Members of the Dalhousie community took time out of preparations for the winter semester exam period to observe a rare total solar eclipse that passed over parts of Canada, Mexico, and the United States on Monday (April 8).
Although Nova Scotia is located in the area where the eclipse occurs, or outside of it, people on campus were eager to see the next best thing: a partial solar eclipse, in which 93 per cent of the sun is obscured. I had it. By the moon.
Recommended reading: Ask an expert: Total solar eclipse explained
As with the 2017 partial solar eclipse, members of the School of Physics and Atmospheric Sciences organized a public viewing session outside the Sir James Dunn Building on Dalhousie’s Studley Campus. Volunteers made up of students, faculty, and lab technicians answered questions from attendees and demonstrated how to safely observe a solar eclipse through a Newtonian telescope equipped with a solar filter that can magnify the Sun 40 times.
Newton’s telescope. (Kenneth Conrad photo)
Dr Sean Hartery, a lecturer in the department who helped organize the afternoon event, said telescope observers could clearly see the roughness of the moon’s surface as it approached its maximum coverage of the sun. He said he was impressed. Earlier in the day, observers could also see a sunspot near the center of the solar disk.
Clear skies and early spring temperatures made long lines to view the telescope bearable. Participants were also provided with several pairs of eclipse glasses, allowing them to safely catch a glimpse of the sun as it gradually disappeared behind the moon.
A crowd begins to gather outside Danville. (Kenneth Conrad photo)
Taking advantage of ideal conditions
“Honestly, the viewing conditions couldn’t be better,” Dr. Hartery said. “April is known for being rainy and cloudy, so we were really lucky to have the conditions we had today.”
Despite the ideal weather, Nova Scotia’s location outside the total orbit means that the corona, the outermost part of the sun’s atmosphere that is normally hidden by the bright light of the sun’s surface and is only visible during a total solar eclipse. (part) did not occur. exterior.
Students also took advantage of the pleasant weather to find a prime spot on Studley Quad to view the eclipse from 3:27 p.m. when it begins until 5:44 p.m. when it ends. Around the time of maximum, the eclipse became noticeably fainter.Interview at 4:38 p.m.
The next total solar eclipse visible in parts of Canada won’t occur until August 2044, so with any luck budding astronomers could make the most of Monday’s event.
Students gathered at Studley Quad with eclipse glasses. (Matt Reeder Photo)
