Astronomy: Eclipse Information
Viewing the Solar Eclipse
Eclipse Resources @ Rice
April 8th, 2024 Eclipse Information from the Rice Space Institute:
Don’t miss this eclipse! The next one to come through Texas won’t be till 2045!
AP article on the eclipse:
Safety Video:
https://youtu.be/ATz09bOeNP0?
Past Eclipses (2017):
The eclipse of the Sun on August 21, 2017 was a partial eclipse as viewed from Houston, TX. The eclipse began at 11:46 am as the Moon started to pass in front of the Sun. The peak was at 1:17 pm when about 66% of the Sun’s surface was covered. The eclipse was over at 2:45 pm. Faculty from the Rice Physics and Astronomy Department set up 2-3 telescopes on the main academic quad near the statue of William Marsh Rice.
Additional resources from the Rice Space Institute http://space.rice.edu/Eclipse/ includes a 90-minute free eclipse training video.
Safety
Depending on your location, the corona will be visible for up to 2 minutes 40 seconds. During those precious moments, it is perfectly safe to look directly at the Sun, even through binoculars or a telescope. But whenever any part of the photosphere is uncovered, it is absolutely essential to view the Sun through a safe solar filter, that is, one that meets the ISO 12312-2 international standard.
Expert Sites for Eclipse Information
Video Resources from Fondren
- Secret Life of the SunFrom Films on Demand: The Sun is more active now than it's been for a decade, sending eruptions of super-heated plasma and vast waves of radiation towards Earth—with the potential to disrupt our lives in dramatic ways. Using satellite imes and the expertise of Britain's leading solar scientists, Kate Humble and Helen Czerski reveal the inner workings of our very own star, and the influence its cycles of activity have on our planet. A BBC Production. (59 minutes) (Requires Rice login.)
- Chasing ShadowsFrom Kanopy Streaming Films: A photographer captures solar eclipses around the world. (Requires Rice login.)
Books @ Fondren
Totality by Call Number: QB541 .L694 2017ISBN: 0198795696Publication Date: 2017-05-01Totality: The Great American Eclipses is a complete guide to the most stunning of celestial sights, total eclipses of the Sun.
Sun Moon Earth by Call Number: QB541 .N67 2016ISBN: 9780465060924Publication Date: 2016-09-13With beautiful illustrations and a detailed map, Sun Moon Earth has everything you need to get ready for the 2017 solar eclipse.
Total Addiction by ISBN: 3642304818Publication Date: 2012-08-01Seeing a total solar eclipse is often described as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. This book describes the people who dedicate their lives to chasing their dream.
