University of Virginia Library

Total Eclipse In Norfolk

Sun Stops Shining March 7

Virginia's sun worshippers will have a
unique chance to view a total eclipse of
the sun on Saturday afternoon, March 7.

While the residents of the Charlottesville
area will be affected by the eclipse,
the 94.4 per cent of the sun's disk hidden
by the moon at 1:34 p.m. cannot
compare to the beauty of a total eclipse
that will be seen in Norfolk, Virginia.

The first change here will be a "bite"
taken by the advancing moon from the
western edge of the sun at 12:16 p.m.
Sunlight will become noticeably dimmed,
and will take on an "unfamiliar saffron
hue."

The elusive shadow bands caused by
atmospheric blending of light from the narrow
crescent sun may be visible as bright and dark
streaks which are seen to travel rapidly along
the ground when the sun is nearly totally
eclipsed.

By 2:40 p.m., the moon will have moved
completely across the sun, and the day should
continue much as any other.

In Norfolk, however, the 90 miles wide path
of total eclipse will pass almost directly
overhead. Also along this path are Tallahassee,
Fla., Savannah, Ga., Charleston, S.C., and
Greensboro, N.C. For best observing one should
be near the center of this band. A trip to
Virginia Beach on March 7 would be well worth
the effort.

According to John W. Stewart, Associate
Professor of Physics at the University, "On the
central line, totality lasts almost three full
minutes, considerably more than in 1900, and
in fact more than any other total eclipse seen in
the United States in this century except that at
San Diego, Calif., in 1923."

Even in the center of the path, darkness is
far from complete. The corona gives about half
as much light as the full moon on a clear night,
and still greater amounts of illumination is
received from the saffron glow extending all
around the horizon from sunlit air outside the
90-mile lunar shadow.

Although it still will be light enough to read
a newspaper headline, an observation site
should be picked with a clear horizon all
around.

"Just before totality the dark blue shadow
of the moon will be seen approaching from the
south-west like a dense thunderstorm at the
tremendous speed of three miles in four
seconds.

"During the approach and passage of the
shadow the atmosphere and landscape take on
colors seen at no other time," said Mr. Stewart.

While the sun is completely hidden by the
moon, the bright disk of the sun is surrounded
by the halo of the pearly white solar corona.

In addition, brilliant red prominences are
often visible close against the dark edge.

During totality no eye protection is
required, but as the first glare of the
reappearing sun strikes the earth, permanent
damage may be sustained.

Infra-red radiation of longer wavelengths
which the eye cannot feel are emitted by the
sun and can damage the retina if the viewer
looks too long at the eclipse.

Care should be taken not to stare at the sun
more than a few seconds at a time.