Ring of Fire on Chinese New Year
Watching the Moon creep across the Sun, blot out its brilliance, and then slowly reveal it once more is an experience that fills us with awe. This year, all of Chinese society will celebrate Chinese New Year (Year of the Ox) on the 26 of January 2009. On the same day, the solar eclipse will happen. The ancient Chinese described eclipses as a dragon devouring the Sun.
A solar eclipse occurs whenever a New Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth. We do not see an eclipse at every New Moon because the Moon orbit inclines about 5 degrees to the ecliptic. In most months, the Moon passes above or below the Sun instead of across it.
Solar eclipse can be total, partial, or annular, depending on how much Sun is covered by Moon. Total eclipse occur when the Moon cover the entire disk of the Sun. Total eclipse may last just a second or two; the longest possible total eclipse is only about 7 1/2 minutes.
It is pure accident that the apparent size of the Moon and the Sun are roughly the same. The Moon is about 400 times smaller than the Sun – but it also happens to be about 400 times closer. In fact, since the Moon formed, its orbit has been moving very slowly outward. From the point of view, it is steadily shrinking. Eventually, it will orbit too far from Earth to ever completely cover the Sun, and total solar eclipses will be a thing of the past.
Because Earth is rotating and the Moon is moving, the lunar shadow, or umbra, traces is curing path on Earth. The umbra barely reaches Earth, so the path is relative narrow – where the Moon is directly overhead, the part will be at most about 270 km wide. The means that total eclipses are selective, occurring only rarely an any particular place, although in most year there are only one or two eclipses somewhere on Earth
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30 Responses to “Ring of Fire on Chinese New Year”
On January 19, 2009 at 3:49 am
stunning pics real good read nice work intresting.
On January 19, 2009 at 4:31 am
Amazing pics.
On January 19, 2009 at 6:37 am
Interesting article and wonderful pictures.
On January 19, 2009 at 7:34 am
Lovely article. Great picture and a good read.
On January 19, 2009 at 8:22 am
You may be surprised at how many people have no idea what they are seeing during an eclipse. Great pictures and nice explanation.
On January 19, 2009 at 10:36 am
Another incredible article. Great information and amazing pics.
On January 19, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I love information on this subject. It is so interesting. Loved it!
On January 19, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I was in cornwall for the 1999 eclipse and it was eerie and magical – where will the best place to see this eclipse be I wonder!
On January 19, 2009 at 3:46 pm
These shots are amazing, in the truest sense of the word.
Thank you for sharing these moving shots. Simply magnificent.
On January 19, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Amazingly awesome. a very good collection of pics and well presented.
On January 19, 2009 at 3:52 pm
Very informative, great use of pictures.
On January 19, 2009 at 5:08 pm
nice pics!!!
On January 19, 2009 at 5:38 pm
The photos are great! Enjoyed reading the article–very informative, clear, concise…
On January 19, 2009 at 7:39 pm
Simply wonderful!
Shalom!
On January 19, 2009 at 8:23 pm
ill be at the top of KLCC Kuala Lumpur to watch it..cant wait to snap
On January 19, 2009 at 8:40 pm
great job again!
cheers,
denus
On January 19, 2009 at 9:08 pm
Total Coolness!
On January 19, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Great pics and good write.
Inna
On January 20, 2009 at 1:24 am
Eceptionally great work. I’ stunned at these awsome scenes.
Monica
On January 20, 2009 at 1:27 am
Exceptionally great work. I’m stunned at these awsome scenes.
I had some typos in the former comments.
On January 20, 2009 at 5:38 am
Very cool information and great pictures.
On January 20, 2009 at 8:57 am
You really do put a lot of hard work into your articles Matt! Fascinating stuff.
On January 20, 2009 at 10:41 am
Precious photographies.You are a great photographer, congratulations.
Very certain also the one of the Chinese. They say that this year, of the ox and the sun, will be a year of preparation for which soon it comes; and that by the same, there is to have well-taken care of with any excess, sexual coverall.
Very good article.
Excuses by my English, but use a translator, babelfish
Sincerely Láin
On January 20, 2009 at 2:19 pm
well explained amazing pictures.
On January 20, 2009 at 3:22 pm
Informative article and amazing pictures! Grea work!
On January 20, 2009 at 3:58 pm
A great set of pictures.
On January 20, 2009 at 8:29 pm
lovely pictures great work
On January 20, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Nice article and picture. Keep a good work
On January 20, 2009 at 10:35 pm
hoooyea
On January 25, 2009 at 4:52 am
superb yaar all content is superb
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