Ringvormige zonsverduistering / Annular solar eclipse 15 - 01 - 2010
Voor deze eclips ben ik, op uitnodiging naar India afgereisd. Hoewel het geen totale verduistering was, was het niet zomaar een zonsverduistering, het betrof de langst ringvormige zonsverduistering voor de komende 1000 jaar. De Ringvormige fase zou op het vaste land van India ongeveer 10m14 seconden duren. Dat was in de buurt van Ramashwaran, aan de zeestraat naar Sri Lanka. Onze bedoeling was om in de buurt van Ramanathapuram onze eclipse locatie te zoeken. De ringvormige fase zou er ruim 9.5 minuten duren. Echter toen we er aankwamen was het vrijwel bewolkd en hoewel we overwogen hebben om een stuk terug te rijden richting Madurai, besloten we ons toch aan te sluiten bij een groep Indiase amateur astronomen die op weg waren naar de centrale lijn. De verwachting was dat het koelere zeewater de meeste bewolking zou oplossen! We reden dus richting Ramashwaran en besloten ten zuiden van de stad (waar ook de centrale lijn liep) een plek te zoeken. We stationeerde ons op een klein strand vlakbij een kleine tempel dat aan zee lag. Een fraaie lokatie. Ondertussen was de bewolking inderdaad vrijwel geheel opgelost on konden we de eclips prachtig zien.
Hoewel het bij een ringvormige verduistering bij lange na niet zo donker wordt als bij een totale, maakte het verschijjnsel toch grote indruk! Het licht was vreemd en het water kreeg een enigszins doffe kleur rond de ringvormige fase. Omdat deze ruim 10 minuten duurde was er genoeg gelegenheid voor het maken van foto's. Ook was de sfeer in de groep - er hadden zich inmiddels meer groepen amateur astronomen bij ons gevoegd - opperbest! De missie was meer dan geslaagd!
Hieronder wat foto's
For this eclipse I travelled to South India to observe it. Of coarse it was not
a total eclipse but it was not just another eclipse, it was the longest annular eclipse for
the next 1000 years. The annular phase would last about 10m14
seconds on the Indian mainland, near Ramashwaran. Our intention was
to settle near Ramanathapuram. The annular phase would last over
9.5 minutes there. But when we arrived it was almost completely overcast. Although we
were considering to drive back towards Madurai, we finally decided to join
a group of Indian amateur astronomers who were heading to the central line near
Ramashwaran. The expectation was that clouds would disappear due to the
influence of the cooler sea. We drove to Ramashwaran and decided to settle
south of the city (where the central line was located). We settled on a small
beach near a small temple that was located on the sea shore. A beautiful
location! Meanwhile the clouds had indeed almost completely disappeared so a
beautiful eclipse was awaiting us!
Although an annular eclipse is not as beautiful as a total one, it was still
impressive! The light got strange and the water got a little
gray on approaching annularity. Annularity eventually lasted more than 10 minutes
so there was enough opportunity for taking pictures. Also, the
atmosphere was nice and everybody was in a supurb mood. In the mean time more
amateur astronomers had joined our group. The mission was successful!
The next evening we got on the train for our two-day trip to Delhi. We had booked a 1st class AC compartment which has much more space than their counterpaerts in Europe. Moreover, there was a western style toilet in the car, which was also kept quite clean! After a warm farewell from Sri's family, the journey started. It was a long journey, which we largely bridged with discussions about Indian society, Marriage and playing Rummykub. Food could be ordered in the morning and was delivered in the afternoon in the compartiment. After two days we arrived in Delhi where I would spend the last 3 days.
Here are some pictures
First contact, 11h15, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 8
A relaxing eclipse.
11h27, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 8
Watching the eclipse
Projecting the sun using binoculars
Mind the sun spots on the upper part of the sun's disk, 11h56, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 8
11h05, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 8
12h18, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 8
12h44, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 8
13h11, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 11
13h17, Second contact,
exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 11
Annularity, 13h18
exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 11
Mid eclipse, 13h23
exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 11
Annularity 13h 25, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 11
Bailys beads, Third contact, 13h27, exp. 1/1024, Sigma 50- 500mm(500mm) f 11
"To a suceeded expidition!
Watching the eclipse ending
The atronomer's group we joined.