With the first article in the New Year I would first like to extend my best wishes for a great and peaceful 2011. Profile on the astronomical new year starts immediately with an important event: the morning of Jan. 4 is scheduled partial eclipse of the Sun
The phenomenon is observable for almost all of Europe, the westernmost part Asia and northern Africa. There is no central eclipse, because the real shadow of the Moon passes north of the corner of the Earth. As for Italy, in south-eastern regions of the eclipse can be observed in full, while in much of the north, Tuscany and Sardinia have just eclipsed the sun rises, but in any case, the maximum phase is visible from all the Italian places, unless of course not to be behind the clouds.
The maximum eclipse occurs in Scandinavia, with the sun low on the horizon, but covered for almost 86% in Italy is about the size of almost 70% in Rome, falling to 64 % of Cagliari, but going up to 75% of Trieste. Much like in the opening pic, dating back to the exit phase of the total eclipse of 11 August 1999, I have seen in Austria.
short, relatively deep eclipse, which is worth to follow: obviously not typical of the darkness comes the total eclipse, but you may notice a slight change in the light of day. The best time to observe, that the maximum in the whole country is estimated between 2.9 (Sardinia) and 9.17 (north-east and south).
the Sun is near the lowest point of the ecliptic, from which flows the limited daylight hours of winter northern hemisphere, for all locations, our star is rather low at the time of maximum eclipse, for example 13 ° to Rome. We come now to the case of Santhià (Vercelli), where I live and from which usually seen: the following data may serve as a reference a bit 'over the entire north-west of Italy, with only slight variations. The Sun rises at 8:12 already affected by the Moon; up to 9.10 (72% size) with a height of 8 °; eclipse end at 10.35, 17 degrees above the horizon.
close with the recommendation of each eclipse, the Sun's dangerous for the eyes! Be sure to watch always and only through approved filters for your observation, that over the light switch does not leave the heat (IR). So, no sunglasses, tinted windows, CD, or reflections on the water strange dark film!
sull'eclisse More information on the page of ' Italian Amateur Astronomers Union (IAU) and page Fred Espenak (NASA) .