Provisional Report about Solar Eclipse (as of October 24, 1996) --------------------------------------------------------------- Dear Friends ! Hereby a list of results - from the recent solar eclipse. Results are still coming in - today four from Greece, one from Germany, one from UK - and one from Spain. Best greetings, Mogens Winther (Soenderborg Amtsgymnasium, Soenderborg, Denmark) October 24, 1996 Solar Eclipse on October 12, 1996 --------------------------------- Here is the preliminary list of results, as of October 24, 1996. Many Astronomy On-Line groups were clouded out, but so far a large number of messages have been recieved from succesfull groups in nearly 15 countries. Additional reports are most welcome. A few observers were only able to perform observations outside the maximum - which explains some of the results yielding a far too high distance. Here is the average Lunar Distance from all 22 results: Lunar Distance: 408 000 km. +/- 32 000 km . (Standard Deviation). The true value is 390 406 km (geocentric), so the deviation is around 4%. Here follow the individual reports, still in `raw' form: *********** From: Helene.Haun@rz.ruhr-uni-bochum.de Eclipse Observational Report Group: SCIVIAS Town: Bochum Country: Germany Our position on the globe during the eclipse: 51 18'N, 7 37,5'E Height during Maximum: 3,8 LE Width during Maximum: 10,3 LE Maximum did occur 16.26 CEST = 14.26 UT We made photos by a refractor telescope (f=2000 mm, D=90 mm) in a five-Minute raster. Weather was good, only a few cirrus clouds on the sky; so we could see two halos almost during the whole eclipse. Moon distance R = 406361 km *********** Name of Group: STARSEEKERS Town: BRACKNELL Country: ENGLAND Longitude: 0 deg 45 min West Latitude: 51 deg 24.5 min North Height during maximum: 2.7 cm Width during maximum: 7.4 cm Time of maximum: 1515 local time (British Summer Time) = 1415 UT Distance of screen from lens: 1.21 m Weather conditions: Good. School address: science@brakenhale.berks.sch.uk Regards, Liz Ouldridge (Teacher) Moon distance R = 392308 km *********** From: "Knud Erik Soerensen" Denmark High School Class : -2b-DK Horsens, Country: DK Longitude 9,85 degrees East Latitude: 55,86 degrees Suffered from Fog conditions, so latest possible measure was made at 14:57 MET ( = 12 57 UT - not maximum!!) with h = 88 mm W = 197 mm Lunar distance with h/W 2D method : 348000 km. *********** >From Amities - France La Rochelle 46 10 N 1 09 30 W (Greenw.) a 14:26 UT w:51 mm h:26 mm Measurements were performed on a projected image, with rather bad conditions as it was partially overcast. Lunar distance with h/W 2D method : 424000 km. *********** Name of the Group: THE KUFFNER GROUP Town: VIENNA, Kuffner Observatory Country: AUSTRIA POSITION: Longitude: 16,40 East Latitude: +48,20 Height during Maximum [cm]: 3,6 cm Width during Maximum [cm]: 9,7 cm H/W during Maximum: 0,37 Please notice the careful work by this group when plotting h/W versus time! Time of Maximum [Mean Local Time or (Central European Time)]: 15.51 or (13.45 UT) Weather Conditions: FINE We were using a Celestron 8 (C8) with the pojection Method and were measuring the Height H every five minutes from 14.35 CET to 16.35 CET. We also tried the Camera Obscura Method, which worked very fine and brought good results when compared to the C8 measurements. Due to 250 visitors at our Observatory we were finally unable to work on both methods. Lunar distance with h/W 2D method : 348000 km. *********** From: Zwei.Ge@t-online.de Name of Group: Gluckers Town: Neumarkt Country: Germany Position : 11 deg 26 min East 49 deg 16 min North Heigth/Width during Max: 0,40 Time : 15.45 MET = 1345 UT Weather conditions: cloudy Lunar distance with h/W 