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www.eclipse-chasers.com Gallery Report Programmer: Bill Kramer Last update: April 17 2015 |
Eclipse Chaser
(noun) - Anyone that wants to see a total solar eclipse. 
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Indonesia 1983The eclipse was observed from a soccer field amongst the rice patties and small villages typically found in that area of the world. There was an elementary school nearby which provided "facilities" as well as many very curious children.
The sounds of the people mingled with the sounds and scents of the jungle to form an atmosphere that was both exciting and enthralling. For us, this was a very strange place where we were the strangers they all stared at - this feeling was compounded by the fact that we were here to see an awesome event. It all seemed quite unreal.
Although the weather threatened the days before to bring clouds on us, a phone call from the other side of the island at 2am the night before the eclipse (from our trusted weather specialist Jim McKay) assured us that openings in the clouds were on their way. Half our group was on either side of the island due to limited space availability in hotels on the island. Fortunately, we all got to observe the eclipse under mostly clear sky conditions.
The lack of clouds did make for a hot and buggy day! Fortunately, we had very strong bug spray and sun screen with us.
The view through the Questar was stunning as it has been before. The effective focal length of the Questar prevents a complete view of the corona. Thus several of the photographs show the moon/sun to one side of the image as a test image.
In the telescope the coronal streamers are seen going to the edge of the field and continuing outward for several solar diameters. The light drops so rapidly it is hard for film to capture the image.
Because of the shape of the corona this eclipse will always be remembered as the butterfly for me. There were multiple streamers extending out from the equatorial regions and well defined polar brushes resulting in a very unique corona. A splendid show!
