Experiencing a full solar eclipse is truly an epic experience that leaves the beholder in awe. In the past, have had the privilege of experiencing two eclipses, one of which was a full eclipse, the other being partial, and I can attest that the full eclipse was infinitely better.

To experience the full eclipse this Nov 3rd, you'd have to go to Lodwar, most likely, Lake Turkana. Go if you can. It's a good reason to take a little break and to explore that place.

Note that the duration of the eclipse varies. The spot at which the eclipse lasts the longest is just over 200km off the coast of Liberia, the eclipse will last for about 1m 39sec. Once the eclipse pases that spot, the further East it goes, the shorter the duration. By the time it reaches Lodwar, the duration will be about 15sec.

Watch it with eye protection.

View the eclipse's path in the link below.

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.../SE2013Nov03Hgoogle.html

[quote=D32]Experiencing a full eclipse is truly an epic experience that leaves the beholder in awe. In the past, have had the privilege of experiencing two eclipses, one of which was a full eclipse, the other being partial, and I can attest that the full eclipse was infinitely better.

To experience the full eclipse this Nov 3rd, you'd have to go to Lodwar, most likely, Lake Turkana. Go if you can. It's a good reason to take a little break and to explore that place.

Note that the duration of the eclipse varies. The spot at which the eclipse lasts the longest is just over 200km off the coast of Liberia, the eclipse will last for about 1m 39sec. Once the eclipse pases that spot, the further East it goes, the shorter the duration. By the time it reaches Lodwar, the duration will be about 15sec.

Watch it with eye protection.

View the eclipse's path in the link below.

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa...SE2013Nov03Hgoogle.html[/quote]


Why?

The direct sun is blocked so we can stare at it as we do the moon, no?

Quoting from: http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEhelp/safety2.html

"A total solar eclipse is probably the most spectacular astronomical event that most people will experience in their lives. There is a great deal of interest in watching eclipses, and thousands of astronomers (both amateur and professional) travel around the world to observe and photograph them."

"However, observing the Sun can be dangerous if you do not take the proper precautions. The solar radiation that reaches the surface of Earth ranges from ultraviolet (UV) radiation at wavelengths longer than 290 nm to radio waves in the meter range. The tissues in the eye transmit a substantial part of the radiation between 380 and 1400 nm to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye. While environmental exposure to UV radiation is known to contribute to the accelerated aging of the outer layers of the eye and the development of cataracts, the concern over improper viewing of the Sun during an eclipse is for the development of "eclipse blindness" or retinal burns."

"Exposure of the retina to intense visible light causes damage to its light-sensitive rod and cone cells. The light triggers a series of complex chemical reactions within the cells which damages their ability to respond to a visual stimulus, and in extreme cases, can destroy them. The result is a loss of visual function which may be either temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the damage. When a person looks repeatedly or for a long time at the Sun without proper protection for the eyes, this photochemical retinal damage may be accompanied by a thermal injury - the high level of visible and near-infrared radiation causes heating that literally cooks the exposed tissue. This thermal injury or photocoagulation destroys the rods and cones, creating a small blind area. The danger to vision is significant because photic retinal injuries occur without any feeling of pain (there are no pain receptors in the retina), and the visual effects do not occur for at least several hours after the damage is done [Pitts, 1993]."

"The only time that the Sun can be viewed safely with the naked eye is during a total eclipse, when the Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun. It is never safe to look at a partial or annular eclipse, or the partial phases of a total solar eclipse, without the proper equipment and techniques. Even when 99% of the Sun's surface (the photosphere) is obscured during the partial phases of a solar eclipse, the remaining crescent Sun is still intense enough to cause a retinal burn, even though illumination levels are comparable to twilight [Chou, 1981, 1996; Marsh, 1982]. Failure to use proper observing methods may result in permanent eye damage or severe visual loss. This can have important adverse effects on career choices and earning potential, since it has been shown that most individuals who sustain eclipse-related eye injuries are children and young adults [Penner and McNair, 1966; Chou and Krailo, 1981]."

"The Sun can only be viewed directly when filters specially designed to protect the eyes are used. Most such filters have a thin layer of chromium alloy or aluminum deposited on their surfaces that attenuates both visible and near-infrared radiation. A safe solar filter should transmit less than 0.003% (density~4.5)[1] of visible light (380 to 780 nm) and no more than 0.5% (density~2.3) of the near-infrared radiation (780 to 1400 nm). Figure 24 shows the spectral response for a selection of safe solar filters."

"One of the most widely available filters for safe solar viewing is shade number 14 welder's glass, which can be obtained from welding supply outlets. A popular inexpensive alternative is aluminized mylar manufactured specifically for solar observation. ("Space blankets" and aluminized mylar used in gardening are not suitable for this purpose!) Unlike the welding glass, mylar can be cut to fit any viewing device, and doesn't break when dropped. Many experienced solar observers use one or two layers of black-and-white film that has been fully exposed to light and developed to maximum density. The metallic silver contained in the film emulsion is the protective filter. Some of the newer black and white films use dyes instead of silver and these are unsafe. Black-and-white negatives with images on it (e.g., medical x-rays) are also not suitable. More recently, solar observers have used floppy disks and compact disks (both CDs and CD-ROMs) as protective filters by covering the central openings and looking through the disk media. However, the optical quality of the solar image formed by a floppy disk or CD is relatively poor compared to mylar or welder's glass. Some CDs are made with very thin aluminum coatings which are not safe - if you can see through the CD in normal room lighting, don't use it!! No filter should be used with an optical device (e.g. binoculars, telescope, camera) unless it has been specifically designed for that purpose and is mounted at the front end (i.e., end towards the Sun). Some sources of solar filters are listed in the following section."

"Unsafe filters include all color film, black-and-white film that contains no silver, photographic negatives with images on them (x-rays and snapshots), smoked glass, sunglasses (single or multiple pairs), photographic neutral density filters and polarizing filters. Most of these transmit high levels of invisible infrared radiation which can cause a thermal retinal burn (see Figure 24). The fact that the Sun appears dim, or that you feel no discomfort when looking at the Sun through the filter, is no guarantee that your eyes are safe. Solar filters designed to thread into eyepieces that are often provided with inexpensive telescopes are also unsafe. These glass filters can crack unexpectedly from overheating when the telescope is pointed at the Sun, and retinal damage can occur faster than the observer can move the eye from the eyepiece. Avoid unnecessary risks. Your local planetarium, science center, or amateur astronomy club can provide additional information on how to observe the eclipse safely."

[quote=D32]Experiencing a full solar eclipse is truly an epic experience that leaves the beholder in awe. In the past, have had the privilege of experiencing two eclipses, one of which was a full eclipse, the other being partial, and I can attest that the full eclipse was infinitely better.

To experience the full eclipse this Nov 3rd, you'd have to go to Lodwar, most likely, Lake Turkana. Go if you can. It's a good reason to take a little break and to explore that place.

Note that the duration of the eclipse varies. The spot at which the eclipse lasts the longest is just over 200km off the coast of Liberia, the eclipse will last for about 1m 39sec. Once the eclipse pases that spot, the further East it goes, the shorter the duration. By the time it reaches Lodwar, the duration will be about 15sec.

Watch it with eye protection.

View the eclipse's path in the link below.

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa...SE2013Nov03Hgoogle.html[/quote]


so what shall we see here in nairobi??