2D method : 359000 km. *********** Astronomi TTMW AArhus - Denmark Sky mostly closed by clouds, but suddenly a clear sky giving : w=70 h=23, at 1618 CEST = 1418 UT Lunar distance with h/W 2D method : 407000 km. *********** Finland was clouded, except the most northernmost part. Markku Sarimaa Publications Director Ursa Astronomical Association Finland email sarimaa@freenet.hut.fi - Similar reports from both Norway- Ireland and West-Denmark *********** From: 0470038l@rectorat.ac-bordeaux.fr LYCEE GEORGES LEYGUES (LPR Georges Leygues - Villeneuve-sur-Lot - G.A.P Montayral 47 FRANCE) latitude: 44 deg 27' longitude: 10 E 14h.40 UT h:4cm w:8cm by J.M Mazot. Lunar distance with h/W 2D method : 432000 km. *********** Thank you for improving our enjoyment of the eclipse! Here's our report, based on the 2-D method and the Example of Report page: NAME OF GROUP: Tagus TOWN: Paco de Arcos COUNTRY: Portugal POSITION: 9: 08' West 38: 43' (North) HEIGHT DURING MAXIMUM: 6.4 cm WIDTH DURING MAXIMUM: the Sun's apparent diameter, as projected on the target, was constant and equal to 10.5 cm. WHEN DID MAXIMUM OCCUR: 15:26 (GMT + 1) = 14.26 UT WEATHER CONDITIONS: Couldn't have been better. Bernardo Silva e Carmo / Tagus Group bsc@mail.telepac.pt Lunar distance with h/W 2D method : 410500 km. *********** What a wonderful weather for this eclipse ! There were plenty of people in the park on a hill above Toulouse, where the old Observatory stands, but doesn't work anymore because of light pollution, of course... We could see very well the luminous crescents on the ground through the leaves of the trees, and as there was much wind, they were sweeping the ground in one way, then the other... The measurements are approximative : Toulouse, France : Latitude : +43 deg 37', longitude : -5min46s At 14h42UT, we measured w=14 and h=8,5. Ms. Josee SERT Not Maximum - implied distance : 470 000 km... *********** Preliminary report on the solar partial eclipse from October 12, 1996 observed in Romania: --------------------- Astronomical Institute of Rumanian Academy Str. Cutitul de Argint 5 75212 Bucharest Romania tel/fax: +40.1-337 33 89 e-mail: mstavinschi@roimar.imar.ro Bucharest : long= 26 h 05 m 46 s E lat = 44 o 24 ' 23 " N h = 86 metres TLR = UT + 2 h The timetable of the eclipse (in UT): - first contact = 13 h 45 m - maximum = 14 h 53 m - last contact = 15 h 54 m We have not been able to observe the eclipse because of clouds. However we have obtained 6 plates in very bad conditions, near the maximum phase. An radiometry experiment has been made, but we have not yet conclusions. --------------------- Timisoara: long= 21 o, 23 E lat = 45 o, 41 N h = 88 m At Timisoara the eclipse began at 13 h 37 m 42 s. A 25 minutes long VHS record has been made, with an amateur colour video camera (Hitachi) starting at 13 h 53 m, containing several records gaps of the eclipse, including the maximal phase. Using a Zeiss refractor (f = 2250 mm, D = 150 mm) the projected disk of the Sun was about 14 cm diameter. No filter was used. The refractor had an equatorial mount. One could see that edge of the Moon wasn't smooth (due to its relief). A short time after the maximum phase, the Sun was much to low to observe it anymore, so the last contact wasn't observed. The sky was cloudless but not very clear, the temperature was about 18 o C and windless. We didn't notice any changes in temperature or in animals' behaviour. -------------------- Cluj-Napoca: long = 1 h 34 m 23,46 s E lat = 46 o, 42 m 48 s N h = 749 m The 12th October solar partial eclipse was planned also to be observed at Astronomical Observatory Cluj-Napoca of our Institute. Unfortunately, owing to poor weather conditions in the afternoon, we could observe only