2006 MARCH 29
TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
TURKEY, MEDITERRANEAN COAST, AT THE CENTER LINE


ECLIPSE OBSERVATION BY ALBERTO AIOSA


The total solar eclipse of 2006 March 29, with a totality duration up to 4 minutes, has been observed along a narrow corridor starting in the early morning from the eastern coast of Brasil, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, reaching the west coast of Africa at Gana and then, through Nigeria, Saharan Desert and Lybia up to the border of Egypt; then crossed Mediterranean Sea entering the Anatolian peninsula at Antalya Bay and leaving near Ordu at Black Sea. The eclipse ended at sunset in Mongolia after crossing Georgia and Kazakhstan.
Totality maximum was in Lybia in the Saharan Desert but in Turkey was visible in the early afternoon and this was supposed to be the best place for the observation.
Recently in Turkey another total solar eclipse occurred in 1999 August 11, less than 7 years ago, and the summer season was favourable from the meteorological point of view. This time, at early spring, the weather variability was a threat. In the mediterranean coast of Turkey only 50% probability of sunny weather was foreseen, but statistics of Antalya area give 200 sunny days per years.

The Antalya bay was chosen as place of observation and this was also the best starting point for visiting the turkish mediterranean Riviera with his archeological and panoramic attractions.
The Golden Coast Resort Hotel at Colakli village, between Side and Manavgat, was near the eclipse center line and here the totality duration was 3 minutes and 45 seconds, starting at 13:55 local time.
The eclipse local timesderived by interpolation were as follow: 


   Beginning of the partial eclipse (B.P.E.): 12:37
   Beginning of the total eclipse (B.T.E.):   13:55:07
   End of the total eclipse (E.T.E.):         13:58:52
   End of the partial eclipse (E.P.E.):       15:12
   Totality Duration: 3' 45".

PHOTOGRAPHIC EQUIPMENT
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge
  • Digital Camera CANON EOS 300D
  • Tele EF 300 mm f/4 LIS
  • CANON Extender EF 2X
  • Remote Switch RS60-E3
  • Tripod and micrometric head
  • Solar filters during partial phases:
    aluminized mylar(white),
    metallic-coated glass(red).
  • Sensitivity: 100 ISO.
    •


BEFORE THE ECLIPSE:
SOLAR SPOTS
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge

Two small solar spots are present near the left border of the Sun.

FIRST PARTIAL PHASE
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge

TOTALITY PHASE
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge

During totality the planet Venus was visible on the right and also Mercury, closer but less bright.
The first and the last photo of totality were taken approximately at second and third contact of the Moon and the time difference between the two is 3 minutes and 46 seconds, very close to the value foreseen for totality (3' 45").
Time values marked on the photos have been given by the internal clock of the digital camera but a correction has been applied comparing with another clock synchronized by Frankfurt time station, in Germany.

SECOND PARTIAL PHASE

 torna all'home page
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge Click to enlarge Click to enlarge


GOLDEN COAST RESORT HOTEL

On the left is the Pool square.
On the right are Hotel's terraces and other eclipse observers.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge


Other References:
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006.html
 http//www.eclipse2006.boun.edu.tr/eclipse_2006eng.html

Alberto Aiosa is member of amateur astronomer group Hipparcos in Rome, Italy.