Volume 5, Issue 11 NEWSLETTER SOLAR ECLIPSE November 2000 NEWSLETTER

HEADLINES Solar Eclipse Mailing List · GENERAL TOPICS DISCUSSED ON THE MAILING LIST THIS MONTH WELCOME TO THE NEW-LOOK NEWSLETTER · SOLAR ECLIPSE CONFERENCE Dear All · AFRICA 2001 Firstly, we must apologize for the · SOLAR ECLIPSE MAILING LIST apparent lapse in the last edi- UPDATE tions of the Solar Eclipse News- letter, we hope you understand · ECLIPSE WORDSEARCH that huge personal changes, such as Patrick’s move to Eng- Inside this issue: land and change in job, coupled with organizing the conference GENERAL TOPICS DISCUSSED THIS took up every spare minute and MONTH ON THE MAILING LIST meant that newsletter was put · ECLIPSE CALENDAR 2 on a back burner. · 5000 YEARS OF TSE 4 That brings me to the second finally be put to names, data come all contributions. There will also · AMATUER FILTERS 5 point, is that now we are back, can also be displayed effec- be a monthly book review, so come on · FREE GLASSES 5 we can start with a clean sheet tively, and latest eclipse pic- all you readers with the amazing num- · STATE OF DOGS tures viewed by all. ber of eclipse books released last year, 5 and what’s more a new look. · ECLIPSE PROGRAMMES 6 spread the word of the best reads. We hope that you find this new In this month’s issue you will · ECLIPSES IN ANCIENT EGYPT 7 format user friendly and would find the reports and first reac- Patrick & Joanne · EYE DAMAGE IN ‘99 8 welcome any advise or sugges- tions to the first Solar Eclipse · OCCULATATION BY 9 tions. We are hoping to include Conference, also lots of new · 10 VOODOO CHILE any pictures and data with the information on Africa 2001, if · LONG DURATIONS you also have a spare few 10 owners permission of course. · SARO’S GRAND SLAM 11 This all means that faces can minutes you could have a go · VIEWING THE 11 at the word search. We wel- · COOKS OF VENUS 12 The Solar Eclipse Mailing List SUBSCRIBING TO The Solar Eclipse Mailing List (SEML) is an elec- tronic newsgroup dedicated to Solar Eclipses. Pu b- THE SOLAR · SOLAR ECLIPSE CONFERENCE 14 lished by eclipse chaser Patrick Poitevin ([email protected]), it is a forum for dis- ECLIPSE MAILING AFRICA cussing anything and everything about eclipses. · AFRICAN MYTHOLOGY 19 LIST

· ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR Thanks to the voluntary efforts of Jan Van Gestel of 20 THE SOLAR ECLIPSE MAILING · ZAMBABWE TALK IN BELGIUM 22 Geel, Belgium, the Solar Eclipse Mailing List · FLIGHTS FROM EUROPE 22 (listserver) has been in operation since 10 December LIST IS MAINTAINED BY THE · GLASSES FOR AFRICA 1997. This is the first mailing list devoted solely to LIST OWNER PATRICK POITE- 23 · BRADT TRAVEL GUIDE topic of solar eclipses on the internet. VIN AND WITH THE SUPPORT 23 · ECLIPSE TRIPS 23 OF JAN VAN GESTEL You can send an e-mail message to the list server so- [email protected], which will then forward your HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: · SEC 2000 WORDSEARCH 24 e-mail to all the subscribers on the list. Likewise, you'll receive e-mail messages that other subscribers send to ININ THETHE BODYBODY OFOF THETHE MEMES- · UPDATE ON THE MAILING LIST 25 the listserver. Only subscribers can send messages. SAGE TO [email protected] Continued on back page. SUBSCRIBE SOLARECLIPSES name, country.

Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 2

ECLIPSE CALENDAR

Hi,

The Solar Eclipse Conference 14 -15 October 2000, Antwerp is history. Time to publish again the Solar Eclipse Calendar.

If you need the references, have remarks or want to add to the next edition, please send me a message.

November 01, 1858 Birth of Gustav von Struve, Russian . Contributed in statistical and sun. Same family name of other family members. Died in 1920. (Ref. DD11/99)

November 01, 1905 Menzel 1967 (A905 VC): Minor planet discovered November 01, 1905 by Max Wolf at Heidelberg. Named in honor of Donald Howard Menzel (1901-1976), Harvard astronomer since 1932 and director of the Harvard College Observatory from 1954 to 1966. He observed 15 solar eclipses, both a theoretical and observational pioneering solar and stellar astrophysicist, (Ref. VK06/97)

November 01, 1948 The Eclipse Comet only 2 degrees from the Sun and observed during totality in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo- graphed by R. d' E. Atkinson. After, the comet was observed till April 3, 1949 in the southern hemisphere.

November 01, 1982 Death of Dutch astronomer Jakob Houtgast (1908-1982). Houtgast worked on the Observatory of Utrecht, Netherlands and was specialist in the Sun and joined a lot of Solar Eclipse expeditions. (Ref. Heelal 12/82)

November 01, 1994 Launch of Wind (US). Research of Solarwind, together with Polar and Fast. (ref. DD 10/98)

November 01, 2282 Three eclipses in one month. 2282 Nov 01 Partial Solar Eclipse, 2282 Nov 16 Total Lunar Eclipse, 2282 Nov 30 Partial Solar Eclipse. (Ref. SEML 06/00)

November 03, 1994 Total solar eclipse observed with success by most observers in Chili and Bolivia.

November 03, 2013 Annular-total solar eclipse which will be annular in the beginning and total for the rest of the path. Between 1898 and 2510, there are only a few cases: 3 November 2013, 17 October 2172 and 29 April 2386. Ref. Canon of Solar Eclipses, 1898-2510 by Meeus, Grosjean and Vanderleen (p. 76).

November 04, 1920 Gustav von Struve, Russian astronomer died. Contributed in statistical astronomy and sun. Same family name of other family members. Born in 1858.

November 07, 1631 Pierre Gassendi, Wilhelm Schickard, Johannes Hevelius and Johannes Kepler observed for the first time a Transit of . The two late also predicted the event. Martin van den Hove wrote a book about it. (Ref. DD11/99)

November 07, 1953 Cogshall 1764 (1953 VM1): Minor planet discovered November 07, 1953 at the Goethe Link Obs at Brook- lyn. Named in honour of W.A. Cogshall, Prof. of astronomy at Indiana University (1900-44). He was known for his work on vis- ual binary stars, photography of Solar Eclipse, and as a teacher of many who followed professional careers in astronomy. Pro- posed by Frank K. Edmondson. (Ref. VK06/97)

November 08, 1656 Edmond Halley (1656-1742 or 1743) born on November 08, 1656. Famous for his comet but also for his first observations on Baily's beads. The Royal Society also mentioned 29 October 1656. (Ref. Rc1999)

November 09, 1853 Carrington Rotation number 1 starts and initiated by R.C. Carrington.

November 12, 1547 Extremely wide path of the annular eclipse of 12 November 1547. The path is 1400 kilometres wide. The northern limit is only a small circle between Norway and Iceland. The paths covers nearly whole Great Britain. (Ref. St L 06/99)

(Continued on page 3) Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 3

ECLIPSE CALENDAR November 12, 1891 Birth of Seth B. Nicholson, American Astronomer. His main task was observing the sun. He published yearly, and for decades, reports about sunspots and magnetic fields. He died in 1963. (Ref. DD11/99)

November 12, 1966 On November 12 th 1966 total solar eclipse, 12 astronauts Lovell and Aldrin saw the eclipse from orbit and they saw the moon shadow on earth surface. For them totality lasted only 6 sec. Lift-off of Titan booster have been syn- chronised in order to intercept that total eclipse that was visible from south America. (Ref. PA07/98)

November 12, 1985 Total solar eclipse on the Antarctic and of which the northern limit was more to the south then the southern limit of the eclipse.

