A Bit of Background…
Meteors
The Aurora Borealis
Solar Eclipses
Total Solar Eclipses
Eclipse Tracks
Abrams Planetarium – a guide to the night sky
Local Astronomical Societies
Helpful astronomy related Links
Link to our friends at the BAA
Sign up to the Astro Trails email newsletter
Meteors
Empty space in our solar system is not actually empty as there are many millions of tiny particles hanging around between the planets. As the earth races on its orbit round the sun, some of these particles are swept into the atmosphere and even something the size of a grain of sand will become a bright meteor in our sky. On any clear night away from the city lights you are likely to see perhaps two or three meteors every hour, but occasionally there can be far more. These “meteor showers” can usually be tied back to the passage through the solar system of a comet or asteroid, sometimes centuries in the past. The tail of a comet is astronomical scale pollution but the resulting meteors can contribute some very useful data for scientists to analyse and of course they can produce a spectacular natural firework show.
Check our our Geminids Meteor Shower holiday to Morocco December 2012
Aurora Borealis
The Aurora Borealis is caused by solar wind particles reacting with the earth’s upper atmosphere. Our sun has periods of greater or lesser activity (solar maximum and solar minimum), the aurora is much stronger during a maximum period. Following a longer than usual minimum period, activity on the sun is again climbing towards maximum activity. Because of the way in which the magnetic field of the earth reacts with the solar wind particles, the aurora displays are mostly seen in a “doughnut” shaped area known as the “auroral oval” around the North or South Poles.
Check out our Northern Lights holidays to Yellowknife, Canada in September 2012 or February and March 2013 or our Northern Lights cruise through the Norwegian Fjords in October 2012.
If you are looking for a weekend break to see the Northern Lights have a look at our trips to Tromso and Iceland.
Solar Eclipses
An eclipse of the Sun occurs when the orbit of the moon crosses in front of the Sun as seen from the Earth. The shadow of the moon follows a narrow path on the surface of the Earth, bringing daytime darkness for a brief period and allowing observers to see a range of unusual natural phenomena. The most spectacular sight is a total solar eclipse, when the moon completely covers the Sun, with flames of crimson prominences licking around the jet black disk and streamers of the solar corona reaching far out into space.
As the moon goes around the Earth it follows an orbit which is elliptical, appearing very slightly smaller when further out and larger at the closer point. Whilst it is not possible to detect this difference in size without accurate instruments, when the moon is at its closest point it is large enough to completely obscure the disk of the Sun and the closer it is the longer the duration of the eclipse. At a more distant point the Sun is not completely covered and a very small, bright circle or annulus remains visible. This is known as an annular eclipse and although it lacks the unique drama of a total, it remains an unusual and interesting event particularly when it is possible to observe the effect of the declining light levels on wildlife.
Have a look at our Annular Eclipse tours to the Western US in May 2012
Total Solar Eclipses
A total eclipse of the Sun is visible from a very small strip on the Earth’s surface, lasting only for a few minutes once every eighteen months or so. Unless you are exceptionally lucky, you are almost certainly going to have to travel away from home to see this event. Success in observing the eclipse is going to require a mix of detailed research and as far as the weather goes an element of good luck. First of all plot the track the shadow will follow, then look at the climate data along the track for that time of year. The eclipse will be of shorter duration if your observation point is towards either end of the track, but it is better to sacrifice some duration in favour of better prospects of a clear sky. The task then is to find a way to get to the chosen location— flights, hotels and such like and then you usually need local transport on the day. The increased interest in viewing an eclipse makes it essential to fix all these matters up a long time in advance.
On the day of the eclipse you will want to get to your observation site in good time before “first contact”, when the edge of the moon first touches the edge of the Sun. At this stage you will need a special viewer to look at the Sun as a curved ‘bite’ is taken from one side. Now the tension starts to build as the moon progressively covers the Sun. The light level goes down, but at the same time your eyes adapt to the gradual changes so the change remains almost unnoticed until the eclipse is well advanced.
The landscape is drained of colour and shadows sharpen as the Sun is reduced to a bright crescent and eventually a single point. Look at the shadows under a tree and you will see the leaves create a thousand small arcs of light. The temperature only drops a degree or two, but there is a sense of chill in the air as the radiant heat from the Sun is cut off. A blue sky has turned to a pale morning grey and bright planets have reappeared. The last couple of minutes before totality race through at top speed as the moon’s shadow hurtles towards you. The sun is reduced to a single searing point of brightness and as this final point is extinguished, bright beads remain momentarily along the edge as the sunlight shines through the valleys on the moon. Suddenly the brightness is gone, leaving a jet black disk of the moon clothed in the flowing robes of the solar corona and surrounded by the delicate red rim of the chromosphere. Crimson licks of prominences reach out from the rim and as your eyes become accustomed to the dark, the fine structure of the corona becomes visible.
There is an unearthly red glow around the horizon and a sense of a large dark shadow looming above. The time of totality ticks by, then a few flickers of bright beads on the edge of the dark disk herald the end of the performance. The burst of light which shocks your dark adjusted vision is the final climax. Always expected but always a surprise: sunlight returns, colour and warmth are restored and everything is back to normal. Until next time…
Check out our selection of holidays taking in the Total Solar Eclipse in Australia departing November 2012
Eclipse Tracks
Without doubt the best web site for detailed information about the tracks of the moons shadow across the earth’s surface is http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleEarth.html . The site is maintained by Xavier Jubier as a free service and provides a vast amount of technical detail about the time and place of eclipses. Using Google Earth maps as the basis for the geographical locations, the program gives details of exactly what eclipse will be observed at any point on the planet. If you enjoy maps as much as we do, you will find this site a real treat!
Abrams Planetarium – a guide to the night sky
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Local Astronomical Societies
If you are looking for a friendly and informal way to learn more about astronomy why not pay a visit to your local Astronomical Society?
Please click on the links below to visit your nearest Astronomical Society.
Helpful astronomy related Links
British Astronomical Association
Which Telescope – advice on choosing Telescopes
