Editor:
Unless there are clouds at sunset on Sunday, we will be able to view an annular solar eclipse: the moon will almost completely cover the bright solar disk. Please view the Wikipedia link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_May_20,_2012 for details of the eclipse. An animation of the event as seen from Albuquerque is shown there. Moon first touches the solar disk at about 6:30 pm, maximum coverage of the disk at about 7:30 pm , eclipse ends at sunset.
Do not view the event with a naked eye, particularly when only bright, thin crescents are visible. Use dark sun glasses, #2 welding glasses, or a smoked pane of glass. If you have a tracking telescope, the eclipse image can be projected on a white card for safe viewing.
Do not watch the eclipse continuously with your naked eye! Better yet, watch it on Albuquerque TV. Good luck in watching this great astronomical phenomena.
Oran R. (Dick) White
Mancos
Via e-mail