the beginning of the eclipse between 13 h 38 m 30 s and 14 h 22 m 23 s UT. The main results are estimated to be obtained on photographic film (AGFA color XRG100). We performed 4 exposures with 2/58 Helios objective and filter, and 8 exposures with naked 4/200 Pentacon electric objective. These observations were made at Faget station, located 10 km south-east of the city. Dr.Magda Stavinschi Director of the Astronomical Institute of the Ramanian Academy *********** Name of Group: Veseli Town: Veseli nad Moravou Country: Czech Republic Long.: 17 22 17 E Lat.: 48 57 16 N Height during Maximum: 9,8 mm Width during Maximum: 25 mm When did Maximum occur: 1996-10-12. 15:35:01 CET Mirror Method: Distance to Mirror: 2,2 m Weather conditions: good Sincerely, Ivo Micek Reductions : 153501 CET = 163501 CEST = 1435 UT Lunar Distance by 2D method : 414000 km. *********** Solar Eclipse Observational Report IDENTIFICATION: Group: Nysted Ungdomsskole/Nysted Youth School (South East Lollandia Stargazers) Town: DK-4880 Nysted Country: Denmark OBSERVATIONAL LOCATION: Longitude: 11deg. 36min. 32 sec. EAST Latitude: 54deg. 39min. 37 sec. OBSERVATIONAL METHODS: 1) Projection performed through 80/910 mm refractor: Height during Maximum: 28 mm Width during Maximum : 85 mm Maximum ocurred: 15.26 MET 2) Direct photography in prime focus, 2100 mm SCT at. f/10.5, (through solar filter). Negative images measured by use of enlarger in darkroom. Heigt during Maximum: 33 mm Width during Maximum: 100 mm Maximum occured: 15.26 MET = 1426 UT Weather conditions: Hazy sky, but fair. Sun visible during total eclipse event. Nysted Youth School Astronomy Group, Bent Klarmark. Reductions : Lunar Distance : 409000 km. ********************* Nom du groupe (name of the group): ASTRABREIZH Ville (town): Rennes Pays : FRANCE Longitude :1,51 degre west latitude : 48,08 degre Rapport H/W = 0,397 Heure du maximum : 16,38 h locale (14,38 h TU) Merci d'avance Jacques Montier Email: info@cybera.anet.fr Reductions : Lunar Distance : 415000 km. ************* Klaus Heift Name of group: astro_gm observation point: Doerrenbach/Germany Longitude: 8.0 deg. East, 49.1 deg. North Heigth during Max:1.6 cm Width during Max: 7.5 cm Max. occured at 15h28min MET = 1428 UT Length of camera: approx. 5 m Weather cond: fine Reductions : Lunar Distance : 359000 km. ************* Bo Virdefors To: amtsgym@po.ia.dk Eclipse Observational Report Name of Group: The Orion Group in Ystad Town: Ystad Country: Sweden Position on the globe: Longitude: 13.830 Degrees East Latitude: 55.431 Degrees North Height during Maximum: 42 mm Width during Maximum: 133 mm Time of maximum: 16 h 23.5 min local time = 14 23.5 UT Distance to Mirror: 14.3 m Weather conditions: Fair As we have astronomy lesson only once a week we have not been able to send our report until now. We made 64 observations and used Excel to make a plot and a curve fitting (second degree polynomial). At last we used the symmetry line to determine the minimum of height and the time of eclipse maximum. Kind regards from the Orion Group and Bo Virdefors Lunar Distance : 405000 km. ************* From: Karl-Heinz Reinecke The Skylarks (SZ Lerchenstra_e, Bremen, Germany, 80384E, 530124N) We have done 2 measurements: a) Projections-method with a 8x56 binocular on a white paper: w=6,4 cm h=2,3 cm (14.24 h UT) h/w=0,36 b) Measurement from a picture (600-mm-Teleobjectiv) w=8,5 mm h=25 mm (14.26 h UT) h/w=0,34 Many Thanks The Skylarks Data reduction : point a : Lunar Distance : 409000 km. point b: Lunar DIstance : 406000 km. ************* Hello, we are the "Augarten School" in Vienna, we have observed the partial solar eclipse on the 12. 10. 