November 14, 1659 In Chapter VII of "A Handbook of Solar Eclipses" by Isabel M. Lewis which was written in advance of the 1925 eclipse over NE USA, Lewis identifies the eclipses of November 14, 1659, August 22, 1672, July 12, 1684 (AT), and Janu- ary 19, 1768 (AT) as having occurred in the years that elapsed since the Pilgrim fathers landed in New England. (Ref. ENB01)

November 22, 1972 Launch of ESRO 4 (ESA), studied atmosphere and solarwind. (Ref. DD11/99)

November 22, 1984 Total solar eclipse in a part of New Guinea and only 18 lunations (1 ½ year) after the total solar eclipse of 11 June 1983 which was also visible from that part. One Saros later on 21 June 2001 and 4 December 2002 a small part of Angola will witness a total solar eclipse. (Ref. JM09/99)

November 24, 1989 Solar Maximum Mission (SMM - US) stopped. Performed 9 years observations of the sun. (ref. DD11/99)

November 25, 1995 The first DDD (De Duistere Dag or The Dark Day), organized by the Solar Eclipse Section (Patrick Poite- vin), VVS Belgium in Volkssterrenwacht Mira in Grimbergen, Belgium. Speakers where Jean Meeus (triangles and eclipses), Felix Verbelen and Anton Vollemaere (Codex: Eclipses and Maya's) and Patrick Poitevin (Eclipse November 03, 1995).

November 28, 1883 Carolina 235: Minor planet discovered 1883 November 28 by Johann Palisa at Vienna. Named for an atoll of the Line Islands, 450 miles northwest of Papeete, Tahiti, where the discoverer observed the Total Solar Eclipse of May 6, 1883. Palisa observed the solar neighbourhood in order to find an intra-Mercurian planet. BAJ CIR 218. (Ref. VK06/97)

November, 1996 First issue of the Eclips Nieuwsbrief (Eclipse Newsletter). Monthly magazine of the Solar Eclipse Section, VVS Belgium. Editor and founder Patrick Poitevin. Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 4

GENERAL TOPICS 5000 YEAR LISTS OF SOLAR ECLIPSES

F rom: John Tilley the JPL DE406 ephemeris - nar mass correction applied the latter is of course more Sent: Wednesday, eclipses in Takesako's list From: Jean Meeus October 04, 2000 5:53 PM and vice versa. All such Subject: [SE] 5000 year Lists eclipses are of course partial John Tilley mentions the long of Solar Eclipses eclipses of very small magni- lists of solar eclipses by tude at the start/end of a Espenak and Takesako, and I was trying to combine data Saros. (In his Fifty Year found six Espenak eclipses from two lists of Solar Canon - Fred compares the missing in Takesako, and six Eclipses - one produced by accuracy of his ephemeris Takesako eclipses missing in Fred Espenak (NASA - A with JPL DE200) Espenak. 5000 year list of Solar Eclipses) and the other by There are also a large number I have none of those two lists, Takesako Shinobu of eclipses in the two lists as I have calculated my own (EMAPWIN - Besselian data where the date differs by one list of solar eclipses, from - files - 6000 years) - and to day - I haven't yet worked out 2000 to the year +3400. My my surprise found a number why. (I know that Fred dates calculations are based on the of differences. the eclipse as the day when following sources : greatest eclipse occurs - I --- for the Sun, the modern Fred has six partial eclipses don't know how Takesako- VSOP87 planetary theory by Trying to combine that are not eclipses in Take- san dates his eclipses) Bretagnon (Bureau des Lon- sako's list and vice versa. As gitudes, ); data produced by a result the total number of Espenak eclipses that aren't --- for the Moon, the modern Fred Espenak and solar eclipses for the period eclipses according to Take- ELP lunar theory by 2000BC to 3000AD should sako Chapront (Bureau des Longi- Takesako Shinobu be the same in both lists - ie -1295 8 25 tudes), but with improved surprisingly 11897 - however Takesako -742 11 28 mean elements for the managed to lose the final -727 2 20 Moon's orbit as given by produced differences. eclipse (9 Oct 3000). -716 7 15 Chapront in January 1998. -702 10 8 However, I applied a correc- I can think of three reasons 1107 7 21 tion of -0.6 arcsecond to the for the twelve partial eclipses (all have positive gamma) Moon's latitude in order to being different: take into account the fact that - Different ephemeris used Takesako eclipses that aren't the center of figure of the lu- - Allowance made/not made in Espenak list nar disk does not exactly co- for centre of mass of moon -1979 5 2 incide with the Moon's center and centre of figure of lunar -1719 10 31 of mass. disk not being coincident -1686 7 30 - Different algorithms for the -1140 3 28 Actually, for the Moon I re- calculation -1028 3 19 glected all *very* small peri- 2883 8 23 odic terms, retaining (for the I think they are due to the (all have negative gamma - three coordinates) a total of fact that Fred used Newcomb except the eclipse of -1719) "only" approximately 5000 [1895] for his Solar Ephem- periodic terms, instead of eris and Brown[1919] for his It would be good to have a Chapront's approximately Lunar Ephemeris with the definitive Espenak list pro- 37000. However, this can 1954 improvements. duced using the JPL ephem- hardly affect the results. eris which covers 3000BC to However Takesako-san used 3000AD - with centre of lu- (Continued on page 5) Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 5

GENERAL TOPICS 5000 YEAR LISTS OF SOLAR ECLIPSES– continued

I found that, indeed, the six these very small six eclipses I -1140 Mar 28 0.009 which may explain the dif- Espenak "eclipses" missing find the following values for -1028 Mar 19 0.005 ference of one day for two in the list by Takesako do greatest magnitude : +2883 Aug 23 0.001 cases (-1719 Oct 31 and - NOT exist. Sorry, Fred...! On 1686 Jul 30 according to the other hand, the six Take- -1979 May 2 0.010 Note that these dates are in Takesako). Jean Meeus sako eclipses missing in -1719 Nov 1 0.008 the time scale of Dynamic Espenak's list DO exist. For -1686 Jul 31 0.006 Time, not Universal Time,

AMATEUR FILTERS

From: without an eclipse it can only scope system, which would To: be used with a coronagraph have the advantage of vari- wise, the sky is too bright to Stephen McCann Southamp- Coronagraphs at see the corona. ton England Having seen that the sun's sea level aren't corona can be observed by LASCO on the SOHO space- From: Madden good enough to spacecraft (LASCO instru- craft has two working coro- ment aboard SOHO), using a nagraphs on board, and the I worked for a company that see the corona, Fe XIV, 530.3 nm centred filter is used with the corona- used an LCD as an occulting even with a filter, I wonder if such a filter graphs. But coronagraphs at schield to prevent back- is available for us amateurs to sea level aren't good enough lighting in a portable pho- 530.3 nm filter. observe the sun, in a similar to see the corona, even with a tometer used by the US way to how we already use H 530.3 nm filter. Jay Postal Service for measuring alpha filters. Cheers Stephen Pasachoff barcodes. Worked very well. McCann, Southampton, Eng- Of course the illumination land From: Stephen McCann source was not very bright. uk> DayStar Filter Corp, which In addition, has anyone at- makes most of the H-alpha tempted to use a Liquid Crys- narrow-band filters, can also tal Display as an electronic make a Fe XIV filter, but occulting shield within a tele- FILM : STATE OF DOGS

