We have a solar eclipse here in the UK that will affect us and much of Europe, below is a map to show you the areas that will be affected. Currently it looks like a good viewing area is actually in the south of England as the weather forecast is said to be sunny here. Those that have headed up to the north of England and further north may be disappointed by the cloud cover sadly.
The eclipse is caused by the moon passing in front of the path of the moon. The Sun has a diamater 400 times greater than our moon but our moon is 400 times closer to the sun than the moon. (the ratio varies as both orbits are elliptical) Thus it happens that our small moon can totally block out the light from the Sun. How amazing is it that these figures cause this incredible event to occur?!
Viewing areas for the UK
Not only is this an amazing celestial event itself but the moon we will be having is a super moon. You can find out more about super moons here. How does the super moon affect me?
Our March new moon will turn new just 14 hours after reaching lunar perigree, that is the closest point to the earth.
Supermoons occur because our moon does not follow a circular path around our earth, it follows an elliptical one. Therefore at its furthest away it is 405,000 km away, this is called an apogee, and at its nearest it is 363,000, this is called a perigree. When the time of the perigree aligns with a full or new moon it is called a supermoon.
“The moon may seem bigger although the difference in its distance from Earth is only a few percent at such times,” says Dr. James Garvin, chief scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on the space agency’s website. “It is called a supermoon because this is a very noticeable alignment that at first glance would seem to have an effect. The ‘super’ in supermoon is really just the appearance of being closer.”
Supermoons can appear as much as 14% larger in the sky and 30% brighter to our eyes than at their smallest size and brightness.
In addition to this being a super moon eclipse it is also falling on the equinox, the day when night and day are of equal length. Thus our special Ostara equinox super moon will travel in front of the sun creating a shadow that falls on our earth.
Some statistics on that equinox eclipse I found interesting from earthsky:
"A total eclipse of the sun and the March equinox do fall on the same date this year: March 20, 2015. The greatest eclipse occurs at 9:46 Universal Time, while the March equinox comes to pass some 13 hours later at 22:45 Universal Time.
After this 2015 equinox eclipse, the next solar eclipse at the March equinox will happen on March 20, 2034. Then there will be two more in this century: 2053 and 2072.
A solar eclipse can only happen at new moon. For a solar eclipse to take place at the vernal equinox, therefore, the new moon must come on the equinox date. Of course, a March equinox new moon doesn’t always necessarily guarantee a solar eclipse. Here’s why.
New moons recur on (or near) the same calendar dates every 19 years. This 19-year lunar period is known as the Metonic cycle. Amazingly, you can project this 19-year cycle for centuries into the future (or past) to figure out when the new moon will occur on the March equinox."
In ancient times eclipses were things to be dreaded. They were often seen as signs that the Gods were angry and were greatly feared.
Now of course we know that is not the case. We will probably find there is a fair bit of turbulence going on however due to these events going on in the skies above us so perhaps prepare yourselves for a few choppy days at sea! Ride the waves of the turbulence and see the eclipse together with the new moon as a doorway to new adventures, open the door and do not be afraid of what you find on the other side! Ostara Oestare brings new adventures, new beginnings and a spring in your step, as the world awakens so do you! Take a page out of nature's book and find it within you to flourish as you are meant to!
Special Ostara Equinox Supermoon Eclipse blessings to you! AstarteAlison
