Episode Details
Back to Episodes
August 9, 1999: Eclipses & Meteor Showers - Hilly Rose, Steve "Dr. Sky" Kates
Published 1 year, 8 months ago
Description
Guest host Hilly Rose is joined by astronomer Steve "Dr. Sky" Kates for a preview of an extraordinary week of celestial events. The centerpiece is the last total solar eclipse of the century, set to cross Cornwall, England, and sweep through Europe on August 11th. Dr. Sky explains eclipse safety, describes the experience of witnessing totality, and notes that the average town sees a total solar eclipse only once every 410 years.
Beyond the eclipse, Dr. Sky covers the Perseid meteor shower building toward its peak on August 12th, a rare grand cross planetary alignment spanning multiple zodiac signs, and the upcoming Cassini spacecraft flyby on August 18th. He warns that solar activity is on the rise and will intensify into the year 2000, bringing potential effects on radio signals and power grids along with spectacular auroral displays.
Callers contribute theories connecting solar flare activity to weather pattern disruptions and propose that a sufficiently powerful flare striking from the solar equator could theoretically cause a magnetic pole flip. Dr. Sky directs listeners to his website for live NASA eclipse coverage and ongoing sky-watching updates.
Beyond the eclipse, Dr. Sky covers the Perseid meteor shower building toward its peak on August 12th, a rare grand cross planetary alignment spanning multiple zodiac signs, and the upcoming Cassini spacecraft flyby on August 18th. He warns that solar activity is on the rise and will intensify into the year 2000, bringing potential effects on radio signals and power grids along with spectacular auroral displays.
Callers contribute theories connecting solar flare activity to weather pattern disruptions and propose that a sufficiently powerful flare striking from the solar equator could theoretically cause a magnetic pole flip. Dr. Sky directs listeners to his website for live NASA eclipse coverage and ongoing sky-watching updates.