From: Michael Gill To: Sent: Monday, October FREE GLASSES 16, 2000 5:09 PM Subject: [SE] 'State of Dogs' Availability Hopefully, the following will be of use... From: Bob Morris To: SE from I was asked at Antwerp where I managed to get my copy of LRM Sent: Wednesday, Octo- 'State of Dogs'. ber 04, 2000 9:47 PM Subject: [SE] Free Eclipse glasses!!!! This movie was brought to my attention by Jean Marc Larivière's message to the SEML in 1998... The November issue of Astronomy (US) covers the Decem- http://www.mreclipse.com/SENL/SENL9810/SENL810u.htm ber 25 partial eclipse. Copies in the VHS/PAL format (with English subtitles) can be obtained from d.net.sales in They state that in the December issue, available in Leipzig... and the US in early November, free eclipse glasses will be http://www.d-net-sales.com/einleit.htm attached. Bob Morris For further information email info@d-net-sales. com, Michael Gill. Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 6

GENERAL TOPICS ECLIPSE PROGRAMMES YOU CAN ATTEND

F rom: Dave Balch Have you ever "experienced" sider. To: So- a total eclipse of the sun? lar Eclipse Listserve (We say "experience" rather You will then experience two Sent: Tuesday, Oc- more than merely something eclipse in Romania captured tober 17, 2000 9:56 PM Sub- in the sky to look at; your on video, followed by the ject: [SE] Eclipse programs physical world changes dur- reactions of many of those you can attend ing an eclipse in ways that who were there. Next is the might surprise you.) 1980 eclipse in Kenya con- “Come to this I would like to invite all Whether you have or have sis ting of slides and audio of me mbers of this listserve to not, you will enjoy this fasci- the excited crowd, all of program and be either (or both!) of two pro- nating look at 's great- which is set to music; me m- educated, grams I am giving for astron- est spectacle. bers of a recent audience omy groups in Southern Cali- were so moved by this pres- fascinated, fornia. The dates, times, and Dave's undying passion for entation they actually cheered tantalized, and locations are listed below, solar eclipses explodes in out loud! followed by a description of vivid sounds and images that mesmerized!” the program. Note that I am will captivate and enthrall Come to this program and be developing a version of this you; you will leave the pro- educated, fascinated, tanta- program for corporate and gram anxious to see one for lized, and mesmerized! association events which will yourself. The first question is spread the word about invariably "When is the next Dave Balch is the author of eclipses in general and which one?" "Big Bucks in a Bathrobe: will encourage others to fol- How I Grossed $5.1 Million low their passions in life, just The focus of "WOW!" is not From a Home -Based Busi- as we are ("we" being those the science of an eclipse, but ness, and How You Can of us on this list). I believe rather the human element; Too!" Read a free chapter at that those who participate in what it feels like when you http://www. their passions have less stress are privileged enough to be BigBucksinaBathrobe.com and less "burn-out". What do there. Dave draws on his As a professional speaker, he you all think? eclipse experiences to de- offers the following pro- scribe how it feels to watch grams: If you can make it, please daylight take on an unearthly Home-based Business: "Big respond to me directly at quality; how it feels to watch Bucks in a Bathrobe" [email protected] and, at the nature block out the sun, on Productivity: "Get More event, be sure to introduce which we rely for our very Done, Have More Fun" yourself to me as a member existence; how it feels to Decision Making: "How to of this list! stand in the shadow of the Be Wrong 50% of the Time" moon. Thinking Techniques: "Train Date: Friday, October 20 Your Brain for Greatest Group: San Diego Astron- Next: eclipse day! Dave Gain" omy Association Place: takes you through the se- Solar Eclipses: "WOW! The Rueben H. Fleet Science quence of events leading up Most Incredible Thing You'll Center, San Diego Time: to the eclipse itself; the emo- Ever See!" 7:00 pm tion, the excitement, and the He is also the author of Date: Friday, November 17 anxiety.. The discussion then "BeBetter!", an album of au- Group: Ventura County As- turns to what it takes to ex- dio tape programs. Check it tronomical Society Place: perience this grand event. out at http://www.afew.com/ Moorpark College Forum, The planning involved, the bebetter P.O. Box 824, Twin Moorpark Time: 7:30 tradeoffs that must be made, Peaks, CA 92391, 1-800-366- and the things you must con- 2347, 1-909-337-4945 (FAX) Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 7

GENERAL TOPICS ECLIPSES IN ANCIENT EGYPT

From: Ayman M. Ibrahim leader on the period) is in , To: , Cc: Pharaoh Shishak who sacked , Subject: [eclipse] the file attached to the mes- Rehoboam is Shoeksink I. Eclipses in Ancient Egypt!, sage on your website. Best Rohl points to certain prob- Date: 30 September 2000 Regards, Aymen Ibrahem lems in the dating. 17:16 “Actually I have From: Dear Dr. Ibrahim: I Rohl's theory is the book the way the ancient I am a young professional wonder if anyone would ob- "Pharaohs and Egyptian described astronomer from Egypt. I am ject to this is being off the list Kings" (published in Great the solar eclipse: a great admirer of astronomy topic but I feel it is not since Britain as "A Test of Time") the ancient which I began as a serious it relates to your work on so- and Rohl has a web site with Egyptians referred hobby at the age of 12, more lar eclipses in Ancient Egypt. is easily found with a search to the eclipse as the than sixteen years ago. engine. "horizon of I am also a great admirer of How does your work relate to heaven", since in a ancient Egypt. I attach to this the New Chronology postiti- Of course the dating of total eclipse, the message a file containing my ated by Dr. David Rohl? It eclipses mentioned in refe r- Sun disappears, a latest studies of the ancient suonds like your eclipse stud- ence to certain Pharaohs brief night Egyptian eclipses. I hope you ies would conclusively de- would settle the matter con- would enjoy them. cide the question of who is clusively. Hence the ques- (totality) lasts a Actually I have managed to right - (Dr. Kenneth) Kitchen tion. I hope nobody's mad few minutes, and find the way the ancient or Rohl? about this. then the Sun Egyptian described the solar reappears.” eclipse: the ancient Egyptians Your material is interesting. Sandy from Virginia referred to the eclipse as the Thank you. Sandy Sanders "horizon of heaven", since in fro m Virginia PS: I think Dr. Rohl is mostly a total eclipse, the Sun disap- right. pears, a brief night (totality) lasts a few minutes, and then From: Ayman M. Ibrahim the Sun reappears. Dear Colleagues, I be- influence of eclipses in an- lieve that the chronology of cient Egypt, I found many Dr. Kitchen (the New King- stunning results. dom chronology of his book Among which, solar eclipses 'Ramesses II, the Triumphant were behind: Pharaoh') is wonderful at least till the end of the reign 1.The choice of the illumina- of Pharaoh Ramesses II. It is tion days of the sanctuary of From: Sothic and eclipse dating. Simbel. Dear Mr. Gessner: Dr. Rohl Eclipse dating (Ibrahem, 2.The east-west alignment of believes that the chronology 2000) made it clear that Year the mighty Sphinx of Giza. for the Third Intermediate 9 of Pharaoh Amenhotep I 3.The choice of the location Period of Egyptian history was 1517 BC. (Through of the city of Akhetaten. [1069-669BC] (as postulated Sothic dating it has not been 4.The erection of the obelisks by Dr. Kenneth Kitchen of known whether Year 9 of of Thutmose I, Hatshepsut, Liverpool University - he is Pharaoh Amenhotep I was Thutmose III, and Seti I. considered the foremost (Continued on page 8) Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 8

