Queen's University 2024 Eclipse

The total solar eclipse is almost here!

So here's just a quick reminder of key timings for Kingston!
- The Moon makes first contact with the edge of the Sun at 2:09 pm.
- Totality lasts 3 minutes and 4 seconds, starting at 3:22 pm
- Totality ends at 3:25 pm
- The Moon makes last contact with the surface of the Sun at 4:34 pm

Stay safe everyone! We'll see you all out there tomorrow :)

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Image credit: Rick Fienberg / TravelQuest International / Wilderness Travel

Find our Queen's Eclipse Ambassadors on site on April 8th!

Queen's Eclipse Ambassadors have been trained as experts on all things eclipses and safety, and will be present at various viewing sites across Kingston to distribute glasses, answer any questions you may have, and enforce proper safety protocol!

They will be wearing a bright pink vest, and have a purple button labelled "info" so you know who to look for.

Our Ambassadors have been assigned to a list of locations that you can find here:
https://www.visitkingston.ca/eclipse2024/?gad_source=1 -section

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

On April 7th, join us at Memorial Market Square for a Solar Eclipse Pancake Party! Enjoy some fresh crepes from 10-2pm at this free event!

See more information here: https://www.memorialcentrefarmersmarket.ca/2024-events-holidays/

For more information and resources, check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse

Image credit: Memorial Market Team

What will you see on April 8th?

In case you missed it, there is a new page on our website called "What's in the Sky" where you can find a detailed map and highlights of all the stars and planets (and maybe even a comet!) that will be visible to the naked eye during totality.

See our webpage here: https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse

Four more days!! We'll see you all there :)

101 Ways to Experience an Eclipse:

On April 3rd, from 6:30-7:30PM, come see Dr. Nikhil Arora and Dr. Mark Richardson explore humanity's evolving fascination with eclipses, from ancient understanding to modern interpretations, and prepare to experience the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Register here: https://calendar.kfpl.ca/event/10078902

Missed the plays last night?

Worry not! You can watch "Total Eclipse of the Arts" on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coV3qRF0bsI

For more information and resources, check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse

Can't make it to tonight's IGnite event? Tune in to the live stream at 6:00 PM to hear these inspiring stories of research and discovery at Queen's University.
https://youtube.com/live/gH3iD6Xn6Ps?feature=share

There's still time to get your free tickets to TONIGHT's IGnite event featuring Queen's University researchers Kristine Spekkens and Daryn Lehoux! There will also be some cool science demos to check out, like the NEWS-G dark matter detector and the McDonald Institute Cloud Chamber cosmic ray detector! It all happens at the Kingston Frontenac Public Library Central Branch at 6:00 PM!
Register here: https://mcdonaldinstitute.ca/events/ignite24/

‼️‼️IMPORTANT NOTICE‼️‼️
We have found that COUNTERFEIT eclipse glasses are being sold online to people in Kingston – faked to look like glasses sold by Solar Eclipse International, Canada (SEIC). These glasses do NOT stop enough sunlight to be safe for viewing the sun. You can tell by looking at household lights – if you can see the lights easily, these should be DISCARDED. For further details, please visit this page:

(tags)
Queen's University
Queen's University Arts and Science
McDonald Institute
Science Rendezvous Kingston
Visit Kingston

American Astronomical Society Warns of Counterfeit & Fake Eclipse Glasses | American Astronomical Society With the April 8th North American total solar eclipse just over two weeks away, potentially unsafe eclipse glasses are polluting the marketplace. Buyer beware!

Last chance to reserve your seat for the Total Eclipse of the Arts show! The show begins tonight at 7:30PM in Convocation Hall (in Theological Hall).

Register here for free: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/0eb250d6-c9ba-4fed-8a05-7d1f9b11a06e

We'll see you there :)

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

It's a total eclipse of the arts 🤩

On March 25th, 7:30PM (in just four days!) join us for an evening of student-written plays in anticipation of the total solar eclipse! This one-night-only event will feature a staged-reading of seven 10-minute plays, written, dramaturged and directed by students at the DAN School of Drama and Music in collaboration with the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy at Queen’s University. From the first eclipse ever to love stories under celestial chariots, don’t miss this exploration through time, space, and back again! Join us in person in Kinston or online via livestream!

Register here for free: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/0eb250d6-c9ba-4fed-8a05-7d1f9b11a06e

We'll see you there :)

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Here comes the lunar eclipse!

If you saw our post last week, you know that for every solar eclipse, there comes a lunar eclipse! The twin lunar eclipse to the upcoming April 8th total solar eclipse is happening ONE WEEK FROM NOW in the early morning of March 25th!

On March 25th, between 00:53AM and 05:32AM, a penumbral lunar eclipse will pass over Kingston (which will look something like the photo shown here). The shadow will look its largest at 03:13AM.

For more information and resources, check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse

Image credit: NASA

Queen's University has made their official announcement regarding the distribution of Queen's eclipse glasses!

