Solar Eclipse Spotlight on Southern Utah

By Jessica Snow,

P.O.V. Contributing Writer

Tranqual Southern Utah had quite the surprise when NASA made the call that Kanariville, UT, was to have a center stage view of an annular solar eclipse.  With such a wonderful show in the sky, the town’s 300 residents glanced up with thousands of guests from all around.

Twenty-twelve will show four different types of eclipses in our sky, including two solar and two lunar, the next one being a partial lunar eclipse showing June 4th.   Following that, there will be a total solar eclipse November 13th and a penumbral lunar eclipse on November 28th.  

Our most recent solar eclipse shined brightly around "the ring of fire," in which the moon covered 94% of the Suns' surface.

This was quite the sight out my kitchen window being only 12 miles away from center stage.  My family eagerly watched the sky for the twilight sky show to start.  Beginning at 7:17 P.M., the moon took position and was clearly visable orbiting its way directly in between the Earth and the Sun.  The oh's and awe's were accompanied by the peak of the eclipse at 7:25 P.M which made the "ring of fire" completely visable.  The masked sunlight was eerie with amber colored tint as our community viewed the first solar eclipse of the year.  My second eclipse in my 23 years, by 7:30 P.M. the moon had continued its orbit and the short lived eclipse was over.

Emotions flow at the sight of something literally out of this world.  A dazzling outer space phenomena we rarely see.  A memory to last an entire lifetime.

Such a rare occurrence, all of Southern Utah was outside.  From live bands to solar telescopes and plenty of room for anybody to stop by and view the wonders of our sky.   Stargazers will be looking forward to another chance to view a spectacular event in the sky.

           

Sources:

NASA

Photos of an annular solar eclipse taken by the solar optical telescope Hinode as the moon came between it and the sun. Credit: Hinode/XRT