Eclipse aspects

"Annular eclipses occur when the Moon appears smaller than the Sun. If you are in the path of annularity you will see the Moon begin to cover the Sun, eventually sliding in front of the Sun leaving a small circle of sunlight around the Moon’s disk for anything from a few seconds to up to 12 minutes. The Moon then slowly uncovers the Sun again.

"Because the sun is not completely covered during an annular eclipse, you must not look at it without a filter. The peak of a total solar eclipse is the only time you can look directly at the sun with no damage to your eyes. Total solar eclipses can last from a few seconds to a few minutes. The longest that a total solar eclipse can last is just over seven minutes."



"During a total eclipse of the Sun, the Moon appears bigger in the sky than the Sun. Therefore the bright rays of sunlight are blocked by the Moon, and we are able to see the Sun's much fainter corona, the ONLY time when this is visible.

The nature around you will change dramatically, as it gets quite dark. During a total eclipse of the Sun, the ONLY place to be is in the path of totality. Anywhere else and you will miss the show!

[Some folks would diagree with that, since a position on the edge of the totality path will provide a slighter longer opportunity to study the corona and filaments around the moon.]