December 14, 1546 Birth of Tycho Brahe, Danish astronomer. His interest in astronomy started due to the observation of a solar eclipse in 1560. He died in 1601. December 14, 1881 William R. Birt, Engish selenograph died. He founded the Selenographical Society and Selenographical Journal in 1878. He studied as well sunspots and the solar rotation. He was born in 1804. December 14, 1955 During the 20th Century there were 11 solar eclipses with a Greatest Complete Duration (GCD) larger then 4 hours, and during the 21st century there will be 7. The greatest GCD of the period 1900-2100 is that of the eclipse of 1955 December 14, namely 4 hours 26 minutes 30 seconds. The last eclipse with GCD exceeding 4 hours was that of 1995 April 29, with GCD = 4 hours 05 minutes 48 seconds, at longitude 78°W, latitude 5°S. The next eclipse with GCD larger then 4 hours will be that of 2010 January 15 (3 Saros periods after the record one of 1955 December 14), with a GCD of 4 hours 13 minutes 06 sec. December 14, 2001 On December 14, 2001, the Japanese solar observatory Yohkoh began spinning out of control. Since then, all scientific operations have stopped. The problem began during the annular eclipse of 14 December 2001. Yohkoh uses a Sun-centering system to determine its position at any given time. During the eclipse, the craft lost contact with the Sun, put itself into a safe mode, and slowly began to drift off track and rotate. Normally this wouldnt have been a problem -- during its decade in orbit, Yohkoh has seen its share of eclipses. However, this event occurred during a rare period of the crafts orbit (known as an invisible orbit) when the craft was out of communication with Earth. Thus controllers on the ground couldnt detect (or compensate for) the crafts sudden roll. December 14, 2012 Jo and I observed the Total Solar Eclipse of 14 November 2012 on Mckay Cay, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Plan was to observe this total solar eclipse from the edge. Terry Cuttle of Australia provided details of observation spots. As the eclipse was low on the horizon, observation on the northern edge was not an option. Maybe with a 4x4 yes. So the southern edge was the choice. David Herald provided some info, but it was Paul Maley who gave positions to observe from the southern edge and where a clear horizon view would be possible. Michael Zeiler mapped the positions in detail and off we go... Some contacts upfront with some IOTA ES and David Dunham and we would meet on the southern edge near Innisfail with Konrad Gull from Germany. Our trip in Australia we set off in the north. Traveling in camper van and Cape Tribulation stole our hearts. Beautiful rain forrest and amazing landscapes. Cantering on horses in the woods and on the beach ... Being on the coast we booked our selves for snorkelling on one of the best places in the world: the Great Barrier Reef. From Cape Tribulation area Ocean Safaris is the only provider to go off shore, 20 km at Mackay Cay reef island, and offers half day snorkelling. We have our own gear and have been snorkelling at many places in the world. This is the best! Ocean Safaris offered an early morning raft trip to the Mackay Cay sand reef island to observe the eclipse, leaving at 5h in the morning and return after 4th contact. Damn! That is a once in a life time opportunity. Never will we have the possibility to observe an eclipse from a sandy reef island, size of a tennis field in the ocean! It has been cloudy any now and then rainy the few mornings before. Even in a clouded out sky, observing darkness from the reef sandbank would be unique! We made arrangements with the crew and they were over the moon we joined and as experienced eclipse chases took telescopes and cameras on board. They picked us up at 04h30 from the camping and including the 2 of us, we were with 13 on the raft and set off for a very bumpy ride to the island. Bad luck? The night before and also eclipse morning is was clear skies! Too good to be true! Wow. On our bumpy ride, we observed sunrise and before we could set up the gear on the island, first contact progressed. It was clear but here and there we had some small clouds. As long as they would not be in front of the sun at totality. It was unique, it was exotic, it was so special! Horizon 360 degrees, never had that for any solar eclipse or any astronomical observation. We had two C90 Celestron telescopes with us of which one on the same tripod the 1000mm video camera parallel. As well a Nikon for general photography and 2 iPhones for some panoramic pictures. The crew equipped with welding helmet and sunglasses. Halfway partial phase, Peter, owner of Ocean Safaris, noticed correctly that the sky got darker and colours became eery. The first phase went so fast. Soon it was a small crescent. Showing the crew in the scope and let themselves take pictures through the eyepiece. Bailys beads, long diamond ring and bright long chromosphere. Totality would be 1m25s for this location. Still amazed by the 360 degrees view and observing totality with the naked eye I realised that the solar filter was still on the scope. The view was amazing and prominences at 11h and 5h. But than again chromosphere and diamond ring. Do not look! Filters back! What was it quick! Did not see the shadow cone coming in or going out. The 360 degrees horizon was rather bright and the eclipse was not that very dark. No shadow bands. Venus appeared at totality but still could be seen approx 5 minutes after totality. Probably did not see it earlier due to small clouds at that spot and rather bright sky. Not seen Saturn and not Mercury either. But again, it was not a dark eclipse. The corona was bright and rather symmetrical. No obvious strong streamers and very much as the predicted corona shape published a few days before. During the second phase the crew provided champagne, sandwiches and loads of fresh exotic fruit. Now and then a view and some footage. There were plenty of small sunspots and they all reappeared one by one. Due to the excitement we forgot totally about the high tide which would be 3 meters and at about 9h. By a sudden a big wave came all over our gear while we were packing off...What an unique eclipse. Could not celebrate better my 40 solar eclipse observation! We went back to Cape Tribulation with the raft, completely satisfied and had a fry up breakfast served by Ocean Safaris. We could not resist to go out again the same afternoon and snorkel around in this marine paradise once more. Very bumpy rides but worth while!!!
Posted on: Sun, 14 Dec 2014 12:30:35 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015