Why are solar eclipses visable - Multiverse

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Last Post 3/3/2007 1:42 PM by Terry Kucera

Why are solar eclipses visable

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Anonymous

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3/2/2007 9:03 AM
Are solar eclipses visable to everyone?

Terry Kucera

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3/3/2007 1:42 PM
Hi! No they are not. They are usually visible only to people along a long thin strip. The locations are different for different solar eclipses. You can see a map of these strips for the total solar eclipses in North America from 2001-2005 here http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmap/SEmapNA/TSENorAm2001.gif In a solar eclipse the moon is blocking the sun. To understand this hold up your hand and block out something across the room. You can't see it, but someone else looking at it from a different angle can still see it just fine. This is different from a lunar eclipse (like the one starting as I type this). The moon is visible only because it reflects light. If nothing is shining on it no one can see it. If the Earth gets between the moon and its light source (the Sun) everyone every where can see that the Moon gets dark. cheers, Terry