Eclipses are one of nature's most mesmerising spectacles. Eclipse-chasers are often willing to fly half-way around the world to remote, hard-to-reach locations just for the chance to see the phenomenon. The coming months, however, mark a unique opportunity as not just one but two eclipses are set to cross one another over North America.
On 14 October 2023, a 'ring of fire' annular eclipse will pass across 10 countries, with a long section of the path running straight through the USA. But this will just be a warm-up to the second event 177 days later on 8 April 2024, when a total solar eclipse will pass across the USA, Mexico and Canada, with an estimated 32 million people living inside the path of totality. There's even a region in Texas - including much of San Antonio - that will see both.
This pair of eclipses will be the most accessible in decades. If you're thinking of making the journey to see either, there's no shortage of sites to pick, as they both trace long paths across the USA.
Annular eclipse, 14 October 2023
この記事は BBC Sky at Night Magazine の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は BBC Sky at Night Magazine の August 2023 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Putting cosmic rays to work
These penetrating interstellar particles have applications from astronomy to archaeology
Set up your first imaging sequence
How to automate and coordinate your gear over multiple nights of imaging
The Universe without gravity
Life with no gravity might sound a fun idea, but as Govert Schilling explains, shutting off this pivotalforce would spell disaster for Earth and beyond
How to blend images taken with different camera setups
Combine data captured at varied focal lengths to create rich, deep images
INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT
Back in September 2021, The Sky at Night show spoke to Carly Howett about NASA's then upcoming Lucy mission. As the spacecraft now approaches its main targets - the Trojan asteroids - we check in with her to see how the mission is going
The science of SCI-FI
We love a good sci-fi film, but do they get the science right? Amy Arthur picks six of the big mistakes made in space films
Seeing in a new light
It's National Astronomy Week this month, so take a tip from Mark Westmoquette and let mindful stargazing change your perspective on your life and problems
What to do if you find a meteorite
Ever come across an unusual rock and wondered if it's a meteorite? Mark McIntyre explains how to tell if that stone really is a fragment from outer space
GEAR
Charlotte Daniels rounds up the latest astronomical accessories
Q&A WITH A STELLAR ECLIPSE SPECIALIST
Many stars are gravitationally locked inside multi-star systems, but a rare new triple-star system has set a new record for how cosy these clusters can get
