Solar eclipse 2009

Paul Haese · #1 30-07-2009, 07:12 PM

As some of you may know I visited China to attend the longest solar eclipse for this century. Where we were positioned we witnessed 5 minutes and 54 seconds of totality despite dire weather conditions.

On the day of the eclipse a large band of cloud developed all the way along the center line for many hundreds of kilometers. Our group had discussed the possibility of driving 6 hours west along the center line but in the end we opted to try our luck at the original site.

On the way out to the site, clouds thickened and it began raining. While we walked out to the tea house from the buses we needed to take shelter under the covered walkways while it belted down with rain. There are many images of dispondent faces on that part of the morning. Indeed many thought we had lost our chance. Josephine (Louis wife) and I were confident we would see the event. I had a hunch in the back of my mind that our luck was with us. I stated many times that we were going to see totality and the show we had come all this way to see.

After first contact I decided that an anti rain dance was in ordered. Calling on the ancient spirits I begged them for a view. As luck would have it the clouds began to part and I quickly set up along with everyone else. At the appropriate time the clouds cleared enough to see the last minutes of partial phase and totality until just after the final diamond ring; at which point the clouds thickened again and the sun disappeared from view.

We were indeed fortunate and once again my hunch of seeing a total paid off. I was emotionally affected by the event again and had a tear in my eye as did Les Dalrymple. It was special and once again different from the last time in Ceduna.

Cate and I are now confirmed Umbraphiles and will trek once more in search of the moons shadow. Click below for the images of the solar eclipse of 2009
5 minutes from totality

1 minute from totality

Totality

Diamond Ring

The images are not as good as I had hoped and planned on. The cloud made imaging hard with settings being tossed away and just trying to capture something. I am very happy with the images despite them being not as I wanted. I learnt lots of valuable lessons that I will apply to the next one. Many say it takes to your third eclipse to get great shots. I guess in my case this will be true.

gregbradley · #2 30-07-2009, 07:21 PM

That's quite a story Paul and I am pleased you got to see it after that much effort.

Greg.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 30-07-2009, 07:44 PM

Thank you very much for sharing your story Paul.
AND for the images.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #4 30-07-2009, 07:45 PM

Thank you very much for sharing your story Paul.
AND for the images.

Quark (Trevor) · #5 30-07-2009, 07:58 PM

Hi Paul,

Glad it all worked out for you in the end, it was a long way to go.

Ceduna was my one and only experience of totality and I can relate to it being quite an emotional experience, that was only 32 seconds and was very special, I can only imagine how you must have felt experiencing it for nearly 6 minutes.

Thanks for this report and the insight it conveys.

Regards
Trevor

Troy · #6 30-07-2009, 08:21 PM

Great pictures Paul the total eclipse fantastic

Kevnool (Kev) · #7 30-07-2009, 09:03 PM

Great work Paul.
Bonza holiday over there as well.
Great pics they remind me of the eclipse in melbourne off hand 1975 i think.
Cheers Kev.

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #8 30-07-2009, 10:28 PM

nice to see you got some images of the partial as well..

folks Paul was always confident that we would see the eclipse-that's what he kept saying anyway-and he must have some special deal with the weather gods, because it all come together at the right time

liljpo (Jessica) · #9 30-07-2009, 11:18 PM

Looks absolutly amazing

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #10 31-07-2009, 07:54 AM

Looks like you are one of the first to post on IIS

. I have been hanging out to see some shots. Come on guys, where are the rest of the shots?

I tried to watch it on the net, but the only feed I found showed people under umbrellas...must have been close to were you were.

We are planning to catch the one in Cairns/Port Douglas in a few years, I know it won't be as luxurious as staying in China

but someone has to do it

Liz · #11 31-07-2009, 08:27 AM

Great to hear a report from the eclipse - lucky you, sounded a wonderful experience, despite some scary clearing cloud and rain.
Thank you for the great pics - amazing!!
Bring on 2012!!!!!!!

RB (Andrew) · #12 31-07-2009, 08:53 AM

Glad it all came good in the end for everyone.
Nice photos Paul and thanks for sharing your story.

A total eclipse and an aurora are two things I'd love to experience.

Paul Haese · #13 31-07-2009, 09:31 AM

Thanks all for the kind words.

Narayan it was a real pleasure to meet you and your lovely wife. Cate and I were talking about all the lovely people we met on the trip in our group, I am so glad we met you.

Trevor (one of one), we will be there again and it might be our 4 eclipse by then. We are thinking of going to the Easter Island trip with Mel from the tour.

Trevor (Quark), actually I thought that Ceduna was more powerful in my experiences so far. The corona was superb and the view close to the horizon made it a special sight. This eclipse was special but many say the first clear one you see is the most special to you. I have to agree.

Just as an adjunct I have to say that the trip was value packed and very affordable. It was $3600 for each of us to travel and spend 12 days in China. This did not include our spending money, but it did also include meals, accommodation, airfares, coaches and tipping. The accommodation was 5 star and superb, there was heaps to see, but maybe a little too much at times and the guides did a fantastic job. Most of all the trip was made possible by Southerland Astronomical Society incorporated. Led extremely well by Louis. Fantastic host and really nice bloke. Keep an eye out folks for their trips they are really good value.

Thanks all once again.

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #14 31-07-2009, 09:41 AM

Great shots Paul,

Where did you stay in Hangzhou? I was at the Hyatt Regency on West Lake and am still waiting for the boss to recharge his HD video camera so I can grab the AVI file off it and try and process some pics.

Thanks for posting, hoping to post some of my own soon.

Cheers

Chris

Paul Haese · #15 31-07-2009, 10:00 AM

I think we stayed at a Landison in Hangzhou. Landison was Radison before being taken over.

h0ughy (David) · #16 31-07-2009, 10:03 AM

Great pictures given the conditions Paul. To see an eclipse would be great - one day (hopefully Cairns)

TrevorW · #17 31-07-2009, 10:57 AM

Thanks for sharing Paul

Paul Haese · #18 31-07-2009, 03:54 PM

Thanks guys.

Here is an image of the composite to tease out the corona. The cloud has pretty much killed any chance of getting it out nice and sharp, but at least you can see it here. I cannot seem to get rid of the blue ring though. I will try to do that over the next couple of reprocesses.

Click Here

starfinder (Russ) · #19 01-08-2009, 03:28 PM

Congratulations Paul. Nice results under difficult circumstances.

I was also in China north of Hangzhou on Qiantang River Tidal Bore observation site with approx 1000 others.

Sadly, clouds persisted through the entire event and actually thickened around totality. Did see a hint of exit diamond ring through a brief chink in the clouds. Magical event, though, and extremely memorable. The fade in light in the seconds to totality gave me goosebumps. Managed to catch some partials through cloud before and after totality. Stayed on to observe the world-famous tidal bore that raced past an hour and a half after 4th contact.

Cheers.

Russ.
www.russellsastronomy.com

ps I'm an umbrafile like yourself!

Paul Haese · #20 02-08-2009, 02:38 PM

Sorry you missed out Russ. For me it has been 2 for 2 so far. Thinking of going to Easter Island but the cost is looking a bit much so far. the tidal bore would have been interesting.