This document summarizes a presentation about solar eclipses, including: 1) It discusses the mythology and beliefs around eclipses in ancient cultures like China, India, and Egypt who saw them as omens. It also covers the mechanics of how eclipses occur. 2) It provides safety guidelines for viewing eclipses, emphasizing the importance of using approved solar filters. 3) It uses computer simulations to show the partial solar eclipse of March 29, 2006 as seen from different locations, and lists some important future eclipses between the present and 2030.

1. A Presentation to Astronomy Ireland
By: David Grennan, 27th February 2006

2. Solar Eclipses - Past, Present, and Future.
Eclipse Mythology
Chinese, Hindu, Egyptian, Impact on modern day
science and religion.
Mechanics of Solar Eclipses
Why eclipses occur.
Types of Eclipse.
Phases of an eclipse.
Shadows
Bailys Beads.
Diamond Ring.
Temperature
Corona.
Prominences.

3. Solar Eclipses - Past, Present, and Future.
Safely Viewing Eclipses
Eclipse, March 29, 2006 a guide.
Using computer simulations
Eclipse from Ireland.
Eclipse from Turkey.
Eclipse from Space
Future Eclipses
Important Eclipses present – 2030
The 'almost' total eclipse of 2015 from Ireland.

4. Eclipse Lore
and Mythology
"Nothing there is beyond hope, nothing that can be sworn impossible,
nothing wonderful, since Zeus, father of the Olympians,
made night from mid-day, hiding the light of the shining Sun,
and sore fear came upon men." Archilochus (c.710 - 676 BC)

5. Eclipse Lore and Mythology
Our ancestors saw eclipses as evil omens, often as portents
of some catastrophic event or a sign from their deities.
The earliest recorded eclipse was in China on
October 22, 2134 BC. The two court astrologers to the
Emporer lost their heads because, they had failed to predict it
The Babylonians were the first to calculate the regular
intervals at which eclipses occur.
Thales of Miletus predicted a solar eclipse that marked
the beginning of the Greek scientific/philosophic era.

6. Eclipse Lore and Mythology
Word eclipse comes from a Greek word, “ekleipsis”
meaning abandonment.
There is a story that suggests Christopher Columbus used his
Knowledge of an upcoming lunar eclipse to great effect.

7. Ancient China
People of ancient China were convinced that eclipses
Occurred because a great dragon (or toad, or dog) was
Devouring the Sun.
They made load noises, banged implements etc to scare
Away the dragon.
As total eclipses can only last a maximum of 7 ½ minutes
There raucous behaviour always had the desired effect.

8. Ancient China
Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD)

9. Hindu Folklore
According to Hindu mythology, the eclipse represents
the demons Rahu and Keta locked in celestial combat and
eating the Sun.

10. Hindu Folklore
The Gods were drinking the elixir of immortality.
The demon Rahu slipped into their midst and stole a sip.
Surya (the sun) and Soma (the moon) reported the incident
to the great deity Vishnu.
Vishnu promptly sought out the impudent Rahu
and lopped off his head.
But having become deathless, Rahu survived and to this day
seeks revenge on the tattletales by devouring them.

11. Ancient Egypt
The egyptian word for eclipse is ‘Akhet’
King Akhenaten (1356-1338 BC) built his capital according
to the totality path of the solar eclipse of 08/15/-1351.
The Pharaoh named his new residence 'Akhet Aten'.
The name of the city means: 'The Eclipse of Aten'.
The name of the Giza Sphinx was 'Hor in the Akhet‘
Many different ancient egyptian sun cults saw eclipses
Differently. Many refer to a serpent eating the Sun God.
Most however refer to a great hawk stealing RA’s glory.

12. Eclipses and Religion
Many hindus to this day immerse themselves in holy rivers
And lakes during solar eclipses.
Working during eclipses is considered bad luck.
Muslim tradition holds that the prophet Mohammed,
the founder of Islam, prayed for the duration of an eclipse.
Senior muslim clerics issued an edict forbidding people to
look at the Sun directly because it transgresses Islamic law
to harm oneself.
Druids believe eclipse represents man and woman together.

13. Eclipses and Religion
Luke 23:44-48 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there
was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple
was rent in the midst.”
Some suggest a solar eclipse as an explaination for
The ‘darkness’ however the facts don’t lend credance.

14. Mechanics of Solar Eclipses
Solar eclipse of
11 Aug 1999
From MIR
Spacestation.

15. Mechanics of Solar Eclipses
Todo insert flash file.

16. Partial
Eclipse

17. Annular Eclipse

18. Total Eclipse
Although a total eclipse refers to a specific event, the events leading
Up to ‘totality’ and following it also hold much interest.
Partial Phase
Shadows
Bailys Beads
Diamond Ring
Totality

19. Partial Phase
During the partial phase there are many interesting things to note.
First Contact.
Eclipse increasing in magnitude.
Temperature.
Increasing Darkness
Shadow Bands
Crescent Shadows
Creatures settling believing night is imminent
Moons shadow racing from the west(ish).
Bailys Beads
Diamond Ring

20. First Contact.
The moment when the western limb of the Moon contacts the
Eastern limb of the Sun.
First contact is not directly
Visible, however very shortly
Afterwards a little ‘bite’ is
Taken from the Sun.

21. Temperature
As the eclipse increases in magnitude, the amount of warming
Sunlight reaching us falls.
As the eclipse reaches 70-80% you will begin to feel a noticeable
Coolness as if night were coming.

22. Increasing Darkness
With the decrease in the area of Sun presented to us
Ambient light levels fall.
Most noticeable in the latter stages of the eclipse.
Video from west Africa showing this dramatically.

23. Shadow Bands
Caused by distortions in the Earth’s atmosphere and the partially
Eclipsed Sun.
Best seen on a pale coloured
Wall or concrete pavement.

24. Crescent Shadows
Note shadows cast by irregularly shaped objects such as leaves
From trees.

25. Crescent Shadows

26. Bailys Beads.
At this point the only sunlight reaching us is through the undulating
Valleys on the Moons limb.

27. Bailys Beads.

28. Diamond Ring
The chromosphere
is visible and the
‘Corona’ is
becoming visible.
The very last of
‘Bailys Beads’ is
also visible.
Totality is now
imminent!!!!!!

29. Totality!!!!

30. Totality!!!!

31. The Hybrid Eclipse.
The official explaination!
“A hybrid eclipse is a unique type of central eclipse where parts
of the path are annular while other parts are total.
This duality comes about when the vertex of the Moon's umbral
shadow pierces Earth's surface at some points, but falls short
of the planet along other portions of the eclipse path.
The curvature of Earth's surface brings some geographic locations
along the path into the umbra while other positions are more distant
and enter the antumbral rather than umbral shadow.”
Fred Espenak

32. The Hybrid Eclipse.
In practice!

33. Safely
Viewing
Eclipses

34. Eclipse Safety
Directly looking at the Sun,
even for a short time,
CAN PERMANENTLY
DAMAGE YOU EYESIGHT

35. Eclipse Safety
Approved solar filter material
Should be used to cover your
Equipment and your eyes
AT ALL TIMES.

36. Sunglasses
You should choose sunglasses that:
•reduce glare
•filter out 99-100% of UV rays
•protect your eyes
•are comfortable to wear
•do not distort colors.
Source: Prevent Blindness America.

37. How to use Filter Material

38. How to use Filter Material

39. How to use Filter Material

40. Eclipse of March 29th 2006
.
We will use computer simulations to look at this
Eclipse from different vantage points
Animations created with Starry Night Pro Plus
Software.

41. Important Solar Eclipses
Present - 2030