1. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006
title
Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006
Presented by
Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC

2. Solar Eclipse Geometry 1
Earth and Moon: Full Moon
Solar Eclipse Geometry 1
To Sun
Full
Moon
Moon
Earth
The Moon orbits Earth
once every 29.5 days with respect to the Sun
To Sun

3. Solar Eclipse Geometry 2
Earth and Moon: New Moon
Solar Eclipse Geometry 2
To Sun
New
Moon
Moon
Earth
The Moon orbits Earth
once every 29.5 days with respect to the Sun
To Sun

4. Solar Eclipse Geometry 3
Earth and Moon: Solar Eclipse Geometry
Solar Eclipse Geometry 3
To Sun
Penumbra
New
Moon
Umbra
Moon
Earth
An eclipse of the Sun
is only possible during the New Moon phase.
To Sun

5. Solar Eclipse Geometry 4
Earth and Moon: Solar Eclipse Path
Solar Eclipse Geometry 4
To Sun
Penumbra
New
Moon
Umbra
Moon
Path of Totality
Earth
During a total solar eclipse
the Moon’s two shadows sweep across Earth.
To Sun

6. Partial Phases of a Total Solar Eclipse
Every total eclipse begins with a series of partial phases which may last an hour or more. However, the total phase or “totality” never lasts more than 7.5 minutes.
This time series photo shows an entire total solar eclipse, from start to finish over a period of over two hours.
Credit: Dennis Mammana

7. Eclipse Shadows
Astronomy Picture of the Day - August 13, 1999
Near the shadow of the moon under a shady tree, dozens of images of a 1994 solar eclipse in progress are visible in this striking picture from the campus of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. What creates the multiple images? Any small gap between leaves can act like a pin-hole camera, projecting a discernible image of the crescent sun onto the shaded sidewalk below. This tree's height and multitude of leaves combine dramatically to produce the large size and number of images. On August 11, many throughout Europe and Asia had the chance to enjoy similar views of the last total solar eclipse of the millennium as the moon's shadow raced across densely populated regions of the globe.
(APOD: August 13, Eclipse In The Shade )
Credit: E. Israel
When sunlight passes through gaps between leaves of a tree, the shadows on the ground show little images of the eclipse happening in the sky above. This is the same principle as the pinhole camera.

8. “Diamond Ring” Effect Before Totality Begins
Today, earthbound skygazers can celebrate a solstice, a new Moon, the closest approach of planet Mars since oh yes, and a total eclipse of the Sun, the first total solar eclipse of the third millennium. Of course for some, today's most spectacular celestial views will be of the eclipsed Sun from along the path of totality as the new Moon's shadow tracks across southern Africa and Madagascar. This picture from the August 1999 total solar eclipse captures the shimmering solar corona just as that eclipse's total phase ended, as seen from eastern Turkey. The first rays of bright sunlight shinning through edge-on lunar mountains and valleys create the fleeting appearance of glistening diamonds set in a ring around the Moon's silhouette. Do you want to see today's solar eclipse? Eclipse expeditions are offering live webcasts.
(APOD: 2001 June 21 - Diamond Ring in the Sun )
Astronomy Picture of the Day - June 21, 2001
Credit: Fred Espenak
In the last seconds before totality begins, the remaining bit of Sun resembles a dazzling jewel as the ring-like corona appears.

9. Total Solar Eclipse Video
Video of the June 21, 2001 eclipse in Africa shows the Diamond Ring Effect as the Sun vanishes behind the Moon and Totality begins.
Click on image to play video

10. Glorious Solar Corona
Most photographs don't adequately portray the magnificence of the Sun's corona. Seeing the corona first-hand during a total solar eclipse is best. The human eye can adapt to see features and extent that photographic film usually cannot. Welcome, however, to the digital age. The above picture is a combination of twenty-two photographs that were digitally processed to highlight faint features. The outer pictures of the Sun's corona were digitally altered to enhance dim, outlying waves and filaments. The inner pictures of the usually dark Moon were enhanced to bring out its faint glow from doubly reflected sunlight. Shadow seekers need not fret, though, since as yet there is no way that digital image processing can mimic the fun involved in experiencing a total solar eclipse.
(APOD: September 15, The Big Corona )
Astronomy Picture of the Day - Sept. 15, 1999
Credit: Fred Espenak
The sun’s glorious corona is composed of hot, rarified plasma with a temperature of 1 to 2 million degrees Centigrade. It is only visible during a total eclipse when the Moon hides the Sun’s brilliant disk.

11. Eerie Twilight During a Total Solar Eclipse
Sometimes, during a total eclipse of the Sun, a strange shadow of darkness can be seen stretching off into the distance. Called a shadow cone, they are visible because the Earth's atmosphere is not completely transparent, scattering sunlight and hence appearing blue during the day. Shadow cones are particularly dramatic for eclipses near the horizon, as geometry creates a long corridor of sun-blocked air. Visible above is a shadow cone caught during a total solar eclipse visible last month from South Australia. The eclipsed Sun itself still appears bright because of light from the surrounding corona. The digital camera on the left is zoomed in to show a better image of the actual eclipse.
(APOD: 2003 January 6 - Shadow Cone of a Total Solar Eclipse )
Astronomy Picture of the Day January 08
Credit: Olivier Staiger
During “totality” the landscape is bathed in an eerie twilight. Bright stars and planets are visible.

