Four questions for the director of the Planetarium!
The team of Ace of information
The solar eclipse will take place on Monday! Are you looking forward to seeing this very special show? Olivier Hernandez, for his part, will not be at his first eclipse. Normal: this astrophysicist is director of the Planetarium, and he is so passionate about space that he even travels to contemplate celestial phenomena! Olivier answered questions asked by young people on the website Ace of information .
What is the difference between lunar and solar eclipses?
The difference is in the position of the Earth, Moon and Sun. During a solar eclipse, there needs to be an alignment. The Moon will then hide the Sun from us. During a lunar eclipse, it’s different. It is the shadow of the Earth which will hide the entire surface of the Moon.
How long will the solar eclipse last?
It will last up to 4 minutes, but it all depends on where you observe it. The places where the eclipse will be total form the “band of totality”. This band passes in particular through the island of Montreal, Montérégie and Estrie. The more you are in the center of the band, the longer and more impressive the eclipse will be. When the Moon hides the Sun, we will be able to see the solar corona, an absolutely incredible spectacle. Then it will be total darkness, as if we turned off the lights! We will also feel a drop in temperature of 5 to 10 degrees. It’s truly something extraordinary!
Will we be able to see the stars as well as at night?
We will be able to see the brightest stars and planets while the Sun is hidden by the Moon. But we won’t see them as clearly as during the night.
Why is it dangerous for the eyes even if the Sun is hidden?
Looking directly at the Sun is dangerous at all times. This is because the Sun can burn the retina of the eye. It’s a bit like cooking the white of an egg: it goes from transparent to opaque, and it no longer lets light through. This is how you can go blind. So, during the eclipse, it will be very important to use special glasses, conforming to the ISO 12312-2 standard.
Do you have the right glasses?
Émeric Épaud, Les Aces de l’info
As you know, wearing special glasses will be essential to observe the eclipse without hurting your eyes. But some glasses sold in stores do not meet standards, which worries experts. Do not panic ! We’ll tell you how to check your glasses before the big day!
How do you know if your glasses are compliant?
Compliant glasses contain several pieces of information:
• the name of the manufacturer and its address;
• precautions for use and instructions for use;
• the “ISO 12312-2” standard number indicated on the frame.
Small problem: we can’t find any of this information on glasses models sold at Canadian Tire or at the Maison de l’astronomie. All we know is that they come from China. Dr. Ralph Chou, a specialist in eye damage caused by eclipses, told the Duty that “labeling [de ces lunettes] does not meet the requirements at all.
Three tests to check your glasses!
Jasmin Robert is the general director of the Federation of Amateur Astronomers of Quebec. He gives you three easy things to do at home before the eclipse to make sure your glasses are safe.
1. Wear your glasses inside the house. Normally you shouldn’t see anything unless you have very bright lights. These should appear very faintly.
2. Next, wear your glasses outside. You should only see the reflection of the Sun on shiny surfaces, but again, very faintly.
3. The last step is to look at the Sun for less than a second. You should see a very well-defined round disk of white, yellow, orange or bluish color.
If your glasses pass these three tests, that means they are safe!
According to an article by Roxane Léouzon, The duty
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