Experts agree that the total solar eclipse over North America on April 8, 2024, dubbed the Great North American Eclipse, was indeed special. In fact, some say it was the most remarkable one in hundreds of years thanks to its duration, appearance, and other factors.
First, the duration of totality — when the Sun appears completely covered by the Moon — was 4 minutes and 28 seconds, which surpassed the last total solar eclipse in North America in 2017. In addition, the outermost region of the Sun’s atmosphere, the corona, appeared larger and more symmetrical than other previous eclipses. A possible reason is that this April’s eclipse occurred as the Sun was approaching what is known as the solar maximum. This is a period when the highest amount of solar activity occurs and sunspot numbers are at their peak. Another fascinating aspect of the April eclipse was the sighting of a rare space rock nicknamed the “devil comet,” which appeared to have horns. This comet passed by the Earth during the eclipse, the first time in 71 years.
While the eclipse on April 8 was truly memorable, it wasn’t the only one in 2024. On October 2, an annular solar eclipse was visible over sections of South America, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and Antarctica. Unlike total eclipses, an annular eclipse leaves a ring of the Sun visible around the Moon. Thus, this type of eclipse is often called a ring of fire. For those fortunate enough to witness solar eclipses, remember to put on eclipse glasses to prevent permanent damage to the eyes.
Photo: AdobeStock: I 照片：AdobeStock
專家們認同 2024 年四月八日發生在北美上空的日全食（被稱為北美大日食）確實很特別。其實，有人說因其持續時間、外觀和其他因素，這場日全食是數百年來最令人驚歎的。
首先，全食階段— — 太陽看起來完全被月球遮擋的階段— —的持續時間是四分二十八秒，超越了上一次 2017 年北美日全食的時間。此外，太陽大氣的最外層日冕看起來比之前其他的日食還要更大、更對稱。一個可能的原因是，今年四月的這場日食發生在太陽正接近被稱為太陽極大期的時刻。這期間會發生最大量的太陽活動，且太陽黑子的數量達到巔峰。這場四月日食另一個吸引人的面向是見到了被暱稱為「惡魔彗星」的稀有太空隕石，該彗星看起來似乎有角。這顆彗星在日食期間經過地球，是七十一年來的首次。
雖然四月八日的日食真的很令人難忘，但它並不是 2024 年的唯一一場日食。十月二日這天，在南美、太平洋、大西洋以及南極洲一些區域的上空見到了日環食。與日全食不同，日環食會讓月亮的周圍留下一圈可看見的太陽。因此，這種日食常被稱為火圈。有幸能看到日食的人們啊，記得戴上日食專用眼鏡來保護你的眼睛不受到永久性的傷害。
Photo: AdobeStock: I 照片：AdobeStock
What Did You Learn?
1. Which of the following arrangements of the Sun, Earth, and Moon will lead to a solar eclipse?
2. How have people’s perceptions of solar eclipses changed over time?
(A) Ancient people celebrated their occurrences.
(B) Modern people see them as signs of good luck.
(C) People are no longer fearful of this natural phenomenon.
(D) The animals that were thought to cause them brought disasters to society.
日食小筆記
a total solar eclipse 日全食
an annular solar eclipse 日環食
annular [ `AnyJlK ] a. 環狀的
a partial solar eclipse 日偏食
a hybrid solar eclipse
混合日食（指同一次日食中，日食路徑的不同地區出現兩種食相，但一個地方無法同時看到這兩種日食）
Word in Use
1. dub vt. 將……稱為（某個非正式名稱）
Critics dubbed the talented performer the “King of Comedy”.
評論家們稱那位有才華的表演者為「喜劇之王」。
2. duration n. 持續時間
Laughter filled the duration of the party.
那場派對進行期間充滿了歡笑。
3. surpass vt. 超過，超越
The new product surpassed all sales records.
這項新產品超越了所有的銷售紀錄。
4. atmosphere n. 大氣層
Most of the planets in our solar system have atmospheres.
我們太陽系中大部分的行星都有大氣層。
5. symmetrical a. 對稱的
The butterfly’s wings are perfectly symmetrical.
這隻蝴蝶的翅膀完美對稱。
3. According to the passage, what is the solar maximum?
(A) The period when the most solar eclipses occur.
(B) The time when the Sun is the most energetic.
(C) The point when the Sun is highest in the sky.
(D) The instant when a solar eclipse starts.
4. Why was the total solar eclipse this past April special, according to the passage?
(A) A space rocket was launched to observe it.
(B) It was the longest total solar eclipse in history.
(C) Another eclipse that occurred this year was affected by it.
(D) The Sun’s outer atmosphere during this eclipse was more visible than before.
答案：1. D 2. C 3. B 4. D
Practical Phrases
1. at sth’s peak 某事物處於巔峰狀態
Tourist numbers in this city are at their peak during the summer.
夏季時，這座城市的遊客人數處於巔峰。
2. pass by... 經過……
A bus will pass by this street every hour.
每小時都會有一輛公車經過這條街。
3. put on... / put... on 戴上∕穿上……
The actor feels like he is the character in the story whenever he puts on the costume.
那位演員每次穿上戲服都覺得自己就是故事中的角色。
聽文章朗讀及講解: https://ivy.pse.is/455bfu
本文出自常春藤解析英語雜誌: www.ivy.com.tw
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