A Beautiful Day to be in Side
Eclipse 2006
By Bill Kramer
Side (pronounced “see day”) is a resort city located along
the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey. Popular with German and Russian
tourists during the summer months the town provided a perfect location for many
eclipse chasers of all nations to view the Total Solar Eclipse of March 2006.
Thousands of eclipse chasers gathered in the various resorts, hotels, ancient
ruins, and beaches to view the total solar eclipse under near perfect sky
conditions.
Click on images for higher resolution view.
Rick before 1st contact
Our group of 80 led by the ever enigmatic Rick Brown swelled to
100 in number for the day of the eclipse. The helicopter landing pad area of
the Sunrise Queen Resort hotel had been reserved by Rick and his Turkish
colleagues’ over a year in advance. Telescopes, cameras, binoculars, and other
equipment filled the area as we waited for the magic to begin. More experienced
eclipse chasers shared advice and tips with others as we anxiously watched
every cloud on the horizon, checked the various equipment set ups over and over
again, and enjoyed the comfortable environment provided by our Turkish hosts.
It was a beautiful day in Side!
A perfect start to an eclipse day!
Waiting for the eclipse to start
Other groups took up positions on the beach near the various
hotels or near the beautiful pools and gardens of the resort complexes
described by one member of our group as being like a cruise ship that does not
move. All along the balconies other small gatherings of eclipse chasers could
be seen. In the town of Side many gathered at the ancient Roman ruins near the
temples for Apollo and Athena, and a live broadcast was made by the good folks
at the San Francisco Exploratorium from inside the Roman Theater.
The weather could not have been better. Light clouds dotted
the horizon and never really approached. The clear sky extended back into the
Turkish countryside and over the mountains to our north. Although some were
concerned about a few thin clouds drifting closer, they broke apart quickly as
the air was very dry. A light breeze from the Mediterranean Sea along with a
warm sun made everyone feel at ease.
As first contact approached I sat in front of my Questar
telescope and watched. Right on schedule the first bit of the moon appeared
against the sun and I yelled “First contact!” in chorus with several others who
were lucky enough to be watching through small scopes. Within a few minutes the
start of the eclipse could be seen by those with eclipse glasses. The eclipse
was underway and the conditions were beautiful.
Some may desire a perfectly clear sky however clouds on the
horizon actually add to the eclipse experience. Not only do they provide a
tension and anxiety but they also show the colors of totality and highlight the
360 degree sunset one sees during totality. A small front of clouds could be
seen to the west however they were very far away and would not interfere with
the eclipse viewing.
Partial phase with Digital Rebel on Questar
The moon slowly crept across the surface of the sun and at
long last engulfed the only sunspot grouping visible. The sun was at solar
minimum. Most of the surface was clear of sunspots however the view through
hydrogen alpha telescopes showed there to be some nice prominence activity all
around the disk.
During this time I fiddled with a digital camera attached to
the telescope. I had practiced the setup on the moon with great success however
as often befalls eclipse chasers in the short time before totality the
equipment was not cooperating. As the eclipse passed the mid way point between
first and second contact alternative configurations were discussed and it was
decided that our daughter Melissa (16) would operate the telescope with her SLR
loaded with slide film. I must say that took some guts from all parties involved!
Although she was well experienced with the camera she had never really used the
telescope. But she was up to the task the results speak for themselves. This
meant that I could actually observe the eclipse without a camera, something I
had never done in my previous ten eclipse chases. And that was very special.
Melissa (at Questar), Bill, Alexandria Kramer
The temperature of late March along the Mediterranean Sea
area of Turkey shifts quickly on sunny days. During the mid day the temperature
will be in the 70F (20C) range. But as soon as the sun starts to set the
temperature drops quickly about 10F (5C) and lower. The same was true for this
eclipse. At first contact the temperature was comfortable in short sleeves but
as second contact approached it was getting chilly and there was a light
breeze. Unfortunately I do not have any temperature readings to share at this
time. (If you were in Side and did record temperature differentials, please
email me so that data can be shared with others.)
The approaching shadow from the sea
In the last ten minutes before totality events begin to
happen with increasing rapidity. First Venus appeared behind some high level
clouds and in what seemed like only seconds the shadow of the moon could be
detected on the horizon. The darkness filled the horizon and the clouds started
to change color as fellow eclipse chasers spotted shadow bands (my eyes were
riveted upwards) racing across the ground. As the last bits of sunlight
disappeared behind the sun a beautiful diamond ring appeared and a highly
irregular corona appeared against the dark blue sky. Loud cheers and gasps of
amazement formed a roaring welcome to the view.
Horizon view and Venus
It is very difficult to explain the feeling one has at this
point in time. Most let out the emotion by cheering or screaming, I was simply
stunned by the glory of it all. Long coronal streamers reached out along the
equatorial region of the sun. The polar areas were capped by brilliant brushes
that remind many of brush topped Roman helmets that once marched across the
very grounds we were standing on. Twisted magnetic lines of pearly white
reached out behind a black moon into space. Laser red prominences dotted the
edge of the sun as the chromosphere receded out of view. A total solar eclipse
is one of the most amazing things the eye can behold in the sky.
Images by Melissa Kramer using the Questar at prime focus
2nd contact, corona, 3rd contact
Corona Snapshot using handheld Panasonic 3CCD recorder - Denise Kramer
After the cheer at the beginning of the eclipse the noise
level softened. One could hear others calling out to look at one feature or
another while others simply giggled, laughed, or sighed at the beauty of it
all. The mixture of languages (Turkish, English, French, German, and much more)
created an ethereal effect for the ear as the solar eclipse put on a grand
showing.
Corona and Diamond Ring from video capture by Denise Kramer
Coronal streamers extended beyond the field of view in the
10x30 binoculars I was using. One was severely bent by the magnetic fields of
the sun in an almost unnatural way while another was based in a large looping
structure. Numerous prominences dotted the edge of the sun.
This eclipse was only 3 minutes and 40 seconds long from our
location. That time collapsed quickly (eclipses always seem like 15 seconds to
me) and a large prominence appeared as if being slowly pulled out from behind
the sun. Soon another appeared and then in rapid succession a series of them
appeared just before the chromosphere began to emerge from behind the moon.
Then the photosphere showed through a series of valleys creating a growing
diamond ring that took your breath away. Several people raced to turn around
and watch the shadow of the moon climb the mountains to our north. At first the
mountains where enshrouded in darkness, invisible to the eye. All at once they
were there and the shadow retreated as quickly as it had come over the horizon.
A loud cheer rose from all around. Relief as the sunlight
returned coupled with the emotion of the moment. Another successful eclipse, my
eleventh and too long until the next one. This was Denise’s seventh eclipse,
Alexandria’s fourth, and Melissa’s third – we are a family of eclipse chasers!
Eternal thanks again and again to Mom and Dad for starting
me down this path.
Images of the Eclipse
Return to main Eclipse-Chasers page.
As first contact approached I sat in front of my Questar
telescope and watched. Right on schedule the first bit of the moon appeared
against the sun and I yelled “First contact!” in chorus with several others who
were lucky enough to be watching through small scopes. Within a few minutes the
start of the eclipse could be seen by those with eclipse glasses. The eclipse
was underway and the conditions were beautiful.
