solar eclipse news stories on Newser

SF Woman Blames Car Crash on Eclipse

Rob Quinn — Tue, 22 May 2012 01:50:24 CDT

A San Francisco driver blamed the moon moving in front of the sun for preventing her from spotting the pedestrians moving in front of her vehicle. The 26-year-old woman told cops that she had looked at the "ring of fire" annular eclipse and had been temporarily blinded by its glare...

'Ring of Fire' Eclipse Wows

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 21 May 2012 05:23:38 CDT

The rare "ring of fire" annular solar eclipse did not disappoint. Millions of watchers from Tokyo to San Francisco and Albuquerque stood transfixed before homemade pinhole boxes, telescope projections, live action on computers—or peered at the sky with special cardboard glasses as the moon moved into position to turn...

'Ring of Fire' Eclipse Tonight

Evann Gastaldo — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:37:31 CDT

For the first time this century, the sun will partially disappear behind the moon over the US tonight, leaving a “ring of fire” around the moon in what is known as an annular eclipse. The solar event will be best viewed from 33 national parks that will experience the full...

Total Solar Eclipse Tomorrow (But Few Will See It)

Sat, 10 Jul 2010 12:37:31 CDT

A total eclipse of the sun occurs tomorrow, but don't be so quick to take out your special viewing glasses. Unlike recent solar eclipses, this year's complete blotting out of the sun will be visible only in a narrow slice of the Southern Hemisphere. The spectacle begins at sunrise some...

China Scientists Report UFO

Mary Papenfuss — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:16:23 CDT

Chinese scientists have reported filming a UFO for 40 minutes during the solar eclipse in July, reports the T elegraph . Researchers from the Purple Mountain Observatory in Nanjing said they will study the footage for a full year before they issue any conclusions. Scientists "discovered near the sun an unidentified...

Indian Woman Killed in Eclipse Stampede

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 02:48:50 CDT

A woman was killed early today in a stampede at the Ganges River where thousands of devout Hindus gathered to witness a total eclipse of the sun, AP reports. Millions poured outside to see the longest eclipse of the 21st Century. But many in the superstitious nation fearfully huddled indoors...

India Cowers Ahead of Total Solar Eclipse

Harry Kimball — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:30:02 CDT

Wednesday’s total solar eclipse is eliciting fear and speculation across the Indian subcontinent, AFP reports. A New Delhi gynecologist says caesarian sections scheduled for the day of the eclipse have been canceled. “This is a belief deeply rooted in Indian society,” he said. “Couples are willing to do anything to...

Chinese Cheered by Eclipse

Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:23:07 CDT

Finally, China had an act of nature it could celebrate. After an Olympic year of freakish natural disasters, crowds of Chinese watched a total solar eclipse along the country's ancient Silk Road on Friday, one week before the start of the Summer Games in Beijing, the AP reports.

Eclipse Draws 15K to Siberia

Jess Kilby — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:01:10 CDT

Prospects of rare total solar eclipse have drawn thousands of sky-watchers to the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, where the moon’s passage between the earth and sun will create 140 seconds of darkness at 5:45 pm local time today. Hotels in the city—Russia’s third-largest—are fully booked, reports the...