NASA scientists to watch solar eclipse May 20 May 19, 2012 - 12:40 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - A solar eclipse is set to impress skywatchers around the world this weekend, and a team of NASA scientists are hosting a fun viewing party at one of the most spectacular destinations in the United States: The Grand Canyon, according to SPACE.com. Officials from NASA's Lunar Science Institute (NLSI), at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., are conducting free public programs at the Grand Canyon Village Visitor Center on Sunday, May 20, including safe telescope viewing of the eclipse as it happens. The solar eclipse will occur in the afternoon and early evening on Sunday, when the moon passes between Earth and the sun and casts a shadow on the planet. At its peak, the moon will block roughly 94 percent of the sun's light, which should make for a spectacular skywatching event, said Brian Day, director of communication and outreach at the NLSI. Sunday's natural phenomenon is called an annular solar eclipse (from the Latin word "annulus," which means "little ring"), because the moon will not completely block the sun, but will leave a fiery ring around its circumference. The eclipse will occur in the late afternoon or early evening of May 20 throughout North America, and May 21 for observers in Asia. Partner news  Top stories The State Symbols Day was first celebrated in 2010, on the initiative of WE state values preservation foundation. In 1979-1981, Vrezh Israeyelyan worked in “Hayreniki Dzayn” (Homeland Voice) weekly newspaper. Yerevan municipality’s 2013 environmental program envisages creation of new lawns covering area of 3.2 hectares. Melkonian had no prior service record in any country's army before being placed in command of an estimated 4,000 men in the war.   Partner news |  Latest news UN chief hails China's peacekeeping efforts  Ban said China has provided more peacekeepers than all the other four permanent members of the UN Security Council.Iran's Guardian Council approves presidential election result Hassan Rouhani won the election by taking nearly 51% of votes. Since he won more than half, that eliminated the need for a runoff.Friends of Syria to meet in Doha on June 22: French official Assad's forces aim to retake Aleppo, where they have been mired in a bloody stalemate with rebels for nearly a year.FBI head admits use of drones for surveillance in U.S. The use of such drones is politically charged and civil-rights advocates say there are no clear privacy rules governing their use. |
