this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2024
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xkcd

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A partial eclipse is like a cool sunset. A total eclipse is like someone broke the sky.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 7 months ago (3 children)

I'm curious what does an eclipse look like if your right on the edge of totality like do younget a full eclipse for like 1 second before it ends?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago

Like being brought to the edge and then being disappointed that you couldn't be taken all the way. I was outside of totality last time, it was like the moon avoided the last week of sunlight. Bright as hell even with the glasses.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Basically yes. Nearer the center of the path means a longer totality.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I just landed in Houston, mainly to see the eclipse next week. Originally I was going to view from Austin, but it's because of this that I decided to trek to Dallas instead.

Essentially "totality" is inside the moons shadow. Since the moon is spherical (well, mostly), the shadow it casts is a circle. That's the path of totality.

I know you know this, I'm just saying this because you see that black band and you think all totality is the same. It's not. If you're on the edges, imagine a big circle shadow. Easier to visualize this way.