Solar Eclipse Conference 2014
Announcement
The next Solar Eclipse Conference is tentatively scheduled to take place in Alamogordo, New Mexico, USA from the 23rd to the 26th of October 2014.
Alamogordo NM is located to the northeast of El Paso TX near the famous White Sands rocket development and testing area. The National Solar Observatory (Sunspot) is southwest of town.
Update February 2012: The following arrangements have been made for SEC2014. An informal meeting will take place at the Sacramento Peak Observatory on the 23rd and 24th of October 2014 (Thursday and Friday). We have requested to use Sacramento Peak to observe the partial solar eclipse on Thursday followed by a general tour, reception and brief presentation. The New Mexico Museum of Space History and its IMAX Theatre will host the international solar eclipse conference on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th October 2014. We have also found facilities available for a banquet for Saturday evening in nearby Cloudcroft.
Update March 2012: Initial list of speakers, archive links, and local circumstance details for the partial eclipse of 23 October 2014 have been added.
Update October 2012: Minor corrections in text. Updated list of speakers of the conference on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 October 2014. On Thursday 23 and Friday 24 October we have been offered to use the conference room of the Sacramento Peak Observatory visitors centre for a two day educational program. Besides observing the partial solar eclipse, An educational program will be offered to a limited number of participants. So far following speakers have accepted or proposed their help in this educational part – alphabetical: Ralph Chou, Fred Espenak, Jim Huddle, Jay Pasachoff, Randy and Pamela Shivak. More details on this program later.
A Crossroad on Physics & Eclipses of the Sun
- from Patrick Poitevin
Over the last few decades, there have been dramatic changes in solar eclipse traveling. Solar Eclipse specialists meet most of the time in the shadow of the Moon. Solar Eclipse meetings out of totality are rare, or are mainly focused on solar physics. The Solar Eclipse Mailing List and before the Solar Eclipse Newsletter has been successful as a vehicle in bringing together solar eclipse enthusiast, professionals and amateurs alike. Because there was no central eclipse in 2000 we had been presented with a perfect opportunity for an International Solar Eclipse Conference.
We had had this project in mind for some time, but mainly due to planning eclipse travels it has been put on hold. The aim of the conferences is to bring together professionals and amateurs, addicts, enthusiasts, and chasers, as with the mailing list and the newsletter, sharing information, knowledge, and experience. For the same reason we organized an international Solar Eclipse Conferences in 2004 and 2007.
Two days of lectures are given in each of the disciplines: predictions, mathematics, solar physics, weather forecasting, eye safety, diameter measuring, edge and central, and ancient eclipse research. Of course the latest and forthcoming solar eclipses should be great topics of discussion, along with the once-in-a-lifetime Venus Transit. Friday evening is a social event with reception and informal meetings. And where possible the conferences is combined with a lunar eclipse, partial solar eclipse and a visit to a solar observatory.
The SEC2000, SEC2004 and SEC2007 conferences were organized by Patrick & Joanne Poitevin. Each conference has been supported by various groups and individuals. We also would like to thank those participants. Without you all it would not have been possible! The last international Solar Eclipse Conference (SEC 2011), was organized by SPACE, New Delhi, India.
For information on SEC2014, please contact patrick.poitevin@yahoo.com
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Details for the Partial Solar Eclipse 23 October 2014
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Local Circumstances of 23 October 2014 Partial Solar Eclipse at Sacramento Peak
Observatory Lat 32.78828N, Long 105.81941W
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Speakers List (last update October175 2012)
| Speaker | Country | Details |
| Jay Anderson | Canada | Meteorologist |
| Ralph Chou | Canada | School of Optometry, University of Waterloo |
| Fred Espenak | USA | Mr Eclipse NASA |
| Victor G. Fainshtein | Russia | ISTP SB RAS |
| Leon Golub | USA | Senior Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory |
| Phil Goode | USA | Big Bear Solar Observatory |
| Shadia R. Habbal | USA | University of Hawaii |
| Hugh Hudson | USA | Berkeley University |
| Nick James | UK | British Astronomical Association |
| Steve Keil | USA | National Solar Observatory, Sacramento Peak |
| Serge Koutchmy | France | Institut d'astrophysique de Paris CNRS & Univ P & M Curie |
| Bill Kramer | USA | www.eclipse-chasers.com |
| Richard Nugent | USA | Executive Secretary International Occultation Timing Association |
| Jay M. Pasachoff | USA | Williams College/IAU Working Group on Eclipses |
| Eric Priest | UK | Andrews University |
| Voyto Rusin | Slovakia | Solar Physicist at Astronomical Institute |
| Jörg Schoppmeyer | Germany | Eclipse chaser |
| Karel Schrijver | USA | SDO, Lockheed Martin |
| John Tilley | UK | Retired Technical Manager (IBM), Member BAA |
| John Weiley | USA | SolarMax IMAX movie |
| Michael Zeiler | USA | www.eclipse-maps.com |
We have created a “waiting list” for those who are keen to present.
Near by attractions (for Astronomers and Scientists)
- JVLA (Jansky Very Large Array) in New Mexico
- Archeo-astronomy site Chaco Canyon in New Mexico
- Sloan Digital Sky Observatory at Apache Peak, New Mexico
The area is very scenic with White Sands National Monument, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and the New Mexico Spaceport being in reasonable proximity. By 2014, the Spaceport will be operating suborbital flights by Virgin Galactic. Also, star parties are frequently held at the White Sands Nat'l Monument.
Sacramento Peak would be a very good venue to observe the partial solar eclipse because the eclipse will be in progress at sunset and being on top of the mountain ridge provides a very good western horizon. This area has low humidity and clear, transparent skies. Alamogordo is directly under the observatories at Sacramento Peak and Apache Peak. The weather prospects here in October are generally very good with dry transparent skies.
The city of Alamogordo, population of 35,000, is home to the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Alamogordo is adjacent to White Sands Missile Range and can be considered to be the birthplace of the U.S. rocket technology. After WW2, the U.S. brought Von Braun and captured rocket engineers to White Sands where they launched a series of V-2 rockets. This is an interesting museum with many artifacts from the U.S. space program. See http://www.nmspacemuseum.org/ They have an IMAX theatre which we will use for the conference. The New Mexico Museum of Space History is on the edge of the city of Alamogordo. The area around Alamogordo is desert and the mountains above are wooded.There are ample hotel rooms in Alamogordo and the Lodge at Cloudcroft is about a 20 minute drive up the mountain for those who desire a unique setting on the mountain ridge top. The area around Cloudcroft has dark skies and would be very suitable for a star party, as would White Sands. Several well-known amateur astronomers live in the Cloudcroft area and operate private observatories.
The closest major airports are at Albuquerque, about a three hour drive and El Paso, Texas, about 90 minutes away.
A wee bit further away:- Kitt Peak in Arizona
- Big Bear Lake in California
- Mt. Wilson observatories in California (where we had our opening session for SEC2007)
Acknowledgements
Some people I would like to list for a big thank you helping in one way or another with the organisation of SEC2014, so far - in alphabetical order:
Jay Anderson, Derryl Barr, Ralph Chou, Fred Espenak, Michael Gill, Jim Huddle, Bill Kramer, Bill Livingston, Lunt Telescopes, Jay Pasachoff, Rainbow Symphony, Glenn Schneider, Michael Zeiler
And of course the teams of the facilities at Sacramento Peak and at the New Mexico Museum of Space History. Last but not least thank you to all speakers who have willingly accepted or proposed to cooperate at SEC2014.
Without you all no SEC2014 would be possible!
Patrick & Joanne
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