Queen’s distributes solar eclipse glasses to community | Queen's Gazette The university is gearing up to distribute 120,000 certified eclipse glasses to ensure safe viewing of the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

Happening soon!
"IGnite: Research Stories to Inspire Generations" on March 27th from 6:00PM to 7:45PM at Kingston Public Library, 130 Johnson St. Kingston, ON.

"Be inspired by stories of discovery from researchers at Queen’s University. Kristine Spekkens and Daryn Lehoux will be telling their stories for a general public audience, well suited for high-school students and curious adults alike. No two scientists do the same research, and this event highlights the incredible diversity of academic interests and scientific talent in Kingston. IGnite hopes to be the spark that inspires you and your family to keep learning, and seek out answers to your own questions."

Register here: https://mcdonaldinstitute.ca/events/ignite24/

We'll see you there! :)

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Meet the eclipse twins!

The precise nature of the alignment of the Sun, Earth, and Moon's orbits for a solar eclipse means it is also prime time for a lunar eclipse. You read that right: for every solar eclipse, there is a matching lunar eclipse that comes with it! Since lunar eclipses require the Moon be in its "full moon" phase, and solar eclipse require it be in its "new moon" phase, we get both kinds of eclipse within the span of one lunar cycle.

Tune in next week to find out when the twin lunar eclipse to our April 8th total solar eclipse will happen! (Or go to https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/ to discover for yourself!)

For more information and resources, check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse

Image Credit: NASA/Carla Thomas, NASA

It's a Total Eclipse of the Arts!

On March 25th, 7:30 PM, join us for an evening of student-written plays in anticipation of the total solar eclipse! This one-night-only event will feature a staged-reading of seven 10-minute plays, written, dramaturged and directed by students at the DAN School of Drama and Music in collaboration with the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy at Queen’s University. From the first eclipse ever to love stories under celestial chariots, don’t miss this exploration through time, space, and back again! Join us in person in Kinston or online via livestream!

Register here for free: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/0eb250d6-c9ba-4fed-8a05-7d1f9b11a06e

We'll see you there :)

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Have you signed up for our next Solar eclipse webinar? This one is taking place in 5 days on March 5th!

This session is the same as the last one in case you missed it, covering the basics of solar eclipses, providing tips for promoting safety, identifying key locations along the eclipse path, and showcasing an arsenal of educational materials! Designed to bolster the excitement of the Kingston community, this webinar aims to provide the knowledge and resources necessary to fully appreciate the profound beauty of this cosmic spectacle!

Register here: https://www.queensu.ca/physics/solar-eclipse-webinar-series

We'll see you there :)

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Kingston is in the path of totality, but where else can I see the 2024 total solar eclipse?

Other major Canadian cities in the path of totality include Niagara Falls, Brockville and Cornwall in Ontario, Montreal and Sherbrooke in Québec, and Fredericton in New Brunswick. It is also worth noting that not all cities in the path of totality will experience the same duration of totality! For instance, Kingston will experience 3 minutes and 4 seconds, while Hamilton will only see 1 minute and 50 seconds.

There are also (unfourtunately) many major Canadian cities that are not in the path of totality, including Toronto, Ottawa, Québec City, Halifax, and St. John’s.

For a more detailed map of cities in or out of the path of totality, and the duration of the eclipse in each of these locations, check out the eclipse map from TimeAndDate: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/map/2024-april-8

As always, check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Image credit: NASA/Don Pettit

Ancient Persians perceived solar eclipses as the mischievous acts of peri, winged spirits with unpredictable behaviour. They believed the peri would play pranks by covering the sun and causing darkness. However, the Persians also saw this as a battle between the divine spirit Mithra, guardian of the sun, and the evil force Ahriman, representing chaos and darkness. To aid Mithra in overcoming Ahriman's assault and restore cosmic order, Persians engaged in rituals, prayers, and loud noises, hoping to scare away the evil spirit and bring back sunlight while fearing potential calamity omens.

Credit:
https://worldtreasures.org/blog/eclipse-mythology #:~:text=For%20ancient%20Persians%2C%20an%20eclipse,and%20even%20evil%20in%20intent.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sphinxes_from_the_Palace_of_Darius_I_at_Susa.jpg

Does the phase of the moon matter during an eclipse? Turns out yes!

For a solar eclipse to occur, the Moon must lie perfectly between the Earth and the Sun. This means that the side of the Moon illuminated by the Sun’s light is facing entirely away from us, and thus must be a new moon!

For lunar eclipses to occur, the reverse is now true. The Earth lies between the Moon and the Sun, and thus the side of the Moon illuminated by the Sun is fully facing towards us. So, for lunar eclipses to occur, the Moon must be in its full-moon phase!

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Have you signed up for our Solar eclipse webinars? The first one is taking place in 10 days on February 22nd!

Both sessions are the same, and will cover the basics of solar eclipses, provide tips for promoting safety, identify key locations along the eclipse path, and showcase an arsenal of educational materials! Designed to bolster the excitement of the Kingston community, this webinar aims to provide the knowledge and resources necessary to fully appreciate the profound beauty of this cosmic spectacle!

Register here: https://www.queensu.ca/physics/solar-eclipse-webinar-series

We'll see you there :)

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

How big is the Sun? How about the Moon? How far apart are they? These are important questions to understand when breaking down how eclipses work.