GENERAL TOPICS ECLIPSES IN ANCIENT EGYPT– continued

1517 or 1537 BC, but 1517 Egyptian Cosmogony. The eg> BC was the more preferable). page is at: Dear Eclipsers, Mr. Bill I'll check the third intermedi- Kramer of the 'Eclipse Chas- ate period. I have been most http://www.eclipse-chasers. ers' kindly added more of my concerned about the year com/egypt1.htm studies of the ancient Egyp- King Ahmose I drove the tian eclpses to his website. Hyksos away which defines In the article You can find them at: the beginning of the New posted at this www.eclipse-chasers.com/ Kingdom. I have made my page you'll find egypt2.htm “I have been most own Old Kingdom Chonol- my study of the www.eclipse-chasers.com/ concerned about ogy, which, I hope, I would Hermopolitan egypt3.htm the year King forward to you soon. Many Cosmogony in I am so grateful to him. I am Ahmose I drove thanks for your so kind care which I have also deeply thankful to Dr. of my emails! Best Regards, proved that the Eric Flescher the Hyksos away Aymen Ibrahem ancient Egyp- ([email protected]) who which defines the tians believed included the abstracts of my beginning of the From: Ayman M. Ibrahim the Sun to have recent studies in his newslet- through a solar eclipse. Best lipsers is as wide as a super- Dear Colleagues, Dr. Bill Regards, Aymen Ibrahem cluster of galaxies. I hope Kramer of the 'Eclipse Chas- you would enjoy my studies. ers' kindly devoted an entire From: Ayman M. Ibrahim Best Regards, Aymen Ibra- page for my studies of the

EYE DAMAGE IN 1999

F rom: Are there genuine reports one short article on that from To: de/wissenschaft/ Thanks for any help you can nf/0,1518,69107,00.html - the Sent: Wednesday, October give us for our eclipse prepa- article claims that stupid guy 04, 2000 5:44 PM Subject: rations for 2001 and 2002. was saved by his myopia... [SE] Any eye damage in Francis Podmore Daniel 1999? From: Daniel Fischer From: Michael Gill I know that eye-safety was a very big issue during the de> According to Hansard build-up to the 1999 eclipse. There was one heavily tele- (debates and proceeding of Certainly in Britain some vised case of a young Ge r- the UK legislative bodies), people felt very strongly that man who had thought that all Candy Atherton (MP for Fal- eclipse viewers were risky. those eclipse glasses were mouth & Camborne) submit- just a marketing scam and ted the following question Were there any documented who therefore deliberately before the > August 11th cases of eye-damage stared into the partially 1999 eclipse:- (temporary or permanent) in eclipsed Sun for many min- 1999? In Britain or Europe utes. He suffered retinal "To ask the Secretary of State or elsewhere? If so, what damage, but several months for Health what assessment and where are the details? later he was said to have his Department has made made a full recovery. Here is (Continued on page 9) Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 9

GENERAL TOPICS EYE DAMAGE IN 1999-continued from previous solar eclipses Eye Hospital carried out a and -as they said- it won't be of eye damage caused by ex- study of patients presenting better... posure to the sun's rays; and for treatment following the if such evidence was used as partial eclipse that occurred And why did it happened??? the basis for Government on 30 May 1984. They identi- Because he thought he had “They identified guidelines." fied 11 patients of whom 7 not need to wear eclipse 11 patients of suffered some enduring dete- glasses. He was watched the Part of the response of Minis- rioration in visual acuity. " eclipse without spec. whom 7 ter John Denham was as fol- Michael Gill. glasses... When he was felt suffered some lows:- bad, he begun using sun- From: Apáti Nagy Gábor glasses (not eclipse glasses). - enduring "Anecdotal evidence suggests althought, there was free deterioration in that, in 1927, 13 people lost hi, I remember, in Hungary, eclipse watcher glasses avail- their sight due to retinal was a boy whose eye had able in the area... visual acuity.” burns caused by viewing the been damaged. I saw an inter- sun directly during the last view on one of the country's He thought his eyes are dif- total eclipse visible from the commercial TV. As I know ferent than others' ANG . More re- the damage was almost cently, the Manchester Royal 100%. He is unable to read

OCCULTATION BY SATURN

From: Jean Meeus To: Tom Alderweireldt Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2000 3:46 PM Subject: [SE] Occultation by Saturn

A member of our Belgian astronomical society has drawn my attention to an occultation of a rather faint star by Saturn in the night of 25-26 October 2000.

By means of the excellent software Guide 7.0 I found the following approximate times. These instants are expressed in Universal Time (UT).

The star has the designation GSC 1252 899 (GSC = Guide Star Catalog) andis of magnitude 10.7.

26 October 2000 0:00 The star disappears behind the ring (at the outer edge of the outer ring) 0:15 Short visibility through the division of Cassini, but close to the planet's limb 0:28 The star disappears behind the planet's limb (but probably is still behind the ring) 2:05 The star reappearsfrom behind the planet (between the planet's limb and the ring) 2:20 The star disappears behind the ring (at the inner edge of the inner ring) 3:00 The star is visible through the division of Cassini 3:20 Reappearance at the outer edge of the outer ring

Because the star is rather faint, it will be necessary to use a large telescope.

The occultation is visible in Europe, at high altitude. At : rise of Saturn at 17:39 UT (25 October), transit through the southern meridian at 1:14 (26 October), at an altitude of 57 degrees, set at 8:50 (after sunrise).

Jean Meeus Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 10

GENERAL TOPICS this very moment or some VOODOO CHILE time before or after ?

From: or after ? If not what could According to Fred Espenak's Cc: be Hendrix' inspiration for Govert Schilling Dr. H.Th. list of lunar eclipses, 1942 Sent: Wednesday, October 11, that song ? Thanks, Dorje s'Jacoblaan 36 3571 BM Nov 27 is approximately 2000 12:38 PM Subject: [SE] Utrecht The Netherlands, e: mid-way between 2 lunar Voodoo chile From: Govert Schilling [email protected], eclipses - on 1942 Aug 26 [email protected], t: +31- and 1943 Feb 20. In 1967 Jimi Hendrix made a To: 30- 2730229, f: +31-20- song called Voodoo Chile Sent: Wednesday, inspiration for that song ? A the lyrics said : "The night I October 11, 2000 1:35 PM From: Chris O'Byrne lunar eclipse could easily be was born oh Lord I swear the Subject: RE: [SE] Voodoo the inspiration for that part of moon turned a fire red" Was it chile According to http://www.jimi- the song. More likely to have a lunar eclipse ? Who knows hendrix.com/ story/hendrix. been one that Hendrix saw as when and where (date hour, Jimi Hendrix was born on asp, he was born 1942 Nov 27 a child or adult - or maybe he place with lat and long) was 27 November 1942. There 10:15am at Seattle's King was going on a description of born Jimi Hendrix ? Did an was no lunar eclipse that County Hospital. lunar eclipses that he read eclipse happened at this very day. In fact, the moon was somewhere. Chris. moment or some time before five days past full. --Govert Did an eclipse happened at

