Eclipse Day in the US: Who saw it? Where and how was it?

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(Edited)

Gestern gab es in den USA eine totale Sonnenfinsternis, was ein ziemlich seltenes und cooles Ereignis ist.

Bei einer totalen Sonnenfinsternis verdeckt der Mond tagsüber für ein paar Minuten die gesamte Sonne. In diesem Fall spricht man von Totalität und dafür ist eine besondere Sonne-Mond-Erde-Konstellation notwendig, die im Jahr nicht mehr als zwei mal eintritt.

Um an ein und demselben Ort eine totale Sonnenfinsternis erleben zu können, können mitunter Jahrzehnte oder Jahrhunderte vergehen. Daher wird es auch oft Generationenereignis genannt.

Der Schatten, den der Mond auf die Erde wirft, wo eine totale Sonnenfinsternis sichtbar ist, heißt Umbra und hat einen Durchmesser von nur 100-160 km. Der erweiterte Schatten, wo eine partielle Sonnenfinsternis entsteht, nennt man Penumbra.

Während einer Sonnenfinsternis kühlt die Umgebung deutlich ab, es wird für ein paar Sekunden Nacht, und man merkt wie wichtig die Sonne als Energiequelle ist.

Ohne das wissenschaftliche Hintergrundwissen könnte man so ein spektakuläres Naturereignis sehr schnell für etwas Übernatürliches halten. Idealer Nährboden für Mythen und Aberglauben.

Direkt in die Sonne sollte man übrigens nur mit einer speziellen Schutzbrille sehen, normale Sonnenbrillen reichen dafür nicht aus, eine Warnung, die im NASA-Livestream alle paar Minuten wiederholt wurde, da sie so wichtig ist, aber mit der Zeit ziemlich nervte.

Was sagt ihr dazu? Habt ihr schon mal eine Sonnenfinsternis gesehen? Wo und wie war's?

Habe eine totale Sonnenfinsternis im August 1999 erlebt als ich gerade in Bulgarien, Varna auf Urlaub war, wo die Totalität besonders gut sichtbar war. War ziemlich beeindruckend, aber schnell wieder vorbei.

Eclipse 2024: NASA Live Stream

Video credit: NASA

English

Yesterday there was a total solar eclipse in the USA, which is a pretty rare and cool event.

During a total solar eclipse, the moon covers the entire sun for a few minutes during the day. This is called totality and requires a special Sun-Moon-Earth constellation that occurs no more than twice a year.

It can sometimes take decades or centuries to experience a total solar eclipse in the same place. This is why it is often called a generational event.

The shadow that the moon casts on the earth where a total solar eclipse is visible is called the umbra and has a diameter of only 100-160 km (abut 100 miles). The extended shadow where a partial solar eclipse occurs is called a penumbra.

During a solar eclipse, the surroundings cool down considerably, it becomes night for a few seconds and you realize how important the sun is as an energy source.

Without the scientific background knowledge, such a spectacular natural event could very quickly be mistaken for something supernatural. Ideal breeding ground for myths and superstitions.

One should only look directly into the sun with special protective goggles, normal sunglasses are not sufficient, a warning that was repeated every few minutes in the NASA livestream because it is so important, but became quite annoying over time.

What do you think? Have you seen the eclipse in the US or somewhere else? Where and how was it?

I experienced a total solar eclipse in August 1999 when I was on vacation in Bulgaria, Varna, where totality was particularly visible. It was quite impressive, but quickly passed.

Live your Secrets and Hive Prosper 🍯

xx Viki @vikisecrets

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24 comments
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1999 konnte man in Wien eine partielle sehen. Für die totale hätte man Richtung Graz fahren müssen, soweit ich mich erinnern kann, und an dem Tag gab es totalen Stau an der Südautobahn, überfüllte Züge, etc.

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Ich habe nur eine Teil Sonnenfinsternis in D mitbekommen, das aber schon lange lange her, da war ich noch Jung 😆

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Das waren noch Zeiten, ohne Social Media, Smartphones etc.

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That video was wonderful
I wish I saw the eclipse yesterday

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Sadly, it couldn't be seen from Portugal. I hope one day I get to see one that is 100%.

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Damals die Sonnenfinsternis habe ich komplett gesehen. Das war cool
!BBH
!PGM

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It is our sun that can cover everything by a cold piece of wandering stone.

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Nothing here in Europe, sadly, i woulda like see it

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(Edited)

I watched it in Canada and was on the path of almost full totality. It was actually really cool. I went in thinking that it would be stupid and just a lot of hype but I was actually very impressed. It was almost full darkness for about 3 minutes and then back to being complete daylight. That was taken at 3:18pm but it looks like it's 8:30pm.

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The clouds were unfortunate but we could still see it through the glasses and with our phones.

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Very cool that you could experience it, even partial eclipse is cool if you are close enough.

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Yes I agree 👍 💯
Partial is very cool too. As long as there are no clouds in the sky blocking it lol. That always seems to be the case

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Everyone will remember the day very much because again after 44 years this day will come

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Didn't see this one, but there was one in Estonia like 2-3 years ago I believe and I saw it then.

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I can't remember the last time - but at my age, I saw at least a couple, here in Europe as well as in North America.
Interesting because it is rare. The Vikings thought it the end of the world - Ragnarök - when Fenriswolf swallows the sun. Seen a post on Facebook where some whacked out preacher talks about this being the sign of the end times. Of course one of those sects in the USA where there are more nutcases percentagewise in the population than anywhere else on this planet.
If we had one once a month or so, nobody would get excited about it. If you really want spectacular, then watch the northern lights. In the Arctic, you get that almost every day. Even as far south as the area of Canada where I lived I used to get it the odd time on very cold days.

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This just in from Facebook:
There's a lot of people out there wondering why they are still here. I guess they weren't Rapture material after all:

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437044488_10161117114615340_3863583043189222734_n.jpg

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I passed on this one since I'm out west. I did see the last one a couple months ago in southern Utah, it was really cool ring of fire!

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I remember seeing it in elementary school, with ink on glass

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I did not see it in person. I did not have any protective glasses so I didn't think it was safe to do so. I did see some pictures on youtube and other places though.

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