Let’s start with our Sun. It has a radius of almost 700,000 km and is 149 million km away from the Earth. The Moon has a radius of 1,737 km. Its distance from the Earth is a bit tricky, since its orbit is elliptical and thus that distance changes (with a range of ~360,000km to 410,000km). But, on average, the Moon is about 385,000 km away from the Earth.

Doing some quick math (which you can check yourself if you’d like!) shows that the Sun is about 400 times larger than the Moon, and roughly 400 times further away from the Earth. This amazing astronomical coincidence is what allows the Moon and Sun to appear to be the same size in the sky, resulting in solar eclipses!

Note that the images are meant to show the relative sizes of the Earth, Moon, and Sun, but that the distances are not to scale!

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

The Queen's Observatory is hosting their free monthly open house on February 10th at 7:30 PM in Ellis Hall!

Special guest speaker Malcolm Park, President of the Royal Astronomical Society-Kingston Centre, is presenting "Chasing the Shadow of the Moon" in which he will explore chasing eclipses.

Learn more about this observatory talk at https://www.queensu.ca/observatory/open-houses

We hope to see you there!

Total Solar eclipses won’t be around forever!

Our Moon’s orbit is gradually relaxing, meaning it is getting further and further away from us as its orbital velocity increases. This change is unnoticeable to us now, only increasing by about 1.5 inches (or 3.8 cm) every year. With enough time however, these small steps add up, and the Moon will no longer appear large enough in the sky to completely block out the Sun. In a few hundred million years (many sources say 6), total solar eclipses will no longer be possible on Earth at all, leaving only annular eclipses with larger and larger rings of unblocked light as the millennia pass by.

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Image credit: NASA

Ancient Greek tale of eclipse: Unhappy god

A tense silence fell across the village as the sun began to vanish, consumed by an unnatural darkness. The people gazed upwards in dismay, having been forewarned of this even by the great philosopher Thales. Whispers of the god’s displeasure rippled through the anxious crowds. To the Greeks, an eclipse meant the mighty Zeus was angry, punishing mortars by blotting out the sun god Apollo’s divine light; they believed Apollo was abandoning the earth, no longer favouring humanity with his gift of sunshine. People hurried to temples to pray and make offerings, hoping to appease the gods. The eclipse was an ill omen of hardships, a cosmic message that could not be ignored. Even rational thinkers like Thales took the omens seriously, understanding that eclipses meant the god had passed judgment on mortal impiety. A humbling celestial phenomenon, but to the Greeks, a profound sign of the god’s power o over their lives, a profound divine Omen.

Figure caption: The sun-god Lnti on an exhibit in the Bode-Museum, Berlin, Germany.
In Transylvanian folklore, an eclipse occurs when the angry sun turns away and covers herself with darkness in response to humans’ bad behaviour.

Ref:https://www2.nao.ac.jp/~mitsurusoma/WS2014/vahia.pdf
https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse/eclipse-stories-from-around-the-world #:~:text=Ancient%20Greeks%20had%20a%20different,Greek%20word%20meaning%20%E2%80%9Cabandonment.%E2%80%9D

How often do eclipses happen? Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple.

How often does an eclipse of any kind happen?
To clarify, that includes partial, total, and annular solar eclipses and penumbral, partial, and total lunar eclipses. Well, lunar eclipses can happen anywhere from 0 to 3 times per year, but they average at 2. Solar eclipses on the other hand happen 2 to 5 times per year, though 5 solar eclipses in a year is exceptionally rare.

How often do total solar eclipses occur anywhere?
Now we’re getting more specific! Total solar eclipses happen somewhere on Earth about once every 18 months (or about 1 and a half years).

Okay but how often will a total solar eclipse happen in the same place?
There we go, that’s probably what you meant to ask originally, right? Well, the best answer we can provide here is an average: the path of totality of a total solar eclipse will pass through the same place, on average, once every 400 years. However, this is a bit of a misleading number! For instance, Kingston hasn’t witnessed a total solar eclipse in almost 700 years (almost twice the expected time) but will have another one only 375 years after the one this April.

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Image credit: Jay Pasachoff / Allen Davis / Vojtech Rusin / Miloslav Druckmüller

Are you in the path of totality? Here’s how to find out!

Check out the website TimeAndDate (https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/solar/2024-april-8) to find out what the eclipse will look like from wherever you find yourself! To do so, navigate to the TimeAndDate website and hover over the “Sun, Moon & Space” tab to find the “April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse” page. From there, you can find important details about the eclipse or play around with their detailed eclipse path map!

This is a great tool to see how much coverage you, your family, and your friends will see, or if you are in the path of totality! You can also find out when the different phases of the eclipse will occur.

For example, TimeAndDate tells us that in Kingston, totality will begin at 3:22PM and end at 3:25PM, with a total duration of 3 minutes + 4 seconds!

Check out the Queen's 2024 eclipse webpage at https://www.queensu.ca/physics/2024eclipse for more information and resources

Image Credit: TimeAndDate website