If you missed the "Super moon" tonight, do not miss the Solar Eclipse on May 20th

[Eva]

If you missed the "Super moon" tonight, do not miss the Solar Eclipse on May 20th

"Do not miss the Perigee moon!

"If a moonbeam wakes you up on the night of May 5th, 2012, you might want to get out of bed and take a look.* This May’s full Moon is a "super Moon,” as much as 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other full Moons of 2012........

at 11:34 pm Eastern Daylight Time, the Moon reaches perigee. Only one minute later, the Moon will line up with Earth and the sun to become brilliantly full....."

"The best time to look is when the Moon is near the horizon...."

http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/02may_supermoon/

Solar eclipse will be on Sunday, May 20th when "... the sun is going to turn into a ring of fire. It's an annular solar eclipse..."

Solar eclipse: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/27jan_annulareclipse/

 

[Duffey]

When I drove in last night, the moon looked HUGE! I can't wait to see it tonight.

I wasn't aware of the upcoming solar eclipse on the 20th. Thanks, Eva, for the info.

 

[Bina]

We are definitely moon watchers.....but during the evening clouds rolled in with rain. Hope to have a better view tonight.

 

[Eva]

Yes, it is happening this Sunday, Duffey. BTW, I love your new avatar...very cute!

Bina, I hope you had clear skies and enjoyed "mooning"!


From LA Times: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lan...12-certain-areas-will-get-the-best-views.html

"The places with the best view will see a "ring of fire" eclipse, or an "annular" eclipse, in which the moon will appear to cross into the dead center of the sun, blocking almost all the light except for the sun's outer fringes, creating a burning ring.

The best spots for viewing include the far northern edge of California, Arizona, southern Utah and New Mexico.

*Closer to Southern California, viewers will see a partial, crescent-shaped eclipse, with the moon covering about 85% of the sun's diameter -- an impressive bite. Check out this NASA Google map to find locations wherever you live."

From NASA: http://nvonews.com/2012/05/18/solar...g-may-20-annular-eclipse-by-projection-video/
"
But while there is excitement about the coming solar eclipse, there is certainly lack of awareness about the safety aspect of the solar eclipse. Viewing it without proper preparations can be very damaging for your eyes. Partial eclipses, annular eclipses, and the partial phases of total eclipses are never safe to watch without taking special precautions. Even when 99% of the Sun’s surface is obscured during the partial phases of a total eclipse, the remaining photospheric crescent is intensely bright and cannot be viewed safely without eye protection. Do not attempt to observe the partial or annular phases of any eclipse with the naked eye.

Failure to use appropriate filtration may result in permanent eye damage or blindness", which happened to me, indeed!

I was young and ignorant in the 60s...I looked at the eclipse for 2 seconds and voila! I could not see anything except a ball of fire...I had to shut my eyes for some relief. To make the story short, my ophthalmologist did not want any credit with helping me regain my sight. He considered it a MIRACLE.

So, be careful. The article above has suggestions re how to watch the eclipse.