LONG DURATIONS

F rom: Michael Gill The value varies between the umbra's relative speed to be from Fred's list. Although range -0.019 at the -2212 to- near its minimum value there are no 7 minute total To: tal eclipse to -0.580 at the (another requirement for a 7 solar eclipses in successive Sent: Sunday, Oc- you look at Fred's list for an- that covers the period -2999 tober 08, 2000 11:36 AM nular eclipses with a duration A positive value for Gamma to 4000, can anyone state Subject: Re: [SE] Long dura- exceeding 11 minutes, the around the time of aphelion definitely that such an occur- tion TSEs value of Gamma is positive causes the umbra to migrate rence is indeed impossible? for all events.) to higher northern latitudes Sheridan Williams wrote: where the Earth's rotational In addition, is it possible for The only consecutive years We can see why this should velocity is reduced. two separate Saros families to with TSEs longer than 6 min- be. One requirement for a 7 produce 7 minute eclipses in utes are: 1256/1257, minute total eclipse is that the Wil Carton wrote: "See how the same epoch (an obvious 1274/1275, 1292/1293, Earth needs to be close to its much the parameter Gamma requirement for two consecu- 1592/1593 There are no aphelion point. During our varies between consecutive tive 7 minute total eclipses)? more pairings before year present epoch, the Earth is at TSE's, due to the 19 days Looking at Fred's list there is 3000. Is it possible to have this position in the (Northern shorter 'eclipse year' than the no overlap between different consecutive years with dura- Hemisphere) summer, when earth completes one orbit Saros families at all. Michael tions longer than 7 minutes? the Sun has a declination of around the sun." around +22 degrees. If you look at Fred's list of 7 Looking at the four pairs of 6 minute total eclipses... With the Northern Hemi- minute total eclipses that sphere tilting towards the Sheridan pointed out, the http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/ Sun, Gamma needs to be smallest range of Gamma eclipse/SEcatmax/SE-2999- negative or near zero in order between successive 6 minute 4000MaxT.html for the Moon's shadow to fall eclipses is 0.736 (the 1592 onto Earth's equatorial re- and 1593 events). This is still ...You can see that at each gions. Here, the Earth's rota- greater than the range of event, without exception tional velocity is near its Gamma (0.561) for the fifty- Gamma has a negative value. maximum value causing the four 7 minute eclipses taken Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 11

GENERAL TOPICS SAROS ‘GLAM SLAM’ F rom: Michael Gill The Saros families currently of getting to the portion of family, though I do hope to producing total eclipses are this eclipse track from where see the 2079 eclipse. (I'm To: 120, 126, 127, 129 (currently totality can be observed. counting on medical science Sent: Sunday, Oc- 130, 133, 136, 139, 142, 143 Saros 152 is a young Saros in my old age I can be flash- tober 08, 2000 11:39 AM (last event was a total eclipse, that has started producing frozen and thawed out for Subject: [SE] Saros 'Grand next one is an annular/total), total eclipses in far southern eclipses. Well, maybe not, Slam' 145, 146 and 152. latitudes. The next total (even *I* am not that far eclipse in this family occurs gone...). I actually wonder There are many people on I'm sure the big hurdles for on November 23rd 2003. Did who holds this distinction this list who have seen more many on this list are Saros anyone witness the Novem- today? I certainly don't go than one total eclipse. Some 129 and Saros 152. ber 1985 or November 1967 back far enough, yet. Did have been to over twenty to- events? I suspect not. anyone on this list see '37, talities. Saros 129 produced its first '55, '73, and '91? THAT annular/total (hybrid)eclipse Certainly for me, if all goes would have been spectacular I was wondering though, if in March 1987, after a long well in the meantime and I to have seen the last four "big any person living or dead had sequence of annular events. manage to get to the (rather ones". Cheers, Glenn managed to see at least one Although I know of some inaccessible) 2003 and 2005 Schneider http://nicmosis.as. eclipse from each Saros fa m- people who went to Gabon events, I will have completed arizona.edu:8000/ ily currently producing total for this diamond necklace the 'grand slam'. How many eclipses. event, the umbral cone only others will do the same? Mi- From: Mick Wolf touched down on the Atlantic chael Gill. Beattie did very well getting see it? From: Glenn Schneider Glenn, perhaps you may be to see the total eclipse of Oc- interested to know that I have tober 3rd 1986, but since this The next event for Saros 129 Actually, Michael, the only observed the following Saros family will only pro- is on April 8th 2005, and to- "record" I'm really interested eclipses:1976+1994,1980+19 duce partial eclipses from tality will only be witnessed in is seeing the most eclipses 98,1981(annular)+1999 + now on, I suppose Saros 124 from the southern Pacific from a SINGLE eclipse fa m- 1983. The 2001 will com- drops off the 'active' list! Ocean. A cruise ship seems ily (i.e., N x 18yr 11.3 days). plete the saros. Mick. to be the only viable option I don't really care *which*

VIEWING THE SUN From: JD Slaton To: Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 3:12 AM Subject: Re: Viewing the sun

There are safe ways to view the sun with telescopes. For an example, take a look at the Herschel Wedge on one of my telescopes. This one is from the twenties, but the technology existed long before that. The Alvan Clark Telescopes and Accessories and a close up can be seen here second row, last one on the right PHOTOS FROM OBSERVATORY, The typical cheap telescopes you buy at discount stores have a "dark glass" that you are supposed to put over the eyepiece in order to view the sun. These are not too safe, as they often break from the heat generated from magnified exposure to the sun. The Herschel Wedge uses a prism which directs most of the sun's light away from the eye- piece. A small portion then goes through a dark filter. This type of system is still used and sold today, mostly for refractor tele- scopes. Projection on a white card can be made in the sunlight, (take a look at an example of it here about 1/2 way down the page) The Mercury Transit Geek Fest 1999, Hope this information helps you with your research. Jon From: Steven J. Dick It is my recollection that the American expeditions used a Herschel wedge with the 5-inch Alvan Clark refractors for observing the 1874 and 1882 transits of Venus.

Steve Dick, U. S. Naval Observatory, 3450 Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20392-5420, Phone 202-762-0379, Fax 202-762-1489, e-mail [email protected] Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 12

COOK’S TRANSIT OF VENUS

From: George Huxtable Cook's account reads as could cover the complete ap- To: Sent: Saturday, Octo- scopes, whereas if the image vantage of preventing the ex- ber 21, 2000 8:09 PM Sub- was being projected, the card cessive light and heat from ject: Cook's transit of Venus could have been observed by entering the telescope. a number of viewers. aptain James Cook, Or perhaps Green was ex- with astronomer So it seems more likely to me pected to apply a suitable Charles Green, ob- that the transit was being ob- smoking to the glass of the served the transit of served directly by eye eyepieces. CVenus in Tahiti in 1769. This through the telescope. In that was one of the measurements case, a high degree of light- All the above is hypothesis; in which the timing accuracy attenuation would be required no more than my own specu- was bedevilled by the well- to make it safe to view. Some lations about how the job known "black drop" phe- reduction of light could have would have been done. But I nomenon. The measurements been obtained by stopping imagine that the techniques were reported in Phil. Trans. down the object glass, at the used by the observers of Roy. Soc.,vol 61, pp 397- expense of resolution. It Cook's day for observing so- 421, (1772). seems to me that a dark (very lar eclipses, sunspots, transits dark) filter would in any case (all of which present the The instruments provided for be required to obtain the same problem of attenuating Cook included two Gregorian great reduction in light level the light energy) must have reflectors of 60 cm focal that was necessary. Would been set down somewhere. length and magnification of this be a dark glass filter in, Can anyone kindly provide a “So it seems more 140. I haven't seen an aper- or attached to, the eyepiece? reference, or simply give his likely to me that ture quoted, but as one of If so, it would be expected to own view of how Cook's ob- these telescopes still exists at get rather hot, as it would be servations would have been the transit was the Royal Society, the aper- dissipating all the energy that made? being observed ture should be well known. was incident on the objective. Would such a dark glass, of My questions stem from directly by eye I am trying to ascertain what high optical quality, be part wondering whether heating through the method would have been of the kit that would normally of the optical components used by Cook to limit the accompany such a telescope, and also heating of the air in telescope”. light to a level that avoids or would one have been spe- the telescope might give rise damage to an observer's eye, cially provided for the transit to optical distortions and bad during the prolonged obser- observations? In any case, seeing, and whether those vation that was made. He Cook would expect to pos- effects could make a major doesn't say in his paper how sess dark shades as accesso- contribution to the "black this was done. Perhaps he ries to his quadrants, which drop", which spoiled so many thought it would be obvious would be dark enough to observations. George Hu x- to his readers, but it's not ob- safely allow direct viewing of table. [email protected] vious to me. the Sun (though perhaps not net.com George Huxtable, 1 safe for viewing of the mag- Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Ab- The Sun could perhaps have nified image of the Sun). For ingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, been observed by projecting observing the magnified tran- UK. Tel. 01865 820222 or its image onto a white card. sit, a higher optical quality (int.) +44 1865 820222. To me, it seems unlikely that would be required than was this method was used, be- adequate for measuring Sun From: Robert B. Ariail cause the observatory would altitudes by the quadrant. some extent, and I can find Perhaps a large-diameter dark no mention of this. Also, shade was available which (Continued on page 13) Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 13

