Look up: The universe is putting on two great shows.
The first, this weekend, is a meteor shower (more on that later).
But the main attraction comes Monday, Aug. 21, when the Treasure Coast will get an 85 percent solar eclipse. It’ll start at about 1:30 p.m., peak just before 3 p.m. and continue to 4:18 p.m.
“It’s not going to get dark,” said Jon Bell, director of the Hallstrom Planetarium at Indian River State College. “It’s going to be just as bright as any other day.”
Well, just as bright as, say, a somewhat cloudy day. But, the eclipse is still worth a good look, Bell said. Preferably a good, safe look. “It’s always dangerous to stare right at the sun,” Bell said. “Your body is smart. Your body tells you to stop looking. You squint, you close your eyes. Your body is telling you to stop looking.”
The college will open its planetarium to the public for eclipse watching that day. Bell will also tie into a planetarium that’s in the path of total eclipse to project images onto the dome. At full eclipse, the Treasure Coast will have a crescent sun for a few minutes. Bell said those not at the planetarium can get an interesting show by going under trees to see crescent sunbeams.
“The leaves will act like pinhole cameras,” Bell said.
The path of the total eclipse through the United States will start on the South Carolina coast and move northward through Tennessee, upward to Nebraska and Wyoming, and finally exit from the northern part of Oregon.
Bell has seen two total eclipses. One was in Finland. The other in Mexico.
“Nature, it hits the pause button,” Bell said. “It’s not pitch black, but it’s like dusk.”
He had a tip for anyone now deciding they just have to drive to South Carolina to see a total eclipse. “The hotel rates are skyrocketing,” Bell said. “They’re, excuse this, out of this world.” Probably better to enjoy the show at the IRSC planetarium.
An eclipse is caused by the alignment of the Earth, moon and sun. The moon crosses in front of the sun, casting a cone-shaped shadow on Earth. A wonderful cosmic coincidence makes it so the moon, which is about 240,000 miles from Earth, appears to be almost the same size as the sun, which is about 93 million miles away.
While eclipses are fairly common, the planet’s a pretty big place, so people usually have to travel far to see them. The last time a total eclipse traveled across the continental U.S. was in 1979. Bell said eclipse aficionados in Port St. Lucie will get a shot at watching a total one from their backyards, but … “If you don’t feel like leaving Florida, wait to 2045.”
This is expected to be the best documented eclipse ever. A notable science experiment that’ll happen during the event is EclipseMob. That crowdsourcing experiment by the National Science Foundation will watch how the ionosphere affects radio waves during the eclipse.
Bell said while eclipses have long been great for science, they’re also a good time for philosophy.
“One of the things the eclipse can do is help change anyone’s perspective of their place in the universe,” he said.
To get ready for the eclipse, folks can spend some time with the Perseid meteor shower. It’ll be around until Saturday. Bell said the moon will obscure the shower around midnight on Friday and Saturday. But, the early night will be a good time for a meteor party.
“The eastern sky is where you want to face for most meteor showers,” Bell said.
The darker the eastern sky, the better.
“Don’t expect it to be like a fireworks display,” Bell said. “You can go 10, 15 minutes and see nothing.”
But, then see a dozen “shooting stars” in a minute. Bell said in between seeing meteors streak the sky, it’s fun to stargaze. “Look for patterns,” he said. “If you know the constellations, look for them, or make up your own. Make it a family starwatching party.”
The eclipse will be streamed live at www.eclipse2017.nasa.gov. The IRSC planetarium is at 3209 Virginia Ave., Fort Pierce, on the eastern end of the campus. No reservations are needed to attend the eclipse watch.