In an age when the secrets of nature surrender under the onslaught of the human mind, some phenomena remain surrounded by a mystical halo. A solar eclipse is one such event. On August 21, 2017, humanity could observe a rare phenomenon for the Earth - a total solar eclipse. It has already been given a name - the Great American Eclipse. This name is given due to the fact that this event occurred over the territory of the United States. Unfortunately, the solar eclipse in August 2017 was not visible in Moscow, as well as in almost all of Russia.
What is a solar eclipse
Since ancient times, people have been observing solar eclipses. But they could not explain why the heavenly body suddenly goes out. The only thing that occurred to our ancestors was the divinity of the nature of the phenomenon. Many mystics of those years, oracles, shamans considered the eclipse to be an unkind sign. But with the advent of manastronomy, it turned out that there was nothing to be afraid of. It's simple physics, after all. An eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth meet and line up. As a result, the Earth's satellite blocks the Sun and casts a shadow on our planet. But there are a number of nuances, without which it is impossible to outshine the luminary:
- The moon should be near the nodes, that is, at the place where the moon's orbit intersects with the ecliptic.
- The moon is in its new moon phase.
Knowing all the necessary parameters, you can calculate, for example, when there will be a total solar eclipse in Moscow.
Everyone knows that the Sun is a giant fireball, the diameter of which is 110 times the diameter of the Earth. How can a small satellite outshine the celestial body, even if only for a few minutes? This is due to the fact that the Sun is at a distance from the Earth, 400 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon. As a result, on the celestial sphere, the diameters of the Moon and the Sun are practically equal, although in reality the celestial body is 400 times larger than the satellite.
Types of solar eclipses
Astronomers classify solar eclipses by how the Earth's satellite covers the solar disk. As a result of observations, scientists have identified three main types:
- Ring. Occurs when the Moon is at a great distance from the Earth, and at the time of the eclipse, the diameter of the satellite is less than the diameter of the solar disk. As a result, a dark disk can be observed from our planet, around which the solar ring shines.
- Full. Occurs when the disk of the Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun.
- Private. When the sun disk is not completely covered.
There are also hybrid variants.
Interesting about the solar eclipse
Let's list some interesting facts about the eclipse of the heavenly body:
- The first to describe a solar eclipse were the Chinese. This happened in 1050 BC.
- The longest solar eclipse lasted about eleven minutes. It was observed in the southeastern part of Asia and tropical Africa.
- During a total solar eclipse, the air temperature in areas where the full shadow of the moon falls, the ambient temperature decreases by 10-12 degrees.
- During a solar eclipse, animals show anxiety, sometimes aggression.
- During an eclipse, a person can lose several tens of grams in weight. This is due to the effect on a person of the gravitational fields of the Earth, the Sun and the Moon. For example, an observer weighing 80 kg can effortlessly lose 48 g, but only for a few minutes.
Where the eclipse was observed in August 2017
The only people on earth who saw a total solar eclipse were the Americans. The shadow of the moon passed from the west coast of America to the east coast, covering fourteen states. The beginning of the solar eclipse in Moscow is 19:04, local time at 9:04. To witness a great event,millions of Americans have visited states that are in the shadow of the moon. On the day of the eclipse, almost all hotel and motel rooms were occupied by visiting tourists. The US authorities warned all eyewitnesses of the great event about the necessary security that should be observed. The first thing the government asked to take care of was the purchase of special goggles. After all, watching a solar eclipse without special protective equipment will adversely affect vision.
Was the solar eclipse visible in Moscow in August 2017?
Unfortunately, only residents of the northern regions of Russia, namely Chukotka and Kamchatka, could observe the Great Solar Eclipse in Russia. But for people who were waiting, for example, for a solar eclipse in Moscow, they came up with an online broadcast of this event. NASA specialists, using special equipment, made it possible to observe the miracle from the comfort of their own homes.
But on the eve of the great phenomenon in Russia and other countries could see a partial lunar eclipse. Muscovites could see the disk of the moon, which was not completely reddened. The “performance” began on August 7 at 20:35, so people who were waiting for a solar eclipse in Moscow received a small “compensation” by seeing another equally beautiful phenomenon. For those who could not be present at this, the opportunity to view the recording of the astronomical event appeared.
When will there be a total solar eclipse in Moscow?
On the territory of Russia it is sunnyThe eclipse that residents will be able to see will occur on August 12, 2026. The shadow from the moon will pass over the northern parts of our homeland and Europe. In the capital, it will not be necessary to observe the complete closure of the solar disk by the lunar ones. Six years later, the northern outskirts of Russia will again be able to admire the astronomical phenomenon. It is not yet possible to say exactly when there will be a solar eclipse in Moscow. You should not despair. Thanks to the development of technology and science, a person living anywhere in the world is given the opportunity to observe cosmic phenomena without overcoming great distances. It is possible that when there is a solar eclipse in Moscow, people will be able to watch it.