1996 and we would like to send you our measurements. (We have made two different experiments.) (1) Camara Obscura Method (distance hole screen: 2,33m) Time from 15:50 to 17:35 (CEST) High during the Maximum: 0,7 cm Width during the maximum: 2 cm H/W during the maximum: 0,35 cm Time: 16:35 (CEST) = 14 35 UT (2) Mirror and Screen Method (distance mirror screen: 27,2m) Time from 16:00 to 17:20 (CEST) High during the maximum: 10 cm Width during the maximum: 25 cm H/W during the maximum: 0,4cm Time: 16:40 (CEST) = 1440 UT Position: Longitude: 16,40 East Latitude: +48,20 Town: Vienna County: Austria During the two hours the weather condition was fine and we have been very sucessful. We measured about every five minutes. We hope our measurements will help you with your work to determine the distance and the size of the moon. Best wishes, the 6A of the "Augarten School" BG XX Data reduction : Lunar Distance : Hereby the results of measurement 1 : Lunar Distance : 413000 km Measurement 2 : Lunar Distance : Lunar Distance : 420000 km. ******* From: Thorsten Lisker >From Erlangen, Germany : 49 Deg 35 ' North 11 Deg 00 ' West We had good weather (maybe it's better to say 'acceptable') and therefore we could enjoy the eclipse. Height h : Measured distance between lower edge of the moon and lower edge of the sun at 14:06 UT: 4,0 cm Measured diameter W of the sun at 14:08 UT: 8,95 cm Reductions : Lunar Distance : 396000 km. ******** From: Kaare Jensen Group: Astro - mellemniveau, Koege Gymnasium, Koege, Denmark Weather: Fair Observed in Koege: Lattitude=+55.46 Dgr. Long: 12.18 Dgr. East Maximum H/W= 0.41 at M.E.S.T (DST)= 16h 23m = 14h23 UT Reductions : Lunar Distance : 433000 km. ******** Tycho Brahe Planetarium. Weather: Fair Latitude=+55 Deg 41 Long: 12 Deg 35. East Maximum H/W= 0.32 at M.E.S.T (DST)= 16h 24m = 14h24 UT Reductions : Lunar Distance : 408000 km. ******** > Here are some comments from Greece - - 6 active groups - this must be the European record ! These groups are placed in the end of this list : some groups have calculated the W/H ratio - not the H/W ratio. If you apply the software calculating the distance - please notice this. > >The big day finally arrived! AOL groups in Athens- at the National Observatory of Athens- , Thessaloniki- at the University of Thessaloniki -,Ioannina - in the outskirts of the city for a better sight - where gathered from the local coordinators ,to observe the eclipse. Unfortunately in Ioannina,the groups due to very bad weather could not see anything. In Athens and Thessaloniki the groups were more lucky allthough temporary clouds were covering the sky. Students with telescopes, videocameras, binoculars, black box cameras using varius filters were chasing the eclipse, beeing prepared for ..1999. >regards, "Dr. Margarita Metaxa" > ************* Group Apollo from Athens,Greece longitude:23deg 51.8min East latitude:38deg 2.9min H=18,W=33 at 6.03 local time = 1503 UT weather conditions:fair to bad Reductions : Lunar Distance : 443000 km. ************* Group Scroedinger cats from Athens,Greece longitude:23deg 51.8min East latitude:38deg 2.9min H=12 ,W=21 at 18.05 local time = 1505 UT weather conditions:fair to bad Reductions : Lunar Distance : 457000 km. ********************* Subject: Data from "Hipparchus" "Hipparchus" group from the Proto Gymnasio Agias Paraskevis (1st High School of Agia Paraskevi-Greece) POSITION National Observatory of Athens - Penteli Station Long 23deg 51.8min E Lat 38deg 2.9min N Height 509m WEATHER Fair to bad METHOD We used a pair of binoculars (12x45) with a cardboard tube (50cm long) fixed on one of the eyepieces. Sun's image was projected on the base of the tube which was covered by tracing paper. The results were satisfactory even under that day's difficult weather conditions. We