fire” refers to the image the solar eclipse will take on, called an annular, or ring-shaped, eclipse.
Beginning around 5:30 p.m. PDT for about two hours, those who live along an imaginary line along the sun’s trajectory between south Oregon and northwest Texas will have the best view of the solar eclipse, which happens only once every 18 years. Peak coverage, when 94 percent of the sun will be blocked, will occur around 6:30 p.m. PDT.
If you are outside of that narrow path roughly between Medford, Oregon and Lubbock, Texas, then you can still see a partial eclipse in the western and southwestern United States. Sky watchers further outside of the path, like those in the eastern United States, will not be able to see it.
If you are not in the eye-witness zone or do not have the proper viewing apparatus, an initiative between Panasonic and Japanese scientists will make the solar eclipse view-able for anyone with internet access. It will be broadcast live as the view-able portion of the eclipse crosses over Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak.
No matter where you are, you cannot look at the eclipse with your naked eye. You still need to look through a highly protective filter (sunglasses are not enough) or project the image onto a surface. Viewing tips for the eclipse are here, while Venus Transit viewing tips are here and are applicable to eclipse viewing.
On Saturday, May 19, footage of the eclipse will be streamed live at 1 p.m. in Hawaii, 2 p.m. in Alaska, 3 p.m. Pacific, 4 p.m. Mountain Time, 5 p.m. Central or 6 p.m. Eastern at panasonic.net/eclipselive. Check out a video from Panasonic detailing the broadcast below.
httpv://youtu.be/gdOcs_ROEm4
And when this astronomical fun is done, don’t miss the Venus Transit in June. The Venus Transit is when Venus passes directly across the face of the Sun. This happens only twice a century.
