Solar Eclipse in Charlotte

[monsoon]

Well its a partial one. Might be worth checking out (with protection) since these events are so rare. As a kid I witnessed the last full one in the SouthEast, including Charlotte, that occured in 1970. Not sure when the next full eclipse is supposed to occur here.

[peaceloveunderstanding]

when was this? Today?

[monsoon]

Opps. It will be this Friday afternoon.

[peaceloveunderstanding]

oh, okay. I look forward to it.

[skysdalimit]

What time?

[Raintree21]

Location: Charlotte, NC

First contact: 5:42 p.m.

Sun's alt: 25

[Raintree21]

[monsoon]

Looks as of we have to wait until 2017 until the next Total Eclipse happens over the Carolinas. That's 47 years between the events. LOL

[Tayfromcarolina]

Hmmm,

I could have sworn there was a full eclipse if I'm not mistaken when I was in 5th grade here in Raleigh. I was born in '83 so it was like 1994 maybe. I remember it well cause we were walking from a trailer back to the main school building and the teachers wouldnt let us look up. It was almost totally dark.

[uptownliving]

Tay...I remember that too...my grandmother lived in Asheville...and she was out in the country when it happened...she said that the farm animals all laid down...they thought it was nighttime.

[monsoon]

There were no total eclipses visible from the continental US in the 1990s.

There was only one eclipse in North America in the 1990s and that was a partial one which occured in 1993. It should not have been visible from Raleigh in any case.

A full solar eclipse is quite dramatic when it does happen especially if it is a bright sunny day as it was in 1970. All of a sudden its totally dark and the sun is blocked out completely except for the photosphere. They are hard to forget or miss.

[uptownliving]

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So if I read this chart right...we should expect a 15% eclipse in the Charlotte area?

[Neo]

I could have sworn there was a full eclipse if I'm not mistaken when I was in 5th grade here in Raleigh.  I was born in '83 so it was like 1994 maybe. I remember it well cause we were walking from a trailer back to the main school building and the teachers wouldnt let us look up.  It was almost totally dark.

I remember the same thing. I was in 6th grade, I remember going outside to witness it (through some kind of paper thing we made in science class). I was born in 82.

[RaleighHeelsfan]

I remember very well we that we had one back in the early 80's. It got so dark outside the street lights came on. Looked pretty full to me. I have lived in NC my entire life. Born in 76. If we had one in 1994 I must have been on vacation because I do not remember any eclipse then. But we did have one full, or near full eclipse around 83 or 84.

[eastsider]

Yes, I remember one in the early 80's too. I don't remember the one in the 90's though.

[monsoon]

I don't think so. Here is a map of all solar eclipses in North America between 1950 and 2000. The one I witnessed in 1970 is the only one in the Carolinas. I was very fortunate to have been living in Myrtle Beach at the time so we got the full effect.

They are very rare events. The next scheduled eclipse over North Carolina will not occur until May 11, 2078 then there will be another on Sept 14, 2099. Most of us won't be around to witness either event unfortunately so the one in SC in 2017 is your best bet.

[eastsider]

I guess this is what I was thinking about.

[monsoon]

Ahh yeah. An annular eclipse occurs when the moon is not at the correct distance from the earth to cover the entire sun at the same time. They are more common than a Total eclipse.

[uptownliving]

Yes...the annualr eclipse is what happened back in the 80's....I remember the "ring of fire"

[Raintree21]

Anybody get any pictures? I forgot about it and fell asleep.

[monsoon]

With the cloudy weather I forgot about it too.

[RaleighHeelsfan]

Thanks for digging that up eastsider, I knew I was not going crazy!

I have never heard of an annular eclipse..interesting. Anyone know when the next one will be?

[Neo]

I missed the solar eclipse as well but tonight on my way home when I pulled into my driveway I did spot one heck of a view so I whipped out my camera for a shot!

[peaceloveunderstanding]

Thanks. Too bad I missed it also.