A type of eclipse is crucial for measuring what’s in the atmospheres of planets orbiting distant stars.
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Articles on Total solar eclipse
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To protect their kings, ancient Mesopotamians discovered how to predict eclipses, which were associated with the deaths of rulers. This eventually led to the birth of astronomy.
Eclipses have long fascinated and intrigued people, and anticipation of the total solar eclipse on April 8 is no exception. The beauty, history, mythology and science of eclipses justify the hype.
A total solar eclipse is a beautiful phenomenon worth seeing, but worth seeing safely.
The sky is becoming more cluttered with satellites and space junk. This is affecting astronomical study, but will only have a minor effect — if any — on the viewing of the solar eclipse.
Your phone can’t take a perfectly clear picture of a solar eclipse like a professional camera can, but there are lots of other creative directions you can take to capture the rare moment.
The eclipse will allow scientists to get rare measurements of the Sun’s atmosphere.
Apart from technical aspects, a successful photograph of the eclipse serves as a lasting reminder of the sense of wonder and the feeling of being part of something larger than ourselves.
Don’t skimp on your eye safety.
Eclipses have inspired myths, predictions and scientific discoveries. The total solar eclipse occurring on April 8 provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to engage with science and the cosmos.
Only a tiny sliver of the Australian continent will witness the totality this time around. But there are five more total eclipses coming over the next 15 years.
Penguins will have the best seat in the house as a total solar eclipse passes over Antarctica on December 4. Australia and New Zealand will experience a minor partial eclipse, but not a noticeable one.
Test out scientific ideas, connect with your ancestors or just marvel at the beauty of nature.
Scientists spend years preparing for the two-minute window of a total solar eclipse.
If you’ve ever wondered why you can look at a solar eclipse and why it can harm your eyes, the answer is in the sun’s rays.
For centuries, scientists have known when and where eclipses will be visible. They pack their bags, head for the line of totality and hope for the best – which doesn’t always happen.
An astronomer explains how. why and when eclipses happen, what scientists can learn from them, and what they would look like if you were standing on the Moon.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor, Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy, Queen's University, Ontario
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Reader in Physical Sciences, Aberystwyth University
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Senior Curator (Astronomy), Museums Victoria and Honorary Fellow at University of Melbourne, Museums Victoria Research Institute
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Professor of Astronomy, The Ohio State University
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Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management, Michigan State University
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Director of the Abrams Planetarium, Michigan State University
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Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management, Miami University
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Associate Professor, Visual Arts Department, Brock University
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Professor, History of Art & Visual Culture, Brock University
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Lecturer in Astrobiology and Principal Technical Officer at Bayfordbury Observatory, University of Hertfordshire
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Visiting Assistant Professor in Media Studies, Scripps College
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Professor, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy, Queen's University, Ontario
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Associate Professor, Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto
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Associate Professor, Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia
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Associate professor, Astronomy, University of Regina
