2006-11-08 08:47:17 · 3 answers · asked by kelly taylor 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Parallax. By coincidence, the Sun is about 400 times as far away as the Moon and also 400 times the diameter, so it appears about the same size. If I see a total solar eclipse here in NZ, then anywhere else in the world, the Moon won't be directly in front of the Sun. For instance, the 1999 total eclipse of the Sun started in Nova Scotia. Before that, it was only visible from space. The path of totality crossed the Atlantic, Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, Iran, India and then left the surface of the Earth again.
2006-11-08 09:32:03 · answer #1 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can only see a total eclipse of the Sun if you are in the shadow of the Moon, and that shadow is much smaller than the Earth, only 50 miles wide or so. That means the most people in the world cannot see the total eclipse, you have to be in just the right area. And the area moves as the Moon orbits the Earth.
2006-11-08 09:23:07 · answer #2 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all based on perspective of the shadow. Here is an excellent page with information about eclipses:
http://www.mreclipse.com/Special/SEprimer.html
2006-11-08 08:56:48 · answer #3 · answered by Erika S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