The Closest Moon, The Longest Solar Eclipse

The closest Moon of the year occurs on July 21 at a distance of 222,117 miles. Coastal areas will experience higher-than-normal tides. See our Tide Calculator.

July 21 is also the date of longest solar eclipse of the century, a 6.7-minute totality that sweeps over India during its monsoon season before traversing China and entering the Pacific at Shanghai.

Did you know that solar eclipses always occur at the New Moon? This is the time when Earth enters the shadow of the Moon. See our full definition of a solar eclipse.

Unfortunately, it’s not easy to view solar eclipses because they often occur in remote regions.  Today’s eclipse will not be visible from North America, although a very small partial eclipse of the Sun will be visible from Hawaii on July 21 at around 5:49 P.M. HAST.

If you happen to go on a trip to see this eclipse, please e-mail us! We’d love to hear—and see—your photos.

When is the next total solar eclipse that can be seen from North America? Find out!

Something Is Eating the Moon and Sun!

Before people understood the science of eclipses, myths and legends were rampant. Here are a few:

• Ancient Egyptians believed that a mythical pig swallowed the Moon.

• According to Mayan folklore, a jaguar swallowed the Moon.

• Today, in the Arctic, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Tlingits believe that an eclipse allows the Moon or Sun to leave the sky to see that things are all right on Earth.

See more facts and how eclipses happen in our new Volume 3 of The Old Farmer’s Almanac for Kids.  Purchase today!

Salad Days

• Your greens will last longer if you refrigerate them in a closed or sealed plastic bag to keep the moisture in.

• To keep salad greens from rotting, place a towel in the plastic bag to absorb excess water.

• To wash garden-picked greens, fill a large bowl with water, swish the leaves around and then leave them alone to let the dirt and grit settle to the bottom of the bowl. After a few minutes, lay the leaves on a towel and pat dry, or use a salad spinner.
 
• Salt does not dissolve well in oil, so when you’re making salad dressing, mix the salt with the vinegar first, then blend in the oil.

• Summer greens need only a light dressing to enhance their flavor. Try lemon juice instead of vinegar in your favorite vinaigrette.

• To slice tomatoes for a salad, use a sharp serrated knife and slice them vertically (from top to bottom) rather than horizontally. They will lose less juice that way.

See salad recipes from the Almanac collection. Here are a few that we enjoy:

Composed Salad Niçoise With Simple Vinaigrette

Apple and Beet Salad

Seven-Layer Salad

July 21
According to ancient Egyptians, the world was created on this day.

The world's first train robbery took place. Jesse James held up the Rock Island Express and escaped with $3,000.

Fireflies in great numbers indicate fair weather.