Eclipse chasing
Eclipse chasing is the pursuit of observing solar eclipses when they occur around the Earth.[1] Solar eclipses must occur at least twice and as often as five time a year across the Earth. Total eclipses may occur multiple times every few years.[2]
A person who chases eclipses is known as a umbraphile, meaning shadow lover.[3] Umbraphiles often travel for eclipses and use various tools to help view the sun including solar viewers also known as eclipse glasses, as well as telescopes.[4][5]
As of 2017, three New Yorkers, Glenn Schneider, Jay Pasachoff, and John Beattie have each seen 33 solar eclipses, the current record.[6] Donald Liebenberg, professor of astronomy at Clemson University in South Carolina has seen 26 traveling to Turkey, Zambia, China, Pukapuka and others.[7]
History
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion with: further examples of eclipse chasers from different points in history. You can help by adding to it. (October 2018) |
In the 19th century, Mabel Loomis Todd, an American editor and writer, and her husband David Peck Todd, a professor of astronomy at Amherst College, traveled around the world to view solar eclipses.[8] During the solar eclipse of June 30, 1973, Donald Liebenberg and a group of eclipse experts observed the eclipse on board the Concorde and experienced 74 minutes of totality.[9]
See also
References
- ^ "Rapture Chasers - Every Little Thing by Gimlet Media". gimletmedia.com. Retrieved 2017-10-12.
- ^ Kate Russo (1 August 2012). Total Addiction: The Life of an Eclipse Chaser. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-3-642-30481-1.
- ^ Kelly, Pat (2017-07-06). "Umbraphile, Umbraphilia, Umbraphiles, and Umbraphiliacs - Solar Eclipse with the Sol Alliance". Solar Eclipse with the Sol Alliance. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ "How to View the 2017 Solar Eclipse Safely". eclipse2017.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-08-24. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ Wright, Andy (2017-08-16). "Chasing Totality: A Look Into the World of Umbraphiles". Atlas Obscura. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ Kersten, Jason (2017-08-28). "The New Yorkers Tied for the Total-Solar-Eclipse Record". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ Greenfieldboyce, Nell (8 August 2017). "Go See It, Eclipse Chasers Urge. 'Your First Time Is Always Special'". NPR.org. Retrieved 2017-08-24.
- ^ Mansky, Jacqueline (2017-08-03). "A Brief History of Eclipse Chasers". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
- ^ Mulkin, Barb. "In Flight: The Story of Los Alamos Eclipse Missions". Los Alamos Science. Retrieved 2018-10-31.
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