Eclipse Facts

Thursday, August 17, 2017

If you live around Lexington you likely are keenly aware of the fact that we will be experiencing a solar eclipse on Monday, August 21. I've been researching various aspects of this event and find it to be fascinating. 

Did you know that since 1900, the US has experienced over 200 solar eclipses? Some have been partial eclipses, some total and some hybrid (whatever that means). Five have been particularly notable. 

1. On May 29, 1919, Arthur Eddington photographed the eclipse which somehow verified the theory of general relativity. (I read two articles about this which I'm sure were in English. I still have no idea what they said.) Apparently this photo was pretty important. 
2. The longest total eclipse in the US in the 1900's was on June 20, 1955. It lasted 7 minutes and 8 seconds. 
3. If you could fly a jet in the pathway of the total eclipse, you could stay in the dark for 74 minutes. At least that's what happen on June 30, 1973.
4. In less than 12 months, the US had two hybrid eclipses: October 3, 1986 and March 29, 1987. Apparently that's pretty rare. 
5. In July 2000, we had two eclipses in the same month: July 1 and 31. That's crazy!

I'm really excited about Monday's eclipse. It should really be cool!