COOK’S TRANSIT –continued

Dear George, Your interest- somewhat inaccesible loca- greatly affected the black ing e-mail leads me to pro- tion at present. I feel confi- drop effect.** This is purely vide a few details that I sus- dent, however, this instru- an optical phenomenon as pect may be part of the an- ment - and others like it - prevalent in modern tele- swers you seek. Present time were used in a like manner to scopes (using full filtration restraints do not allow me to the Ramsden telescope de- systems across the objective investigate this matter thor- scribed above. or high quality Herschel oughly at this time. I will wedges both of which elimi- simply provide a bit of infor- As stated above, the filters nate or disapate the heat) as mation evident from comtem- were built into eyepiece caps in the early telescopes. Some porary telescopes within the that threaded into the as- authorities believe this effect time period you detail. tromomical oculars allowing to be caused by irradiation use of the telescope with a and refraction of sunlight in I think that you are correct in standard set of oculars to be the planet's atmosphere. Oth- both of the above assump- used on the sun or for the ers due to disturbances in the tions. That is, the use of dark stars, moon and planets atmosphere of the earth. Any filters and stopping down of (without the filter cap, of good volume on Venus or the objective. I have a 18th course). These brass caps Mercury should provide ex- century Ramsden refractor threaded into the oculars cellent detail on the "black contemporary with the instru- themselves. All of the equip- drop effect". I have listed a ments used by Cook in 1769. ment came as a set with the few of possible interest. “Heating of the This instrument has an object telescope or could be ordered optical components glass of 3-inches aperture. It from the maker separately. Re: FACTS ON FILE DIC- is accompanied with a com- The filter material had to be TIONARY OF ASTRON- and the air inside the plete set of about six oculars dark and heavy to reduce the OMY, Illingworth, (1985); tube would surely most of which (about 4) have light to 1/1000th and prevent THE PLANET OB- reduce the brass caps containing thick cracking even with reduced SERVER'S HANDBOOK, black filters which thread aperture. My Ramsden was Price, (1994); THE ATLAS steadiness of the over the field lens of the ocu- surely used throughout the OF MERCURY, Cross & image and the lar. This telescope also has a centuries but has all of its Moore, (1977). brass cap providing a reduced filters intact with none being resultant definition”. aperture measuring 1 1/8- cracked. This is quite unusual Bob Ariail, Robert B. Ariail, inches. There is no question I would think, direct vision 1322 Belmont Drive, Colu m- that this telescope was used with filters being the most bia, S.C. 29205 USA, Ph. for making direct observa- unsafe method of observing 803-7824915 tions of the sun with a variety the sun. of powers. Heating of the optical comp o- I likewise have a Gregorian nents and the air inside the telescope by Benjamin Mar- tube would surely reduce the tin (1714-82) again contem- steadiness of the image and porary with Cook's instru- the resultant definition. I ments that I feel certain was would suspect even the 18th utilized in a similar manner. century observers realized This small 3-inch Gregorian this and turned their instru- has a lens cap that bayonets ments away for short periods into the tube but contains a to 'cool down' the system. threaded reducer cap of Also, the splitting of a filter slightly less than two inches. of two (which surely occured Regrettably, this Gregorian with some frequency) would instrument along with others alert all solar observers to that I own are setup on dis- proceed accordingly. I doubt play with the cases and ac- that the possible reduced cessories packed away at a definition from heating Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 14

SOLAR ECLIPSE CONFERENCE 2000 A CROSSROAD ON PHYSICS & ECLIPSES 0F THE SUN

gates. Maley in Kenya 1980 and to become affectionately with Wasyl Moszowski in know in our household as Elzenveld was the venue in Mexico 1991. the magnificent ten. the touristy heart of Ant- werp, Belgium. Most people Therefore the main objec- Realistically the work began arrived on Friday evening, tive of the conference was a little over a year ago. But travelling from near and far. to bring together profession- the last three months be- als and amateurs, with the fore the actual date were The eclipse world tends to extra dimension of covering absolutely hectic, arranging be very incestuous, but only all aspects of solar eclipses. tickets, pick ups from the to the point were we meet This conference was in- airport, finalising food, pre- each other in some distant tended to be available to paring the folders contain- airport or railway station he solar eclipse confer- everyone. ing the booklets and leaf- completely by chance, as Tence happened on Sat- lets. Making sure Elzenveld Patrick and myself did Ger- The guest speakers were urday the 14th and 15th had all the right technical October, 2000. Attended by not Meiser in Malaya in Au- invited to give forty-five min- (Continued on page 15) one-hundred and fifty dele- gust 1998. Patrick’s first ute lectures, on their spe- became acquainted Paul cialist subject. These were

From: SKYLOOK.NET To: (english) or http://www. The image was carried out in Antwerp (go below Patrick Poitevin Sent: Tues- skylook.net/eclipses/sec/sece. assembling digitally seven "special events": http:// day, October 24, 2000 1:39 htm (spanish). For better con- individual pictures taken with membres.tripod.fr/Ad_Astra/ PM Subject: SEC group pic- venience there are three im- a "point and shoot" Nikon index-02.html Raoul Lannoy, ture age sizes: camera used in several solar Nerviersstraat 19, 2018 Ant- * BIG IMAGE: 2.8 Mb ZIP eclipses. Best regards, Juan werpen, Belgium, Tel: Dear SE listmembers and at- file (jpg image, aprox. 20x55 Carlos Casado, www. 32.3.288.55.67 tending the SEC 2000, I cm at 300 dpi) skylook.net GSM:0486.89.24.61, have put in my website the * MEDIUM IMAGE: 1.0 Mb 51d12m25sN-4d25m21sE, group picture taken during ZIP file (jpg image, aprox. From: Raoul Lannoy Ad_Astra/index- 11.html, Belgium. You will find it at * WEB IMAGE: 173 Kb jpg http://users.pandora.be/raoul. http://www.skylook.net/ image at aprox. 800x300 pix- Hello, Here are pictures from lannoy/index.htm eclipses/sec/seci.htm els the Solar Eclipse Conference Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 15

FIRST CONTACT equipment for the presenta- Saturday morning. The first tions was always a worry. set of lectures were orien- But the worries were un- tated towards solar physics, founded as the technician with Serge Koutchmy an Ludo was excellent. The Astrophysicist from Paris. programme was more than The morning also included full, with the presentations talks from the Royal Obser- given by delegates covering vatory of Brussels who also a great many subjects. helped sponsor the whole project. The morning was The delegates began to re g- concluded by Barrie Jones ister at 8.30 a.m. on the the head of Physic and As- Saturday morning, receiving tronomy Department, Open a folder containing all the University on every one’s necessary information in- favourite topic, shadow cluding the programme. Serge Koutchmy starts the action from the ten invited guest bands. The phenomenon The day was divided with resulting when the sun re- eclipse nomenclature. eclipses and pressure sure changes dur- mains as only a thin cres- “First contact” then begin- changes. However his ing eclipses are cent. He also talked about ning the first lectures on conclusions are that pres- not yet proven. temperature changes during

