On July 20, 1963, nature will present her most startling phenomenon, a total eclipse of the sun, which will not be seen again in New England in this century. For us at the University of Maine in Orono, partial phase will begin at 4: 38 p.m. EDT, when a slim notch will be seen in the western edge of the sun, cut out by the black figure of the moon which will be passing in front of the sun from west to east. For the next hour the moon will steadily encroach upon the sun until just a thin crescent remains in sight.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/1227/thumbnail.jp

Maine Department of Economic Development

English

Bangor Community: Digital Commons@bpl

Bangor Public LibraryBangor Community: Digital Commons@bplBooks and Publications Special Collections1963Total eclipse of the sun: Saturday July 20, 1963,5:41 to 5:45 P.M. EDTMaine Department of Economic DevelopmentFollow this and additional works at: https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubsThis Book is brought to you for free and open access by the Special Collections at Bangor Community: Digital Commons@bpl. It has been accepted forinclusion in Books and Publications by an authorized administrator of Bangor Community: Digital Commons@bpl. For more information, pleasecontact ccoombs@bpl.lib.me.us.Recommended CitationMaine Department of Economic Development, "Total eclipse of the sun: Saturday July 20, 1963, 5:41 to 5:45 P.M. EDT" (1963).Books and Publications. 229.https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/books_pubs/229Once about every a tot a I eel i p se of 360 years . the sun will occur on t he U niversi t y o f Ma ine campus On July 20, 1963, nature will present her most startling phenomenon, a total eclipse of the sun, which will not be seen again in New England in this century. For us at 1he University of Maine in Orono, partial phase will begin at 4: 38 p.m. EDT, when a slim notch will be seen in the western edge of the sun, cut out by the black figure of the moon which will be passing in front of the sun from west to east. For the next hour the moon will steadily encroach upon the sun until just a thin crescent remains in sight. By this time everything will have taken on a strange appearance; daylight will dim rapidly; birds will go to roost; the temperature will drop, and the feeble sunlight shining through small interstices among the leaves of foliage will make little crescents on the ground. P resently the dark shadow will be seen rushing towards us and suddenly, at 5 :43 p.m. when the sun will be completely eclipsed by the moon, near darkness will descend and the brighter planets and stars will appear, the pearly white corona will burst into view and reddish prominences may be seen reaching out from behind the disc of the moon. For the next 50 seconds this magnificent spectacle will persist and then bright beads of sunlight will be seen along the western edge of the moon b11coming ~ growing crescent as the moon, in its march to the east, uncovers the sun again during the following hour. WARNING During the week of the eclipse the University of Maine '"'ill be host to 400 members of the Astronomical League, to astronomers of the nation's observatories, and to scientists of national scientific found ations, planetar· and government research facilities who will obsc;/ve this impressive phenomenon with all sorts of tele¥opes and radio telescopes. Latert recommendation for viewing eun is to use two thicknesses of fully exposed and developed black and white pho~ graphic negatives. if 41 ~ MAINE rli AUGUSTA• ~a_ ~ 0 Line A is the central line of the shadow which is moving in the direc-tion of the arrow. Total eclipse lasts for about a minute on the central line ; the area between lines A and B on either side of the central line will have between 50 and 60 seconds of total eclipse; areas from B to C will have 40 to 50 seconds. The eclipse will be total everywhere within the blue area, but the duration of totality wiJI fall off rapidly in areas beyond lines C and C. TION! During the partial phase do not look tly at the sun e>.cept through hea•lly exposed and oped photographic negatl•es or some equally • filter such as >ery darkly smoked glass. Naked e}e f lewlng could result In serious damoge to one's eyes Don't use binoculars, opera glasses or any sort of a telescope without consulting some authority as to the pedal precautions which must be taken to pro-tect the eyes. A mere glance at the sun through such an ptlcal Instrument could result In permanent Im· pair ent of •lsion, (] ty ~ 52-3 7~ M 2 "&q.t., 0 n Once, about every 360 ye~ it can happen on t~s of Bangor Public Libra . or. • Maine 5"~~7~3 The moon has a dark conical