Upcoming Event: Total Solar Eclipse, 11th July 2010 - Observing / Imaging Guide

[iceman]

Hi all

I've written an article previewing the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse on July 11th, 2010.

The path of totality will cross the South Pacific Ocean where it makes no landfall except for the islands of Mangaia (Cook Islands) and Easter Island.

The article details important information such as:


What is a Solar Eclipse?
When and where can I see it?
Eclipse Tours
Safe Viewing Guide
Photography Guide
Upcoming Solar Eclipses
References, Further Reading and Resources


You can find the article on the IceInSpace Projects and Articles (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/projects.html) page, or directly by clicking on the link below:

Total Solar Eclipse, 11th July 2010 - Observing / Imaging Guide (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/63-576-0-0-1-0.html)

Are you going to see the eclipse?

Share your experiences with us here!

[iceman]

Article uploaded.

[Rob_K]

Thanks Mike for setting up the guide! :thumbsup:

I'm starting to feel a crushing burden of responsibility for reporting on this one, LOL - surely I'm not the only one on IIS going???

Time's getting close, you can tell because the tour company's asking for T-shirt sizes! :lol: Passports renewed, cruise booked & paid for, flights, transfers, accommodation done - now let's see.... Oops, forgot to book the fine weather! :P Ah well, just have to take our chances! ;)

Cheers -

[iceman]

I'm very excited for you, Rob! I hope you get clear weather and have a great time.

I can't wait to read your reports and see your images.

[Liz]

I will carry your bags Rob!! Lucky duck. Oh well, 2012 isnt too far away.

[Paul Haese]

Hahaha Rob, looks like your it buddy.:P Wish I was going it would put me in the 10 minute club for totality. I am getting married instead, Catie and I would love to go to yet another total but we can't afford both at present.:sadeyes:

Don't forget to bracket your images. Have a great time.

[umbra02]

Hey Iceman,

I'm worried. I've spent big bucks to see the eclipse from Tatakoto and you say there is no landfall there?

:)

Cheers
Bevan

[Rob_K]

Hi Bevan - is this what you're going on? Sounds great, central on the path of totality and what a location!!! :thumbsup:

http://www.astronomicaltours.net/2010/Tatakoto/index.html


Cheers -

[umbra02]

Very nearly - the people on that tour will be my welcoming party. I'm going on http://www.astronomicaltours.net/2010/Proper/Land/index.html - longer on Tahiti and just fly to the atoll for the show. I've got to admit, it's going to be tough to beat and my wallet hasn't got the stomach for http://www.eclipse-chasers.com/esafari/.

82 days to go!

[Rob_K]

Fantastic! Yeah, flight would really be something, but a lot of dough to outlay (and imagine the scramble for the windows - 41 people, 31 windows!!). Tahiti's too far to go not to enjoy a bit of a holiday too! ;)

Cheers -

[umbra02]

All very orderly - you pay for a window of your own (USD$9500), or get a cheap one to share (USD$6500 each). Of course, you'd be flying with eclipse chasing royalty! I should hope there will be a decent meal service. ;-)

[Rob_K]

Ahh, missed that bit! :lol: Think I'll stick to shipboard - a speck in the ocean south-west of Tahiti... mmmm... How many days again? :P

Cheers -

[umbra02]

01010010

[C.A.L.]

My eclipse-buddy and I are heading off to Mangaia: http://www.travelquesttours.com/CookIslands2010/NCIhome.htm

We were to go to Easter Island with the Sydney Observatory Group but I simply couldn't swing that much money. At least Mangaia will be slightly warmer than Easter Island!

Cheers,
Cathi

[umbra02]

Cathi

I'd be interested to know how that one goes. Almost booked on it, but took the AT one to Tatakoto instead.

Bevan

01010000 days to go

[Rob_K]

For you land-based people, there's an interesting photographic opportunity - comet C/2009 R1 McNaught will be only about 10 degrees away from the Sun at the time of the eclipse. This is the comet that is predicted to get to easy naked-eye brightness later on. It's visible now, already a couple of magnitudes brighter than the ephemeris prediction, so it seems it will be quite a bright object at eclipse time!

I've attached a chart generated in Starry Night showing the comet position. Location is mine, SE of Tahiti, but won't be much different where you are. Comet 141P Machholz is also marked but it will be very dim, predicted at mag 14 or so.

Edit: The scale of the Sun is slightly enlarged in the pic - just the way SN shows it at default scale. As you zoom in, correct scale is reached. Check it in your own planetarium programs. :thumbsup:

Cheers -

[umbra02]

Hey, thanks Rob!

I wont have a chance of trying to image the comet, but should have plenty of time to look for it visually (binos). Mercury will act as a convenient signpost.

Cheers
Bevan

[Liz]

This is happening tomorrow!!!
Does anyone have a good website from which to view it??
RobK is over there enjoying the sights and the weather, so hopefully we can expect some great piccies. :)
Thought Petra was, but didnt work out :sad:.

[Liz]

OK, looks like its happening about 4.15 am :eyepop:

jjj has a site on her page, so will check it out, if I can crawl outa bed.

[RWhite]

I have been watching spanish web-broadcast from Easter Island, it was exciting! You can see their youtube video here: http://www.youtube.com/ciclopegroup

[AstroTourist]

I was lucky enough to observe the Total Solar Eclipse under generally clear skies from the southern end of the atol of Anaa, French Polynesia.
About 40 people including locals and visitors made a 45 minute, 18 km pre dawn boat ride from the village on Anaa across the lagoon towards the southern end of the atol to set up on a beautiful sandy beach with shade and wind shelter from coconut palms and a gorgeous view across the lagoon towards the sun.
Thin scattered clouds interrupted the partial phases only briefly but stayed clear for the 2 min 59 secs of totality. Thousands of crescents on the ground under the coconut palms during the partial phases. Stunning diamond ring before and especially afterwards.
A most striking aspect was the strongly defined shadow bands clearly visible running along the white sandy beach for at least 2 to 3 minutes both before and after totality. By far the most strongly defined that I have seen at any eclipse. And an impressively long coronal streamer during totality.
Attached is a widefield image taken during totality. Canon 350D with 18 - 55mm lens at 18mm. Composite image to properly expose the corona, with 5 exposures ranging from 1/1000 sec to 1/10 sec - all at f4.5 and 400 ISO.
You can see my telephoto imaging setup in the left foreground (76mm scope on an equatorial mount with DSLR controlled by laptop). More images to follow when I can get time to process the images taken with the scope.

Terry

[Liz]

What a beautiful image Terry, and how lucky are you to view this event from such a gorgeous spot!! What an experience. :thumbsup:

Ps .... terry, you should post your pic in the image section so people can check it out.

[AstroTourist]

Thanks for the comments Liz.
I have taken that good advice of yours and just copied the post to the images section. Regards,
Terry