SECOND CONTACT

The variety of presenta- Well he managed to con- tions given at the confer- vince me, I will certainly be ence kept everyone awake doing that one of these even after a wonderful days. Paul's lecture was lunch. followed by a film by eclipse chaser Gernot The afternoon section re- Meiser. Gernot used to convened with Paul Maley be a director of an obser- talking about why we vatory, however decided should all travel to the that being your own boss edge of totality to view cannot be beat, and is spectacular Baily’s Beads. now working as a free Barrie Jones talks about the elusive shadow bands lance journalist. He an- for a treat. It brought a nounced that in this capac- lump into my throat then, ity he was going to leave for and did again. So I person- Africa six months before ally cannot wait for the film the next total solar eclipse. from Africa. I believe you could hear a pin drop in the room. The Jay Anderson’s lecture con- film he presented was of his cerning weather was so passed travels to Siberia, enlightening. The correct Bolivia and Columbia all set way to take measurements, to the music of 1492. I temperature drops, wind have seen the film before in speeds. Top Tip: stay away Germany and knew that the from mountains where the rest of the audience was in wind blows uphill. Thunder- Gernot Meiser—a film to look out for in the future Volume 1, Issue 1Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 16

SOLAR ECLIPSE CONFERENCE 2000 storms get worse. Strati- form clouds will increase. TOTALITY, THIRD AND FOURTH CONTACT 1:8 eclipses are clouded out. After a ten minute break the evening rounded off at I think in this new millen- afternoon continued with 8.00 p.m. after two films. nium we should all be able talks from Olivier Staiger on One twenty-four minute to have replicas of Jay to live web cams, delegates film by David Make- take on trips for our own from Zambia, and Juan Car- weather predictions. Per- peace, and by no means los Casado, who also took haps we could lower the least, one fifty-eight min- the group photograph at the ratio shown above. ute film by Jean Marc Eijiro Hiei (Japan) beginning of this report, and Lariviere. This film kindly allowed us to show it. showed no eclipse foot- The guest speaker in the age other than a few afternoon was Professor brief shots of partial Hiei who described the phases, and I thought, physical conditions of the there goes the audi- coronal structure. ence. But the film proved to be enthrall- I mentioned earlier the vari- ing. En-capturing the Olivier Staiger— Live WebCams ety of presentations and the Jay Anderson—Meteorologist essence of eclipse chasing. as I think everyone does. I The whole obsession thing, can only sum him up as and certainly all the emo- poetry on the podium. Ed tions. Krupp was also another speaker which I could not Highlights from the second wait to hear, and was not day were as good as the disappointed. His presenta- first. Ralph Chou gave les- tion about eclipse lore and sons on eye safety, and the myth using two projectors effects of retinal burns. was entertaining and Fred being the king of pre- snappy brings folk lore right dictions is a lecture I relish into the present.

Dinner in Antwerp Zoo

When I think of our book- Having experienced a few con- shelves at home, and the arti- ferences astronomy and work cles both Patrick and I read, related, usually the room is then looking around the room half empty. But in Antwerp at the conference realizing how not one bit of it, and when you many of these people were consider how many lectures there. Then I realize how lucky were packed into two days, it I was to have attended and just goes to show how pas- helped support Patrick in this sionate eclipse chasers are endeavour. One other amaz- about their hobby or profes- ing observation was that I have sion, it was just amazing. I never seen so many people at- can only close by thanking Fred “Mr Eclipse” Espenak - Predicts all our futures tend so much of a conference. everyone who attended, bring- Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 17 ing their knowledge and ex- Special thanks must go perience, and sharing that to Mark Peebler (It’s all with everyone, that was one of good companies) who the most wonderful aspects of unfortunately could not the conference, that these be present. Urania Ob- great people are so happy to servatory in Antwerp, es- pass on their knowledge to pecially Didier Van the benefit of everyone, I for Hellemont, a real star, one am a most grateful recipi- also to Daryl Barr who ent. I hope others learnt as supported Patrick even much as I did. What’s more it over 5,000 miles. was great to see everyone to- gether meeting after long peri- ods apart, that also brings Report: great satisfaction to both Pat- Joanne Edmonds rick and myself.

Some reactions received in regard of the SEC2000

From: Daniel Fischer I still have jet lag, I still have Zimbabwe, Tel: (263-4) To: also have wonderful memo- (263-4) 744287, Fax: (263- Sent: Monday, Oc- is priceless. The flu and the Email: pod- tober 16, 2000 7:50 PM Sub- jet lag will pass. The experi- [email protected] “The ject: [SE] The quintessence ence will stay with me for- of the Antwerp conference ... ever ... sort of like each and From: P.C. Kalebwe experience will every eclipse I see. The expedition to Zambia has program was well rounded, forever ... sort been summarized on http:// and the participants were Patrick and Joanne, Thanks of like each www.astro.uni-bonn.de/ wonderful people. It is al- for the nicely organised con- ~dfischer/2001 - in German, ways great to meet people ference. All of us know that and every unfortunately ... Daniel that have exchanged email it is not easy to organise a eclipse I see.” Fischer for so long. Thank you, thank conference of such magni- you.... I hope everyone has tude and International for that From: found their way home safely. matter. Must be a busy To: Eric Brown, www. game. No wonder Joanne Sent: Tuesday, October Francis in proposing that you 17, 2000 3:54 PM Subject: From: go on a holiday even in your [SE] SEC 2001... both of you. Dear Patrick, and Joanne, I dont want to bog down this My sentiments EXACTLY - Looks everybody landed list server, but I needed to WELL DONE to Patick and safely! With best wishes, publicly thank you for all the Joanne (:))))))))) PS Have a Peter in Lusaka, P . C. efforts you 2 put into making Good Holiday (if you can), Kalebwe, Dept of Physics, this conference a complete, Dr Francis Podmore (Senior University of Zambia, P O and total success. As an or- Lecturer) 48 Pendennis Box 32379, LUSAKA, ganizer of eclipse tours, I Road, Department of Physics ZAMBIA, Fax: 260- 1- know what is like to try to Mount Pleasant, University 253952, Tel(w): 293343 make big plan come to- of Zimbabwe HARARE, P.O. gether ... and the two of you Box MP 167 Zimbabwe, From: Henrik Glintborg did it wonderfully. Mount Pleasant, HARARE, Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 18

