ELLO THERE ECLIPSE ENTHUSIASTS TRACE HERE~ THIS WEEK IS AN ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE OVER THE PACIFIC OCEAN AND THE TIP OF SOUTH AMERICA.

SORRY.

BUT, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN WHY ECLIPSES COME WITH FRIENDS!

FIRST WE NEED TO FIND THE ECLIPTIC.

HERE’S THE SKY AT SUNSET ON OCTOBER 5.

THE BRIGHT DOT THERE IS THE PLANET VENUS HEY GIRL!

NOW, TRACE A LINE ACROSS THE SKY TO SATURN IN THE SOUTHEAST THAT IMAGINARY LINE IS THE ECLIPTIC!

IF YOU TRACK THE MOON YOU’D NOTE IT RUNS ALMOST PARALLEL TO THE ECLIPTIC, BUT NOT QUITE THEY ACTUALLY CROSS.

THAT POINT IS CALLED A NODE!

WHEN THE MOON CROSSES A NODE WE SEE AN ECLIPSE EITHER LUNAR ECLIPSE OR SOLAR ECLIPSE DEPENDING.

IT TAKES TWO WEEKS TO MOVE FROM NODE TO NODE.

SO, IF WE SEE AN ECLIPSE ON ONE, WE’LL LIKELY SEE ANOTHER IN TWO WEEKS!

THE NODES WOBBLE ALONG WITH THE EARTH’S ROTATION, WHICH IS WHY SOMETIMES ECLIPSES ARE TOTAL, AND SOMETIMES NOT.

KEEP LOOKIN’ UP!