Celestial Christmas Gift 36
ggrappone writes: "If you call North America your home you'll be treated to a Christmas day eclipse. This article on CNN describes the rare event in more detail."
I've noticed several design suggestions in your code.
Eclipse Does Give Unique Quality To Sunlight (Score:2)
It may not be extremely "noticeable", in that it's not something that demands attention. But it's definitely perceptible, and (I think) fairly unique. The dimming is not so pronounced as a cloud -- it's a much more gradual change in color and intensity. The only other phenomena I've experienced that brings to pass the same change of character in sunlight are fires; with some big enough blazes in the surrounding area, you get a similar color and subtle intensity shift.
More Details (Score:3)
The popular perception of a solar eclipse is the skies & land growing dark as streetlights pop on & birds take cover for the night. While that does indeed happen for a full eclipse a partial one is much less impressive, particularly one as partial as this will be for most folks.
Taking a 'bite' out of a very bright light-source leaves - a very bright light-source. The effect for most folks will be no more noticable then an high-altitude cloud. The landscape will slowly (imperceptably) dim then later brighten very subtly.
That said the images of the sun will be very impressive. I'm going to assume a /.'ers know better then to look at the sun directly (sun = bright light in the 'big blue room'.) Even good sunglasses don't generally filter enough, particularly for the extended viewing like this. It *is* possible to permanently harm one's eyes this way and no, your reflexes won't save you if you override them.
One of the simplest (and thus kewlest) ways to view is to punch a hole in a piece of paper (or tinfoil or whatever else handy) and let the sun shine through. The hole should be ~.25mm and a second surface (prefereably white) ~20-50cm behind it (Your Milage May Vary) This will get you a view approximately the same as the fantastic photos you see but it'll be yours & real-time.
Good luck. Even for those of us in Northern parts of North America (Montreal) this will be an easy-to-miss event but if one takes the time & effort (& the weather cooperates) it can be an exciting one to catch.
Eh? (Score:3)
Re:More Details (Score:1)
The shadows of things like leaves were altered, rendered in triplicate as if illuminated by three closely-coupled point sources. The ambient levels remained bright but the light had a silvery texture, like the moments before a summer thunderstorm.
I remember stopping work and going outside with a piece of cardboard and a magnifying glass so I could see the eclipse without staring at it. My cow-orkers followed me outside and someone cranked up Dark Side of the Moon on the CD player. We broke out the cocktails and called it a day, as Marketing was terrified that the Moon was eating the Sun and might not cough it back up. They wanted to start sacrifices and ritual purification and were making some of the female employees nervous with those obsidian knives they always carry.
Fortunately, one of the engineers went and the Sun reappeared.
I love a good eclipse, don't you?
k.
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"In spite of everything, I still believe that people
are really good at heart." - Anne Frank
Re:This marks the beginning of the end... (Score:1)
Re:God loves America (Score:1)
But if God loves America, why was Bush elected? (All that proves is that God has a sense of humour)
The weather should be good for me. (Score:1)
Right now, there is that dreaded "lake effect snow" everybody talks about in the Great Lakes region.
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Re:More Details (Score:1)
nearly everyone here's gotta have a bad burned disc or two lying around, just hold up and look through it
Re:That would be cool! (Score:1)
Here in Oregon we'll get 20-30%, which will only be visible with a projection system, and then only if it's sunny (which it is now...hopefully it can last).
20 Minutes! (Score:1)
Re:20 Minutes! (Score:1)
On an eclipse of the light: (Score:1)
Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid
Tunes her nocturnal Note. Thus with the Year
Seasons return, but not me returns
Day, or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn,
Or sight of vernal bloom, or human face divine;
But cloud instead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men
Cut off, and the Book of knowledge fair
Presented with a Universal blanc
Of Nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd,
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.
So much the rather thou Celestial Light
Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers
Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence
Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell
Of things invisible to mortal sight.
John Milton, Paradise Lost, III, 38-55
Aw, just the damn luck... (Score:2)
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Go ahead, blame me... I voted for Nader!
Blame Bill Gates (Score:1)
Thank goodness for this article... (Score:2)
If this article hadn't been written, I might have mistook Christmas day's eclipse for a failure to pay the electrical bill. Thanks, Slashdot!
- TreyThat would be cool! (Score:1)
OBwarm-weather-rub-it-in: Xmas time. Was 72 F yesterday here in the valley. Life is good. Got too drunk last nite (that wasn't weather related though...that was martini induced), so the headache ain't too hot, but otherwiase...
Happy Holidays! =)
grumble... (Score:1)
Mostly cloudy with scattered showers.
Bah! Humbug!
and for us nerdy night people... (Score:1)
Re:and for us nerdy night people... (Score:1)
here's a better link (Score:2)
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It's a comet! (Score:1)
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hmm (Score:1)
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That's pretty rare (Score:1)
Christ arrives and the lights go out. (Score:1)
If it wasn't bad enough already... (Score:2)
Consolation: I get a PlayStation2 and you don't!
It's all about the Karma Points...
Moderators: Read from the bottom up!
dysthmia patients beware... (Score:1)
The best eclipse related Web site is... (Score:1)
Fred Espenak's site is better than any I've seen.
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html [nasa.gov]
I figure they weren't a native speaker... (Score:1)
To them I say:
But, while he was shouting, he saw with surprise
That the moon of that evening was starting to rise
Up over his head in the darkening skies.
"What's THAT?" snorted Yertle. "Say, what IS that thing
That dares to be higher than Yertle the King?
I shall not allow it! I'll go higher still!
I'll build my throne higher! I can and I will!
I'll call some more turtles. I'll stack 'em to heaven!
I need 'bout five thousand, six hundred and seven!"
Dr. Seuss, Yertle the Turtle.
Re:Aw, just the damn luck... (Score:1)
There is a great effort not to vilify the winter. So, to the extent that Yule is a celebration, it's a celebration of what the season of cold and dark has taught us. I suppose it is also a collective sigh of relief that we're going back to a time of more pleasant weather and easier living. The Crone is a mean, scary old mother. Just because she brings you wisdom and takes away the things that need to die, doesn't mean that you're not glad when she's replaced by a hot young Maiden.
I don't think any pagans really think we need to ask the sun to come back. But there is an element of noticing and respecting what the natural world is doing and mirroring it in your own ceremonies. The pagans I celebrated with had one "calling back the sun" story as historical context.
But anyway, my initial message was a joke...
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Go ahead, blame me... I voted for Nader!
Merry Christmas (Score:1)
better article at sky and telescope (Score:1)
This marks the beginning of the end... (Score:1)
Re:God loves America (Score:1)
Safely looking at the sun (Score:2)
Oh No! (Score:1)
NightHawk
Tyranny =Gov. choosing how much power to give the People.
HOLY SHIT! That was close! (Score:1)
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