{"673900":{"#nid":"673900","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Total Solar Eclipse Brings History Within Sight  ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EOn Monday, April 8, North America will experience the astronomical phenomenon known as a total solar eclipse when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe path of totality will shadow portions of Mexico before it passes over 15 U.S. states and parts of Canada. While Atlanta does not fall directly in the path as it did in 2017, nearly 85% of the sun will be blocked, giving the Georgia Tech community a chance to participate in the historic event.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Quite frankly, there\u0027s not much difference between 85% and 95%. You can still witness the eclipse, and seeing that the sun is a crescent is a sight you\u0027ll never forget,\u0022 said \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/james-sowell\u0022\u003EJim Sowell\u003C\/a\u003E, a principal academic professional in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ESchool of Physics\u003C\/a\u003E and the director of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/astronomy.gatech.edu\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Observatory\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch4\u003ESafety First\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EAlthough a portion of the sun will be blocked, looking directly into the sun remains harmful to the eye. Sowell offers several tips to protect yourself.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESafety glasses:\u003C\/strong\u003E Traditional sunglasses do not provide protection for extended solar viewings. Eclipse-safe glasses will be labeled \u0027ISO 12312-2,\u0027 indicating that they have been certified by the International Organization for Standardization. Because the eclipse will last for two hours, glasses can be shared throughout the event.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPinhole camera:\u003C\/strong\u003E Using a cardboard box, such as a shoebox, Sowell recommends creating a homemade pinhole camera (See image at the bottom of the page), which projects the sun inside the box\u0027s walls.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESowell noted that a colander, or the sun shining through tree leaves, can also be used to project the sun\u0027s image onto the ground.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETelescope:\u003C\/strong\u003E Telescopes are a great way to view the eclipse as long as an ISO 12312-2 filter is placed on the lens. A cellphone camera is not a replacement for a filtered lens, as the sun\u0027s rays can damage your device. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch4\u003EWhere to Watch\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EWeather permitting, viewers will be able to see the eclipse in an urban or rural environment.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESun seekers in the city should avoid tall buildings and other obstructions to allow for the best view. In Atlanta, the eclipse is expected to be visible starting at 1:45 p.m., with peak coverage at 3:04 p.m. It will end at 4:21 p.m.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESowell says that a rural setting is ideal for witnessing the true power of an eclipse, especially within the path of totality.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Birds may begin to recognize that it\u0027s getting darker and start to roost. Cattle may start to low, and you\u0027ll notice a temperature drop because of the cool air trapped in the shadow as it moves across the Earth. And if you\u0027re in totality, you might see some planets and some bright stars that come out due to the dark sky,\u0022 said Sowell, who will be traveling to Dallas, Texas, for the eclipse.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Ch4\u003EWitnessing History\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETotal solar eclipses typically occur every one to three years, but Sowell noted that the continental U.S. will not see another until 2044. A professional astronomer for 40 years, Sowell is preparing to see his second total eclipse and hopes this event will inspire others to look at the sky (safely) with the same curiosity he does. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022I hope others view the eclipse and understand that there is astronomy that can be done with just the naked eye, and then there is so much more. If we can get people interested with just the sun and the moon, they\u0027ll realize they can go to the edge of the universe,\u0022 he said.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EHe adds that, unlike other widely popular events, everyone taking part in the eclipse is a winner.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Unless you\u0027re clouded out, this is better than the Super Bowl because half the people are upset about the result, whereas for this kind of eclipse, if you see it, you\u0027re excited and will remember it for the rest of your life.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESowell also urges viewers to be patient if the weather isn\u0027t ideal.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Just because it\u0027s cloudy in the morning or 10 minutes before the event, don\u0027t punt,\u0022 he said. \u0022You need to ride it out. And you might get lucky. Even if it\u0027s only during the second half that it clears up, it\u0027ll still be just as memorable.\u0022\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ETwo groups of students will be traveling to experience totality, including 55 graduate and undergraduate students from the School of Physics, led by Associate Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/physics.gatech.edu\/user\/dragomir-davidovic\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EDragomir Davidovic\u003C\/a\u003E, and another trip led by the Georgia Tech Astronomy Club.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"While outside of the path of totality, the Georgia Tech community can still take part in the historic April total solar eclipse.  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile outside of the path of totality, the Georgia Tech community can still take part in the historic April total solar eclipse.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"While outside of the path of totality, the Georgia Tech community can still take part in the historic April total solar eclipse.  "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2024-04-02 13:22:49","changed_gmt":"2024-04-19 16:15:07","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2024-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2024-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"673591":{"id":"673591","type":"video","title":"How to Safely View the 2024 Total Solar Eclipse","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EOn Monday, April 8, North America will experience the astronomical phenomenon known as a total solar eclipse when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth. Jim Sowell, a principal academic professional in the School of Physics and the director of the Georgia Tech Observatory, shares tips on how to safely participate in the historic event.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1712080228","gmt_created":"2024-04-02 17:50:28","changed":"1712080228","gmt_changed":"2024-04-02 17:50:28","video":{"youtube_id":"rB_-auW_lVY","video_url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rB_-auW_lVY"}},"673584":{"id":"673584","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech students witness the 2017 total solar eclipse on campus. ","body":null,"created":"1712070657","gmt_created":"2024-04-02 15:10:57","changed":"1712070657","gmt_changed":"2024-04-02 15:10:57","alt":"Georgia Tech students witness the 2017 total solar eclipse on campus. ","file":{"fid":"256998","name":"eclipse-dsc_6268_36738785455_o.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/02\/eclipse-dsc_6268_36738785455_o.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/02\/eclipse-dsc_6268_36738785455_o.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1328690,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/02\/eclipse-dsc_6268_36738785455_o.jpg?itok=GmP3oDjs"}},"673585":{"id":"673585","type":"image","title":"Pinhole Camera ","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA pinhole camera used to view the total solar eclipse safely. Credit: NASA\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","created":"1712070818","gmt_created":"2024-04-02 15:13:38","changed":"1712070818","gmt_changed":"2024-04-02 15:13:38","alt":"Pinhole Camera ","file":{"fid":"256999","name":"Screenshot 2024-04-02 at 11.13.20\u202fAM.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/02\/Screenshot%202024-04-02%20at%2011.13.20%E2%80%AFAM.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2024\/04\/02\/Screenshot%202024-04-02%20at%2011.13.20%E2%80%AFAM.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1221207,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2024\/04\/02\/Screenshot%202024-04-02%20at%2011.13.20%E2%80%AFAM.png?itok=ZHoC7Fue"}}},"media_ids":["673591","673584","673585"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"150","name":"Physics and Physical Sciences"}],"keywords":[{"id":"174847","name":"total solar eclipse"},{"id":"4188","name":"astronomy"},{"id":"9154","name":"Georgia Tech Observatory"},{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"192252","name":"cos-planetary"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E - Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Steven.gagliano@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}