shadow, called the umbra, pointing directly away from the sun. which becomes visible when it occasionally falls upon the earth. For one within the umbra the sun is obscured, or totally eclipsed, by the moon. We can consider this shadow cone to be a great pencil attached to the moon; the point of this pencil is snapped off where the shadow strikes the earth. The motion of the moon in its orbit around the earth (see diagram) causes this blunt pencil to trace a path across the earth from west to east. When one plots successive positions of the shadow the path is a curve resulting from the curvature and rotation of the earth. The diagram greatly exaggerates the width of this path which will be a mere 53 miles at the University of Maine next Jruly. Hence for any location this phenomenon happens rarely, once in about 360 years. The center of the umbra will cross the state of Maine in less than 3 minutes. The university will be in the umbra for 50 seconds, as compared to about 60 seconds at places on the central line of the path. DIAGRAM OF THE ECLIPSE ~ " - "'-, --------........ " ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ "-.......~  ~~~~~ -  As It sweeps across the state of Maine at some 3,000 miles an hour In a southeasterly direction, the li~ure of the shadow of the moon on the Maine landscape will be nearly an ellipse with Its major axis lying almost east and west. Relath e motion of the shadow of the moon and the surface of the earth (shadow Ira-els from ,.est to east). UNIVERSITY OF MA IN E CAMPUS AT ORONO AND PORTLAND The University of Maine will operate a 12-week summer session from June 17 to September 7, 1963. The 3,000 or more students attending the sessions will welcome the opportunity to observe the eclipse along with the many visitors who will come to the Orono campus especially for this purpose. We admit to a selfish motive in inviting visitors to Maine to become visitors to our Orono and Portland campuses: it affords an opportunity to show both institutions at a most beautiful time of the summer, and to show them to many persons who have never visited Maine before. The University of Maine will welcome you. UNIVERSITY OF MA IN E CAMPUS AT ORONO A N D PO RT LAND T he University of Maine will operate a 12-week summer session from June 17 to September 7, 1963. The 3,000 or more students attending the sessions will welcome the opportunity to observe the eclipse along with the many visitors who will come to the Orono campus especially for this purpose. We admit to a selfish motive in inviting visitors to Maine to become visitors to our Orono and Portland campuses: it affords an opportunity to show both institutions at a most beautiful time of the summer, and to show them to many persons who have never visited Maine before. The University of Maine will welcome you. DIAGRAM OF THE ECLIPSE 52.3 7~ M2 "D4-C. As It swpeps ucross the state of Maine at some 3,04>0 mile!it an hour In a southeasterl) direction , the fii:ure of the shadow of the moon on the Maine landscape will be nea rly an ellipse with tis major axis lying almost east and west. Relath e mot ion of the shadow of t he moon and the surface of the earth (shadow travels from west lo east) . The moon has a dark conical shadow, called the umbra, pointing directly away from the sun, which becomes visible when it occasionally falls upon the earth. For one within the umbra the sun is obscured, or totally eclipsed, by the moon. We can consider this shadow cone to be a great pencil attached to the moon; the point of this pencil is snapped off where the shadow strikes the earth. The motion of the moon in its orbit around the earth (see diagram) causes this blunt pencil to trace a path across the earth from west to east. When one plots successive positions of the shadow the path is a curve resulting from the curvature and rotation of the earth. The diagram greatly exaggerates the width of this path which will be a mere 53 miles at the University of Maine next July. Hence for any location this phenomenon happens rarely, once in about 360 years. The center of the umbra will cross the state of Maine in less than 3 minutes. The university will be in the umbra for 50 seconds, as compared to about 60 seconds at places on the central line of the path. .or. 0 n Once, about every 360 ye~ it can happen on t~s of the/UhH'drsitv If Maine S-.;J~7~3 l 

Total eclipse of the sun: Saturday July 20, 1963, 5:41 to 5:45 P.M. EDT

https://digicom.bpl.lib.me.us/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1227&amp;context=books_pubs

Total eclipse of the sun: Saturday July 20, 1963, 5:41 to 5:45 P.M. EDT

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Bangor Community: Digital Commons@bpl