News & Analysis
Ring of Fire: How Japan sees it (Updated)
Junko Yoshida
5/19/2012 8:30 PM EDT
The mechanism of Annular Solar Eclipse
"Solar Eclipse" is the astronomical event that the Sun is hidden partially or totally by the Moon when it crosses in front of the Sun. In the “Annular Solar Eclipse,” the apparent size of the Sun is larger than the Moon. People in Tokyo will see a circular strip of sunlight will completely surrounding the dark lunar disk, as the Moon crosses the sun dead-center.
"Solar Eclipse" is the astronomical event that the Sun is hidden partially or totally by the Moon when it crosses in front of the Sun. In the “Annular Solar Eclipse,” the apparent size of the Sun is larger than the Moon. People in Tokyo will see a circular strip of sunlight will completely surrounding the dark lunar disk, as the Moon crosses the sun dead-center.
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junko.yoshida
5/19/2012 9:45 PM EDT
I landed in Tokyo just a few days ago. I admit I wasn't even aware of this once-in-a-life-time event was waiting for me, until I met this geophysicist at LAX. I was doubly surprised when I found out that people all over Japan can't stop talking about it.
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Sanjib.Acharya
5/20/2012 12:21 PM EDT
I'm sure it will be great experience to witness the total or annular solar eclipse. I was lucky to experience this back in 1996 or 97 (don't remember exactly) when the annular region over the part of India where I was living. It was great experience. People were crazy grabbing the eclipse glasses as you've mentioned. Enjoy the show!
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junko.yoshida
5/20/2012 8:39 PM EDT
Sanjib, I did see the show! When I woke up this morning, it was cloudy and drizzling. Didn't have much hope but I went out there anyway. Waited for one hour in rain. When I was thinking about giving up, the solar eclipse did come through thick clouds! See the additional photos I took this morning in the slideshow on this story.
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Sanjib.Acharya
5/21/2012 10:52 PM EDT
Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos!! Looks like the clouds gave you all some tense moments before revealing the beautiful "diamond ring". Good to see all those cheerful faces and the excitement! :)
Your photos triggered me to recall a funny but unusual incident when it happened in India. The time of the total eclipse was during an October (or November) afternoon. The sky was clear that day. During the eclipse for a few minutes it became very dark around as if it was going to be evening. Birds were also deceived by that and they were all returning back to the nest! :) That also gave en awful feeling as if something unusual is going to happen.
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BicycleBill
5/20/2012 1:31 PM EDT
For those not able to see this due to their location, try to see the Transit of Venus, June 5/6--next one is over 100 years from now!
See http://www.transitofvenus.org/ as well as other sources.
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Duane Benson
5/20/2012 10:03 PM EDT
I hadn't realized this was happening today. I just happened to be reading this article at 6:30 which is the time of maximum coverage here in Oregon.
It's not total where I am, but through the clouds I could clearly see a crescent sun.
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wilber_xbox
5/21/2012 6:54 AM EDT
Did not know about the solar eclipse as it was minor eclipse in India. Though such events have huge religious impacts.
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prabhakar_deosthali
5/21/2012 7:55 AM EDT
The scientists lucky to witness this cosmic show must have taken a video shoot of this spectacle .
People like me would definitely benefit if such a video is placed on youtube
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dylan.mcgrath
5/21/2012 6:26 PM EDT
Great photos. Next solar eclipse we will be able to see in Northern California is not until 2252. Save those eclipse glasses for then.
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junko.yoshida
5/21/2012 7:11 PM EDT
Thanks, Dylan. As BicycleBill said, now the Japanese media is advising people to save the eclipse glasses for the transit of Venus ocurring early June. (after all, I paid $18 for my pair!)
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Frank Eory
5/21/2012 7:52 PM EDT
Nice photos Junko. We didn't get the full ring here, but the sun did get down to a thin crescent. Pretty spectacular!
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susan.rambo
5/22/2012 12:23 AM EDT
Hi Junko, Those pictures are awesome. I was at Mt. Shasta in Northern California in the umbral shadow with the San Francisco Amateur Astronomers club. The SFAA did a great job explaining the eclipse and other upcoming celestial events, such as the Transit of Venus, and then let us look through their telescopes (with appropriate filters, of course) during the eclipse. You could even see the sun spots. Next total solar eclipse over North America is Aug. 21, 2017. http://eclipse-maps.com/Eclipse-Maps/Welcome_files/TSE2017cover_1.jpg and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_August_21,_2017
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