12. Earth and Eclipse from Space
Astronomy Picture of the Day - August 30, 1999
Here is what the Earth looks like during a solar eclipse. The shadow of the Moon can be seen darkening part of Earth. This shadow moves across the Earth at nearly 2000 kilometers per hour. Only observers near the center of the dark circle see a total solar eclipse - others see a partial eclipse where only part of the Sun appears blocked by the Moon. This spectacular picture of the 1999 August 11 solar eclipse was one of the last ever taken from the Mir space station, as Mir is being decommissioned after more than ten years of productive use.
(Astronomy Picture of the Day - August 30, 1999)
Credit: Mir 27 Crew; Copyright: CNES
From space, the Moon’s umbra can be seen sweeping over Earth during a total solar eclipse. Only observers within the shadow’s path will see “totality” - outside the path a partial eclipse will be seen.

13. Total Solar Eclipse from Antarctica
The Sun, the Moon, and two photographers all lined up last month in Antarctica during an unusual total eclipse of the Sun. Even given the extreme location, a group of enthusiastic eclipse chasers ventured near the bottom of the world to experience the surreal momentary disappearance of the Sun behind the Moon. One of the treasures collected was the above picture -- a composite of four separate images digitally combined to realistically simulate how the adaptive human eye saw the eclipse. As the image was taken, both the Moon and the Sun peaked together over an Antarctic ridge. In the sudden darkness, the magnificent corona of the Sun became visible around the Moon. Quite by accident, another photographer was caught in one of the images checking his video camera. Visible to his left are an equipment bag and a collapsible chair.
(APOD: 2003 December 8 - An Antarctic Total Solar Eclipse )
Astronomy Picture of the Day December 08
Credit: Fred Bruenjes
It’s possible to see a total eclipse from anywhere on Earth. This image was shot in Antarctica in 2003.

14. Partial Solar Eclipse
Partial eclipses are visible over a much larger part of Earth than total eclipses. So they are seen by many more people.
Partial Eclipse of Oct. 14, 2004 (Hawaii)
Credit: Fred Espenak

15. Annular Solar Eclipse
The solar corona is NOT visible during an annular eclipse. The remaining ring of sunlight hides the corona in its glare.
Total Solar Eclipse showing the corona and a few prominences off the limb (in red). When the moon blocks the light from the bright solar photosphere, we can see the much dimmer, more subtle evidence of the corona.
Annular Solar Eclipse of May 10, (Toledo, Ohio)

16. Frequency of Solar Eclipse Types
Eclipses per Year: 2 to 7
Totals per Year: 0, 1 or 2
Partial 35% Annular 33% Total 27% Hybrid 5%
Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC

17. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

18. Total Solar Eclipse of 2006

19. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

20. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

21. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

22. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

23. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

24. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006
Side

25. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

26. Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006

27. NASA Solar Eclipse Bulletins
Bulletin for all Major Solar Eclipses
All Total & Some Annular
Published months before eclipse
NASA’s 2006 Eclipse Bulletin (on web):
umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eclipse/ /rp.html
NASA’s 2006 Eclipse Bulletin (pdf):
sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEpubs/TP html
NASA’s 2006 Total Solar Eclipse Website:
sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006.html

28. Sun-Earth Day Eclipse Website

29. Four Contacts of a Total Solar Eclipse
1st Contact - Partial Eclipse Begins
Moon
Sun
2nd Contact - Total Eclipse Begins
3rd Contact - Total Eclipse Ends
4th Contact - Partial Eclipse Ends
Moon
Sun
Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC

30. USA Times for the 2006 Eclipse From Side, Turkey
2nd Contact - Total Eclipse Begins
3rd Contact - Total Eclipse Ends
1st Contact - Partial Eclipse Begins
Moon
Sun
4th Contact - Partial Eclipse Ends
Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC
09:38 GMT
04:38 EST 03:38 CST 02:38 MST 01:38 PST
10:55 GMT
05:55 EST 04:55 CST 03:55 MST 02:55 PST
10:59 GMT
05:59 EST 04:59 CST 03:59 MST 02:59 PST
12:14 GMT
07:14 EST 06:14 CST 05:14 MST 04:14 PST

31. NASA Eclipse Home Page
sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html

32. World Atlas of Solar Eclipse Paths

33. Solar Eclipses:

34. Links for the 2006 Total Solar Eclipse
NASA’s Sun-Earth Connection Website for 2006 Eclipse:
sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/index.php
NASA’s Sun-Earth Connection & Exploratorium Live Webcast of 2006 Eclipse:
sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/events/webcasts.php
NASA’s 2006 Total Solar Eclipse Website:
sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006.html
NASA’s 2006 Eclipse Bulletin (Web Version):
umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eclipse/ /rp.html
NASA’s 2006 Eclipse Bulletin (PDF Version):
sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEpubs/TP html
NASA’s Eclipse Home Page:
sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html