were taking measurements every 5 min. MEASUREMENTS Time W(cm) H(cm) W/H 17:01 5.4 5.4 1 17:06 5.4 4.9 1.10 17:11 5.4 4.7 1.14 17:16 5.4 4.45 1.21 Bad conditions 17:46 5.4 3.0 1.80 17:51 5.4 2.95 1.83 Bad conditions 18:01 5.4 2.8 1.93 Bad conditions 18:16 5.4 3.2 1.69 Bad conditions Distance estimate : 490 000 km. ********************* "Pythagoras" group from the Proto Gymnasio Agias Paraskevis (1st High School of Agia Paraskevi -Greece) send to you some results from the partial solar eclipse of 12/10/1996. POSITION National Observatory of Athens - Penteli Station Long 23deg 51.8min E Lat 38deg 2.9min N WEATHER Fair to bad METHOD We used an observing instrument named by us "eclipsoscope"! It is a packing box (50 cm long) made from cardboard with a pair of binoculars (zoom 7-21x25) fixed on one of its sides. Opposite this side we cut the cardboard and fixed a piece of tracing paper. Two pins fixed on the top of the box helped us to sight the sun easily and safely by watching their shadows. The image of the sun is projected on the tracing paper passing through the binoculars. The results were the best among the rest methods tried out by the other groups of our school ("Aristarchus", "Ptolemy" and "Hipparchus"). We were taking measurements every 5 min. MEASUREMENTS Time W(cm) H(cm) W/H 16:59 6 6 1 17:04 6 5.8 1.03 17:09 6 5.6 1.07 17:14 6 5.1 1.18 Bad conditions 17:49 6 3.5 1.71 Bad conditions 17:59 6 3.5 1.71 18:04 6 3.5 1.71 18:09 6 3.4 1.76 18:14 6 3 2 18:19 6 2.8 2.1 18:24 6 2.4 2.5 Bad conditions COMMENTS Bad weather, some mistakes in our observation, much-much fun and now we believe we are ready for the August of 1999!! Distance estimate : 423 000 km. ********************* "Aristarchus" group from the Proto Gymnasio Agias Paraskevis (1st High School of Agia Paraskevi -Greece) sends to you some results from the partial solar eclipse of 12/10/1996. POSITION National Observatory of Athens - Penteli Station Long 23deg 51.8min E Lat 38deg 2.9min N Height 509m WEATHER Fair to bad METHOD We used the mirror method. The sun's image was reflected onto a white cardboart 9.30m away from the mirror. We were taking measurements every 5 min. MEASUREMENTS Time W(cm) H(cm) W/H 16.54 7.5 7.5 1 16:59 7.5 7.4 1.01 17:04 7.5 7.0 1.07 17:09 7.5 6.5 1.15 17:14 7.5 6.0 1.25 Bad conditions 17:44 7.5 3.5 2.14 17:49 7.5 3 2.5 Bad conditions 18:04 7.5 2.5 3 Bad conditions COMMENTS Sun's image was very faint and the perimeter was unclear and confused. Distance estimate : 372 000 km. ********************* "Ptolemy" group from the Proto Gymnasio Agias Paraskevis (1st High School of Agia Paraskevi -Greece) sends to you some results from the partial solar eclipse of 12/10/1996. POSITION National Observatory of Athens - Penteli Station Long 23deg 51.8min E Lat 38deg 2.9min N Height 509m WEATHER Fair to bad METHOD We used the mirror method. The sun's image was reflected onto a white cardboart 6.65m away from the mirror. We were taking measurements every 5 min. MEASUREMENTS Time W(cm) H(cm) W/H 17:00 6.6 6.6 1 17:05 6.6 5.3 1.24 17:10 6.6 4.6 1.43 17:15 6.6 4.3 1.53 Bad conditions 17:45 6.6 3.02 2.18 17:50 6.6 3.0 2.2 Bad conditions 18:05 6.6 2.08 3.17 Bad conditions COMMENTS Sun's image was very faint and the perimeter was unclear and confused. Distance estimate : 368 000 km. ********************* APAA Portugal. Weather: Fair Lattitude=+38 Deg 43 Long: 09 Deg 09. W Maximum H/W= 0.61 at M.E.S.T (DST)= 16h 31m = 14h31 UT Reductions : Lunar Distance : 418000 km. ********************* Julen Sarasola, Xixon, Spain Weather: Fine Lattitude=+43 Deg 30 Long: 05 Deg 00 W. Maximum H/W= 0.66 to 0.63 at 14h21 UT Reductions : Lunar Distance : 443000 km. (calculated with latter h/w value) *********************