Theos-Talk Archives (December 2000 Message tt00079)

On December 25th a partial eclipse of the Sun will occur 
throughout most of North America. Believing that the obscuring 
disk was not the lunar satellite but the baleful planet Ketu, many 
Indian astrologers recommend staying indoors to protect 
yourself from the negative rays of Ketu, a negative planet that 
seeks to consume the sun!

The event will be visible from Central America to Canada. At the 
peak of the eclipse -- 12:23 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (17:23 
GMT) -- about 72 percent of the Sun will be covered, as seen 
from extreme northern Canada. 

What you can expect to see
"As the Moon...slides past the Sun, you will observe the Moon's 
silhouette against the Sun's painful brightness," White said. "As 
the eclipse proceeds, you will see what appear to be larger and 
larger 'bites' taken from the solar disk, until, if you are living in 
any part of the northern Midwestern United States, the Northeast 
or eastern Canada, the Sun will appear at maximum of this 
partial solar eclipse to be a crescent."
A partial solar eclipse is a chance to study the smooth curvature 
of the Moon's dark, lifeless disk contrasted with the searing 
energy of the Sun. And because the Sun is at the peak of it's 
11-year cycle of activity, there is more energy than normal.
Sunspots and eruptions of magnetic energy are rampant on the 
Sun right now because our star is at the peak of an 11-year 
activity cycle.
"When people look at the Sun with proper eye protection, there is 
a reasonable chance that they will see sunspots," says 
University of Chicago astronomer Douglas Duncan. "If you 
project the Sun's image with binoculars, you will get a good view 
of any sunspots as well as a fine view of the eclipse."

You can also project a reflection of the sun using a hand held 
mirror against a white, smooth surface.

I would recommend checking your local time zone for the event 
and if you have no device to observe the eclipse directly to stand 
under a tree during the eclipse and observe the ground as the 
eclipse will project itself nicely through the interstices of the 
leaves shadow on the ground.

My best to you all over the holiday, but beware of Ketu!

- Art 

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