What Really Just Happened (Eclipse Science for Dummies)

 

Sure, lots of people are talking about the eclipse and how awesome it was. They had their NASA glasses and pinhole cameras. But do they really understand this phenomenon? They think they do but most are just faking it. As a public service to Ricochetti as they hobnob with fellow partisans of astro-doohickey-gawking and what not, they can thank me for providing this clear illustration of what an eclipse actually is. Study this illustration and then you will be able to set everyone straight.

Solar Eclipse Explained

As a bonus, next time a Lunar Eclipse occurs in your area, you will be ahead of the crowd if you memorize this:

Lunar Eclipse Explained

There you go. Arm yourself with knowledge and rule your friends!

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  1. Umbra Australis (umbrafractus) Inactive
    Umbra Australis (umbrafractus)
    @UmbraFractus

    Son of Barsham (View Comment):

    Umbra Australis (umbrafractus) (View Comment):

    Son of Barsham (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Utter nonsense. It is all caused by Earth farts.

    Actually that was me….sorry.

    So, what you’re saying is that the eclipse was cause by Uranus?

    I don’t like to take too much credit, butt…

    Go ahead. Toot your own horn.

    • #31
  2. Muleskinner Member
    Muleskinner
    @Muleskinner

    Best quote of the day, from where I sat, which was at the farm, and within 2 miles of the central line of the path of totality.

    Sister-in-law to Lil Skinner, about 45 minutes before totality: you need to watch this, it won’t happen again for 350 years. You won’t see this again in your lifetime.

    Lil Skinner: I quit smoking.

    • #32
  3. Jules PA Inactive
    Jules PA
    @JulesPA

    OldDan Rhody (View Comment):

    Polyphemus:As a bonus, next time a Lunar Eclipse occurs in your area, you will be ahead of the crowd if you memorize this:

    I don’t see the Pendragon preparing to take a bite out of the moon in your illustration.

    Do they make a special version of Lunar Eclipse Sunscreen? or do we just give up the ghost that day? <sar/off>

    • #33
  4. Muleskinner Member
    Muleskinner
    @Muleskinner

    Jules PA (View Comment):

    OldDan Rhody (View Comment):

    Polyphemus:As a bonus, next time a Lunar Eclipse occurs in your area, you will be ahead of the crowd if you memorize this:

    I don’t see the Pendragon preparing to take a bite out of the moon in your illustration.

    Do they make a special version of Lunar Eclipse Sunscreen? or do we just give up the ghost that day? <sar/off>

    The real cause of global warming?

    • #34
  5. cdor Member
    cdor
    @cdor

    anonymous (View Comment):
    No, no, no…

    xkcd: Earth Orbital Diagram

    The syzygy of the co-orbital epicycle is explained by the Electrified Universe theory of hypercharged bogon particles raining onto the Sun from the equant of counter-Earth.

    Exactly…just what I was thinking.

    • #35
  6. dittoheadadt Inactive
    dittoheadadt
    @dittoheadadt

    That first picture looks wrong.  Are they still making the Corolla?

    • #36
  7. dittoheadadt Inactive
    dittoheadadt
    @dittoheadadt

    Gumby Mark (View Comment):
    You can’t fool me, this was all a hoax designed by NASA.

    I bet they even used the same sound stage that they used for the moon landing.  I mean, moon “landing.”

    • #37
  8. dittoheadadt Inactive
    dittoheadadt
    @dittoheadadt

    Umbra Australis (umbrafractus) (View Comment):

    Son of Barsham (View Comment):

    Umbra Australis (umbrafractus) (View Comment):

    Son of Barsham (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Utter nonsense. It is all caused by Earth farts.

    Actually that was me….sorry.

    So, what you’re saying is that the eclipse was cause by Uranus?

    I don’t like to take too much credit, butt…

    Go ahead. Toot your own horn.

    Where he lives, totality must’ve occurred at too-farty.

    • #38
  9. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    dittoheadadt (View Comment):
    That first picture looks wrong. Are they still making the Corolla?

    They have a plant on the Outer Banks of NC.

    • #39
  10. Polyphemus Inactive
    Polyphemus
    @Polyphemus

    anonymous (View Comment):
    No, no, no…

    xkcd: Earth Orbital Diagram

    The syzygy of the co-orbital epicycle is explained by the Electrified Universe theory of hypercharged bogon particles raining onto the Sun from the equant of counter-Earth.

    I feel that counter-Earth is just a bourgeois construct enabling the suppression of an equitable distribution of eclipses. In fact there is an eclipse every month. It is just the sort of thing that…that…ah…ah…SYZYGY!! (gesundheit!)

    …<sniff>…

    Never mind.

    • #40
  11. The Reticulator Member
    The Reticulator
    @TheReticulator

    Polyphemus (View Comment):
    I feel that counter-Earth is just a bourgeois construct enabling the suppression of an equitable distribution of eclipses

    Google just fired an employee who sent out a memo suggesting that some months don’t get solar eclipses.

    • #41
  12. Polyphemus Inactive
    Polyphemus
    @Polyphemus

    Jeff Petraska (View Comment):
    In case anyone is wondering where those pictures came from, click here. Long out of print, alas.

    Yes! We must acknowledge this brilliant book. It is hands-down the funniest book that I have ever seen in my life. I love sharing it with people who visit my home. When I first encountered it in a college book store almost 30 years ago I giggled so much that I had to buy it and get out of there to avoid embarrassing myself in public. He perfectly nails that kind of science illustration from elementary school textbooks from the 50s-60s. The tone is spot on with a delightful absurdity. Get a copy if you can. (Amazon link)
    Here is a link to the author Tom Weller’s website. It is also a hoot.

    • #42
  13. Jeff Petraska Member
    Jeff Petraska
    @JeffPetraska

    Polyphemus (View Comment):

    When I first encountered it in a college book store almost 30 years ago I giggled so much that I had to buy it and get out of there to avoid embarrassing myself in public.

    Same here!

     

    • #43
  14. Midget Faded Rattlesnake Member
    Midget Faded Rattlesnake
    @Midge

    One of the things that really happened during the eclipse was this:

    When we left home to drive to totalitytown for the eclipse, all our celery was straight, to the best of my recollection. When we came back, this.

    anonymous, does the electric universe theory have an explanation for this?

    • #44
  15. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

    My daughter was watching the eclipse with her boss.  Next to them a nurse from another physicians office was next to them. As it got close to maximum ( not totality here), the temperate was noticeably dropping.

    The nurse says ” wow, I never would have thought the sun has such an effect on the temperature “.

    My daughter and boss just looked at each other and burst out laughing.

    • #45
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