What is a banana sun?

A total solar eclipse happened on August 21, 2017, and millions of people travelled to see the event. People in the path of totality—the 70-mile-wide strip across North America that witnessed the eclipse in its entirety—were able to see the sun go almost completely dark, which astronomers say is a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

The August 21 solar eclipse is the longest solar eclipse in American history, and for the first time in 99 years, everyone in the United States was able to see the eclipse.

The suns corona is broken up into loops, like bananas. The suns corona consists of loops and arches and filaments. Solar eclipses lasting more than 2 minutes have 65% more loops than shorter ones. Solar eclipses lasting as long as 8 minutes have 50% more arches and filaments than shorter ones. The longest lasting solar eclipse on record lasted 6 minutes and 39 seconds.

The Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon moves between Earth and the Sun, thereby totally or partly obscuring the image of the Sun for a viewer on Earth. The total solar eclipse of 2017 was visible from coast-to-coast in the United States, from Oregon to South Carolina. Many cities capitalized on this rare opportunity and hosted eclipse viewing parties so that people can experience this phenomenon while experiencing the great outdoors. Food, crafts and fun activities were in abundance at these events, and many brough their friends and family along!

The solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime event where the moon passes between the sun and Earth, blocking out the sun’s light. For mankind, this is a phenomenon that occurs on average about 20 times every 18 years, with the next solar eclipse occurring in 2024. If you’re lucky enough to be in the path of totality and live in one of the few areas in the United States where eclipse totality will occur, people were treated to a partial solar eclipse on August 21, 2017.

The sun will look like a Banana

Every year, we’re treated to amazing views of a total solar eclipse. This year, August 21, will mark the first time in 99 years that the U.S. will see a total solar eclipse, and it is sure to make a spectacle. People across the country, in all 50 states, are making plans to view the eclipse—or at least catch a glimpse of it—and some are lucky enough to live where a total eclipse will touch down. For the rest of us, the path of totality, where the moon will completely block the sun, will cut across certain locations in the U.S.

What caused it?

Solar eclipses, also known as solar eclipses, occur when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, temporarily blocking out the sun. Because the moon is smaller and closer to Earth than the sun, solar eclipses can only happen when the moon is in this “line of fire,” or path, between Earth and the sun.

To us, a solar eclipse is a phenomenon that really wows us every time we see it. The moon passes between the sun and the Earth, casting a shadow over a portion of the sun’s surface. But did you know that solar eclipses happen all the time? In fact, an average of one eclipse occurs somewhere on Earth every day. All it takes is an alignment of Earth, sun, and moon.

When is it visible?

The August 21 solar eclipse takes about 3.5 hours to complete, making it the longest solar eclipse in 38 years. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, blocking out the sun’s light. While totality will only be about two minutes long, most people will spend the eclipse in their yard or neighborhood.

The solar eclipse 2017, which happens on August 21, is the only eclipse that will be visible in the United States from coast-to-coast. All of North America will see a partial eclipse, while parts of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the South Pacific will see a total eclipse.

What glasses are needed?

The path of totality for the August solar eclipse is narrower than many people expected. The total eclipse will only be visible from Arizona, Oregon, and South Carolina, with crescent-shaped eclipses visible from most other states. Ordinary sunglasses will not protect your eyes from a solar eclipse, because they need a special filter that blocks the harmful rays of the sun. NASA recommends special solar glasses for safe viewing. The glasses must be specially certified to block 100 percent of the sun’s harmful rays, and, for safety, they must contain at least 99.9 percent eclipse-grade glass.

The next solar eclipse will be visible to the entire North American continent for the first time since 1918. On August 21, 2017, the moon will completely block out the sun, allowing people in the United States, Mexico and parts of Canada to experience a celestial phenomenon that hasn’t happened since 1979. While eclipse viewers have long sought solar eclipse glasses to protect their eyes, those glasses are not what scientists use to view the sun: only special glasses or a telescope with a solar filter will work.

In the end, the eclipse will be visible from 14 states in the US, with totality expected to arrive around noon. People across the country are gearing up for a “once-in-a-lifetime event” which will cover 70% of the US in a thick, eerie darkness. NASA leads a “massive” effort to keep the skies clear and alert to passing aircraft.

The next total eclipse will be in 2024, and the next partial solar eclipse in 2035.