Dec 31, 2011

Solar eclipses from Chaco Canyon


from http://www.traditionsofthesun.org/chaco_book_eng.pdf
The annular solar eclipse of May 20, 2012 can be seen from China, Japan and the USA, where the path of visibility (antumbra) touches Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado (Four Corners) and Texas.
The most favorable weather conditions along the shadow track are in the American southwest, famous for its scenery and natural wonders. (Totality 12 magazine by Larry Stevens, Dec 2011 or at Javier Xubier's site and Jay Anderson's weather site).
"The western United States is the place to be for the upcoming eclipse on May 20th.", from Sky and Telescope, Feb. 2012, p.66, May’s Great Annular Eclipse, Fred Espenak & Jay Anderson

In New Mexico, Chaco Canyon -renowned for its archaeoastronomical importance- will provide a special viewing location. As one tour operator (Travelquest) advertises: "A highlight of our journey will be exploring and observing the May 20 annular solar eclipse amidst the ancient Anasazi Indian ruins at Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, whose archaeoastronomy markers and alignments have earned it the nickname, “Stonehenge of the West.”"

Photographic opportunities abound. A challenge could be incorporating the Fajada Butte landmark (famous for the "Sun Dagger") as a foreground for the eclipsed sun. A regular back country permit might not be sufficient. Area closed behind sign

A petroglyph ("Piedra del Sol") near Una Vida has been associated with a total solar solar eclipse.
Traditions of the Sun Explore the world's ancient observatories
Book  pg. 24: petroglyph called "Piedra del Sol" - Solar eclipse with corona?
Exploratorium The petroglyph is thought by some to represent the total solar eclipse of AD 1097.  
Exploratorium Piedra del Sol
Solar Eclipse Petroglyph Solar Astronomy in the Prehistoric Southwest
Photography by David Cortner
See also the page Sun Dagger in Chaco Canyon on this blog.

So when did total or annular eclipses occur there - during the Chacoan Period or an extended time frame?

Total solar eclipses occurred in Chaco Canyon on 0310 May 15, 0804 Apr 13, 1097 Jul 1, 1259 Oct 17 between 1 and 2012 as calculated by Xavier Jubiers tool Five Millennium (-1999 to +3000) Canon of Solar Eclipses Database.
"on March 7th, 1076, a total solar eclipse was visible just south of Chaco" (Ward).
In Chaco Canyon, it was partial with 95% magnitude, the center line 190 km to the south.

Annular eclipses were on 0098 Mar 21, 0171 Apr 22, 0290 Nov 19, 0805 Sep 26,1156 Nov14 before 2012 May 20.
The next one thereafter will occur on 2023 Oct 14 in the morning, the central line running exactly through Chaco canyon.
Further annular eclipses before 3000 will occur on 2121 Jul 14, 2154 Apr 12, 2711 May 09, 2795 Nov  03, 2876 Dec 06.

The total  solar eclipse of Aug 21, 2017 will be visible as partial with a maximum magnitude of 80%.
Before 3000, another total eclipse will happen on 2866 Jul  03.


Landsat views the world, plate 84,
NASA SP-360, 1976

Dec 27, 2011

Total Solar Eclipse in Patagonia - timelapse video

A time-lapse version of the total solar eclipse on July 11, 2010,
observed from the Balcon de Calafate, Argentina, compressed to 1/10th of the original length.
Also some brightening applied: gamma=70, contrast=40























Stills processed with Registax (bins of 5sec, 120 pics and 1 sec, 24 pics around second contact)
Gallery or animated slideshow, enjoy

Lux lucet in tenebris

Oct 8, 2011

100 Jahre Zeiss-Teleskop

Festakt "100 Jahre Zeiss-Teleskop" der Sternwarte Stuttgart auf der Uhlandshöhe in der Gärtnerei Locher am 7.10.2011

Stiftskirche, Mond um 18:30





Festvortrag Prof. Manfred Steinbach

Moderation Prof. H.U. Keller




















Rudi Idler's Urteil im Astrotreff
"Der 100 Jahre alte Zeiss Refraktor ( 175/2625 ) der Sternwarte Stuttgart verblüfft beim Durchschauen jedesmal Mal aufs Neue: Die Optik bietet eine Schärfe und einen Kontrast, die schier unglaublich ist.
Das Bild ist deutlich kontrastreicher als wie bei unserem 175 mm Astro Physics Refraktor, der AP Apo zeigt zwar keinerlei Farbe, liefert jedoch im Vergleich ein weicheres Bild. Das sekundäre Spektrum des Zeiss hält sich in Grenzen. "


Oct 3, 2011

Mercury in front of Moon

The waxing moon with the Statue of Mercury
 from Schlossplatz, Stuttgart on Oct. 02, 2011

Oct 1, 2011

Etoiles & Stars

Les Etoiles de Mougins, Cote d'Azur and Starry Nights in Corsica

6e Festival International de la Gastronomie et des arts de vivre
Mougins du 16 au 18 sept.




















Lyra and Cygnus from Calvi, Sep 28, nothing compared to the view
from the mountains at 2000 m altitude














Oct. 01, Monte Rosa, Gornergrat,
Matterhorn













Eiger, AirBerlin AB8869 Airbus319
NCE - STR 01.10. 14:10 - 15:30












Jun 16, 2011

Total Lunar Eclipse 2011 June 15


Video at 23h 55m MESZ, 7 minutes before leaving the umbra


The total phase was visible intermittently through haze and clouds starting at 22h 45m with the help of 7x42 binoculars.

Total phase 22h:47:38 and 22h:48:08 with aircraft taking off from STR
click for animated large view


23h:22:35 with helicopter





23h 22m


23h 56m MESZ shortly before leaving the umbra




http://www.sternwarte.de/

Jan 4, 2011

Eclipse with airplane

At 09:35 I saw a plane rushing across the solar disk at 20x magnification, then immediatly turned the Lumix DMC FX150 in video mode on. And there was another one only a minute later!




Video on youtube


montage of 4 screenshots


The rising sun already in eclipse was recorded on slide-film through a 500 mm telephoto lens.
Some processed scans  are here

A little more occultation: airplane crossing the partially eclipsed sun at 09:36