If you\u2019re planning to see the epic total solar eclipse that will dance across the skies of North America on Monday, you should aim to travel as close to the center of the celestial spectacle\u2019s path as possible. <\/p>\n
New map calculations have raised some concerns that the path of totality \u2014 where it\u2019s possible to see the moon completely block out the sun \u2014 is slightly narrower than NASA calculated. That means some cities on the edge of the route that were expecting to experience a second or two of total darkness might be left out. <\/p>\n
NASA has not changed its predictions, but the space agency advises that there is some uncertainty involved in mapping the eclipse\u2019s path. <\/p>\n
\u201cCalculations that use a slightly larger radius for the size of the Sun yield an eclipse path that is slightly narrower,\u201d said NASA spokesperson Karen Fox in an emailed statement. \u201cThis difference would only affect cities on the very edge of the path of totality, where blanket predictions are difficult regardless \u2014 a few city blocks one way or the other could mean 20, 10, or 0 seconds of totality.\u201d <\/p>\n
And for viewing purposes, NASA scientists and other experts recommend that spectators head for the middle, rather than the perimeter, of the path anyway. <\/p>\n
\u201cI would never, never be near the edge of where that totality is because it\u2019s a difference between night and day,\u201d said Dr. Edward Guinan, a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Villanova University. <\/p>\n
Recent questions around a potentially shifting path have focused on a new map calculated by Guildford, England-based software developer John Irwin and published to a webpage called Besselian Elements. <\/p>\n
The research hasn\u2019t been thoroughly reviewed by scientists, Guinan said.\u00a0And even if the NASA map is wrong, Irwin\u2019s calculations indicate it\u2019s only off by a couple thousand feet on the edges. <\/p>\n
Irwin did not immediately respond to an email request for comment Friday. <\/p>\n
But few things in science are ever certain. And NASA also acknowledges that exact measurements of the eclipse path are difficult to pin down. <\/p>\n
\u201c(P)recise eclipse prediction has brought new attention to a tiny but real uncertainty about the size of the Sun,\u201d NASA\u2019s statement reads. \u201cUncertainty in the Earth\u2019s rotation can also affect eclipse predictions on this level.\u201d <\/p>\n
Guinan explained that it\u2019s extremely difficult to determine an exact measurement of the sun\u2019s size because \u201cit\u2019s a fuzzy surface.\u201d <\/p>\n
He noted that the sun could be slightly enlarged right now because the our star is currently going through a period of maximum magnetic activity, which \u201ccould cause the sun to swell out a bit.\u201d <\/p>\n
But the uncertainty accounts for only a few hundred feet, while the moon is millions of miles across. <\/p>\n
Still, even slight adjustments in the sun\u2019s size could gently alter the edges of the moon\u2019s shadow on Monday. <\/p>\n
The Besselian Elements website advertises that people should consult Irwin\u2019s alternative eclipse map if they\u2019re hoping to travel to the edge of the path \u2014\u00a0where the length of total darkness may be extremely brief but onlookers could catch a prolonged glimpse of various other eclipse-related phenomenon. <\/p>\n
Guinan notes that eclipses do offer \u201cedge effects.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t see the total eclipse, but you would see this diamond ring effect \u2014 flashes of the sun going in and out behind mountains and coming through valleys on the moon,\u201d he said. \u201cThat would be kind of cool to do if you have seen a lot of eclipses.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cBut I don\u2019t recommend people do this,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
NASA also said in its statement, \u201cTraveling towards the center of the path of totality \u2014 even a mile or two \u2014 will quickly increase the length of totality that people can see.\u201d <\/p>\n
And totality is the real show, Guinan emphasized. <\/p>\n
This phase of the eclipse will plunge the area into darkness. The temperature will drop. Animals will behave as if it\u2019s nightfall. The sun\u2019s corona \u2014 or its blazing hot, outer atmosphere \u2014 will be visible. Bright stars and planets will shine in the surrounding sky. <\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you see the total eclipse, you can\u2019t go back,\u201d Guinan said. \u201cIt\u2019s spectacular.\u201d <\/p>\n
Don\u2019t miss out on upcoming eclipse and space stories!\u00a0<\/em>Follow the Astronomy topic<\/em>\u00a0to see the latest stories in your personalized feed with your free account.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n If you\u2019re planning to see the epic total solar eclipse that will dance across the skies of North America on Monday, you should aim to travel as close to the center of the celestial spectacle\u2019s path as possible. New map calculations have raised some concerns that the path of totality \u2014 where it\u2019s possible to <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":17648,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-17647","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shareperformanceinsight.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}