Space Science Gallery

2001 SPACE SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES

Tape Title	Record ID	Date Produced	TRT:	Synopsis
VIEWING GUIDE FOR 12/14/01 SOLAR ECLIPSE	G01-089	12/12/01	00:13:23	Friday's eclipse of the Sun is a partial solar eclipse, because it's a still a solar eclipse, the Moon has to be in the new phase - it's directly between us and the Sun. This particular solar eclipse is "annular," which indicates that at maximum eclipse, the Moon won't appear to completely cover the Sun. The Sun is 400 times larger than the Moon, but it's 400 times as far, so they look to be about the same size. Of course, the distance between the Earth and moon and between the Earth and the Sun change throughout the course of the year. Our orbit around the Sun isn't a circle and neither is the Moon's orbit around us. When the Moon is on the near side of its orbit, it appears larger than the Sun. If an eclipse occurs at that time, it'll be a total eclipse. But, if an eclipse occurs while the Moon is on the far side of its orbit, it'll appears smaller than the Sun and can't completely cover the Sun's disk. This is known as an annular eclipse. From the surface of the Earth, the darkened face of the Moon will be surrounded by a bright ring of light, the annulus. Consequently, the sky won't be completely dark. For all of the US, this is a partial eclipse, and the annulus will not be seen. Over the eastern US, the Sun sets before the eclipse ends, and thus for us, it occurs at a very low altitude in the southwestern sky.
TAPE CONTENTS:
ITEM (1): Animation Of December 14, 2001 Eclipse - The animation shows the path of the Moon's shadow on the Earth. *Courtesy: NASA*
ITEM (2): Solar Eclipse December 14, 2001 Viewing Guide - On December 14, 2001, an annular eclipse of the Sun will occur. Most of the United States will be able to see a partial eclipse. Annularity crosses Central America. *Courtesy: NASA*
ITEM (3): Total Eclipse and Annular Eclipse Comparison - The Moon orbits Earth in an ellipse. A total eclipse occurs if the Moon is near the Earth in its orbit. An annular eclipse occurs if the Moon is farther from the Earth in its orbit. During an annular eclipse, the Moon appears smaller because it is farther away from the Earth and does not completely cover the Sun. a. Annular eclipse b. Total eclipse c. Side by side comparison of total and annular eclipse *Courtesy: Fred Espenak/Jay Pasicoff*
ITEM (4): Total Solar Eclipse From February 26, 1998 - This time-lapse sequence shows the shadow of the Moon as it first touches the Earth in the Pacific Ocean about 2000 miles south of the Hawaiian Islands. It then raced along the Pacific over northern South America and across the Caribbean Sea before exiting the Atlantic about 600 miles west of Morocco. The time-lapse sequence is taken from the NOAA/National Weather Services Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite (GOES) 10. Courtesy: NASA/NOAA
ITEM (5): LASCO Images of LatestCME's - The SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) spacecraft uses special cameras to generate continuos "eclipse view" of the Sun. This "manufactured" eclipse enables scientists to study the Sun's corona without waiting for an eclipse. These images were taken using the LASCO (Large-Angel and Spectrometric Chronograph) instrument on the SOHOspacecraft. The first sequence was taken on September 24, 2001. The second sequence taken on October 20, 2001 shows a comet being pulled into the Sun. Courtesy: NASA/ESA
ITEM (6): The Latest EIT Visuals - This sequence shows activity on the surface of the Sun on September 24, 2001. The images were taken by the EIT (Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope) instrument onboard the SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) spacecraft. Courtesy: NASA/ESA
ITEM (7): Our Ever Changing Sun - The Sun has been at its peak of its eleven-year cycle of activity. This is called the solar maximum and is the 2-3 year period when the Sun's activity is most complex and turbulent. Note the dramatic changes in the Sun from the solar minimum in 1996 to the solar maximum in 2000. The images were captured by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite, Extreme Ultraviolet Telescope (EIT) camera. Courtesy: NASA/ESA
ITEM (8): SOHO Spacecraft - The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) orbits the Sun at a location approximately one million miles from the Earth to gain an unobstructed view of the Sun. It carries 12 instruments including the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) and is a joint NASA/European Space Agency (ESA) mission. Courtesy: NASA/ESA
ITEM (9): Eclipse Viewing Tips - This short video clip with NASA Astrophysicist Dr. Fred Espenak, gives viewers various eclipse viewing tips. It is VERY IMPORTANT to never attempt to observe the partial phases of any eclipse with the naked eye as permanent damage to the eyes can occur. Courtesy: NASA
ITEM (10): Interview Excerpts - Dr. Fred Espenak, Astrophysicist NASA/GSFC Courtesy: NASA

NOTE: The material advertised on this page is a "Video File" and is strictly recommended for the media and production companies. This is NOT a finished production and contains no narration.

[HOME] [Return to the Space Science Catalog] [How to order videotapes]

Goddard TV 1999 ©