Some reactions received in regard of the SEC2000

I would also like to thank you Please do not forget, without A NEXT SEC? It had been a all, and especially Patrick and all the speakers it would not hell, a race, a monument to Joanne, for a most wonderful be possible, all the support of raise, a hard work... conference in Antwerp. I had the Royal Observatory, the Do not expect an interna- a great time with all the exit- EIT team Belgium, Rainbow tional eclipse conference ing speaches and it was good Symphony, Explorers Tours, every year. But .... why not to "put faces" on the other Sanitec, the Solar Eclipse every year when we do not "eclipse-mad" people around Section Belgium and anony- have a central eclipse? “Driving back the world. mous gifts from Germany and the USA. Driving back from Be lgium from Belgium to To all of you, that did not to England, the fundaments England, the participate: You have to Special thanks to all the have been made of SEC200X fundaments have come next time, and I would guestspeakers, in fact all the and we decided to continue suggest the next conference speakers, the chairmen of what we started. The reac- been made of being held in 2 years time. (Frederic, David, Pierre, tions are too good, too posi- SEC200X and we We have so much to talk Edwin and Didier), the car- tive and too motivating. We decided to about...! poolers (Michael, Els, Alain, are not telling you when, continue of what Carl, Wim, Koen, Didier, where and how, but all com- See some of you in Zim! Georges), the poster contribu- ments and recommendations we started.” Henrik Glintborg, Informa- tors, the leaflet and booklet are more than welcome. Let's tion Manager & Travel Coor- providers, the WebPages and make it better and ... see you dinator, Tycho Brahe Plane- mailing list owners, the facil- then. tarium, Gl. Kongevej 10, ity of Elzenveld, the gastro- DK-1610 Copenhagen V nomically help of Peter Van PS: As promised earlier, I van Einde, the wonderful will start immediately with From: Patrick Poitevin people of the Public Observa- the update of the monthly the distribution of the Solar But, the conference would Eclipse Calendar. Dear all, To those who could not have taken place without not make it at the SEC2000 the help of Mark Peebler for Best regards, Patrick, Patrick in Antwerp, you missed the registrations and the won- Poitevin, 7A The Drift, Ro w- something. Proceedings will derful WebPages, Jan Van lands Castle, Havant Hamp- be due in a few months but Gestel with his server for the shire PO9 6DG, ENGLAND never will reflect the confer- SEML, Didier Van Tel. +44 (0)7901 514 097 E- ence. Compare the experi- Hellemont for all the logistic mail: Pat- ence of an eclipse with the help in Belgium, Greet Poite- rick_Poitevin@Hotmail. records you see after... vin for the administrative Com, Listowner Solar help and all the sweets at the Eclipse Mailing List: To sub- To those whom all send mes- breaks, Ludo the technician scribe send E-mail to sages (via the SEML or pri- of Elzenveld, Derryl Barr for [email protected], with in vate), a big THANK YOU. all the support and help all the body SUBSCRIBE SO- The last two days, we have over the years and specially LARECLIPSES name, coun- been overwhelmed with in the preparations of the try, Solar Eclipse Newsletter: nice, warm and friendly mes- conference, and last but not Browse and read archived sages from everywhere. It least our kids Michael and SEML messages from http:// was a pleasure to see, to hear Laura whom made a wonder- www.MrEclipse.com, The and to read that everybody ful conference folder, and index for the "Solar Ec lipse had a truly good time during helped with a lot of admin i- Newsletter" is located at: the conference. We hope strations. We, Joanne and I, http://www.MrEclipse.com/ everybody had a safe and are proud of you all: SENL/SENLinde.htm nice trip back home. THANK YOU!!! Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 19 AFRICA 2001 AFRICAN MYTHOLOGY

From: Helen Griffiths is the female half of this an- Africans - or at least this particu- To: solar eclipses the wife or twin of Lisa, the sun. eclipses. Is this right? Together they created all the Sent: Sunday, October 15, other deities. When they mate, it Is there a good source in English 2000 9:00 AM Subject: [SE] causes an eclipse. (http://www. or German about solar eclipse African mythology re solar angelfire.com/ca/ myths in general? There seem to eclipses GoddessMythology/African. be two main explanations for html) When there is an eclipse of eclipses in mythology: Does anyone know if there are the Sun or the Moon, the Fon any tribal groups in Zambia people think that Mawu and Liza 1. A dragon or demon eating or that have any particular belief are making love. Mawu and Liza attacking the sun. (Rahu in India, systems regarding solar are the parents of seven pairs of Apep in Egypt,...) eclipses? For example, we twins. These twins are gods with know of the sun-eating dragon different domains. Mawu is the 2. Sun and moon making some in Asia. What about Africa? goddess of fertility, joy and rest. more stars or whatever ;). I'm sure I saw something Liza is the god of day, heat and about this somewhere on the strength (http://www.up.ac.za/ I'm always interested in eclipse net but I didn't bookmark it academic/education/didactics/ mythology, so if anyone can tell and now I can't find it any- learner/1999/moore_aj/e-cv /me some more stories or names where. I look forward to hear- portfolio/projects/articles/moon/ or recommend me a good source, ing from you... Helen mawu.htm) (See also: http:// I'd like to hear from you :) Marc www.fellowshipofisis.com/ From: liturgy/mel6.html) From: Michael Simmons You'll find many informations You can about eclipses and mythology Some West African tribes ex- also see a dragon from Persian in the book : "Les eclipses plained a lunar eclipse by saying mythology eating the Sun on the mythes et symboles" by Chris- that a cat is eating the moon. cover of Nojum (Iranian Astron- tophe Lanier (Editions Peuples They believed that the sun re- omy) Magazine's special eclipse du Monde, Paris, 1999) About turns over the same route at edition on my web page at home. Africa see page 167 to 172 (les night as it does during the day. earthlink.net/~msimm/Iran99/ éclipses dans la mythologie An eclipse means the moon, Picture_pages/ africaine), see also pages 26, having lost her way, has ob- Eclipse/03Nojum_cover.htm 27, 222 and 233. Dorje structed the sun and is being de- I can't tell you the dragon's name “An old woman voured by him. The natives tried since I don't speak Farsi. :-) I takes the Sun From: J.P. van de Giessen to help the moon by ritual, using can get it, though (if it has a slow hand clapping to persuade name). and puts it into a Helen, Here are some myths: the solar cat to release her. In the same edition of Nojum, bag that she (http://www.sniksnak.com/lore4. there is another about eclipses, Gleti (Benin) Moon goddess. html) depicted in drawings (not on my carries over her She is the mother of all the web page but I can send it to any- shoulder, stars (Gletivi). An eclipse is JPvdGiessen, Astronomical one interested). An old woman cutting off the said to be caused by the Books Online, http://home. takes the Sun and puts it into a shadow of the her husband gelrevision.nl/~jpvdgies/ bag that she carries over her light.” when he comes to "visit". indexbooks.html, jpvdgies- shoulder, cutting off the light. (http://www.cybercomm.net/ [email protected] There is a hole in the bag, ~grandpa/mytlogy2.html) though, and the Sun slowly slips From: Marc Weihrauch Hello, That sounds as if the Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 20

“WHAT WILL THE ANIMALS ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR DO DURING A From: I emailed him (and you can find the most visible as they took TOTAL SOLAR To: Sent: Wednesday, Octo- thing substantial. ing noises (complaints about a ber 04, 2000 6:00 PM Subject: short day or sleep?). In fact, the [SE] Animal behaviour during But even NEGATIVE evidence only animals to exhibit very total eclipses (e.g. "In the xxxx total eclipse all strange noises and behavior dur- the animals did not display any ing the eclipse were of the hu- Several people have asked me unusual behaviour" ) would be man species (or close relatives). "What will the animals do dur- very reassuring both for our De- Bill Kramer http://www. A ing a total eclipse? Might they partment of National Parks AND eclipse-chasers.com -- Eclipses be very alarmed and dash for those intending to go to an of the Sun and Moon about??" area with potentially dangerous F animals. (I think you can forget From: Olivier Staiger since the 2001 eclipse track now!!) (I think you can forget the birds, passes through a number of fish and insects for now!!) R game parks and safari areas Can anyone help? Thank you. where many visitors will go to Francis Well, I think you should NOT watch the eclipse. And large forget the insects. In 1994 in I numbers of frightened animals From: Hugh DeMann Brazil I received 4 bites from (lion, buffalo, elephant, etc) mosquitoes during totality ! Re- would be a serious risk to peo- Hey All, I seriously doubt that member: mosquitoes mostly ple's personal safety. animals are going to stampede come out at dusk ! And totality C due to an eclipse. And if they IS dusk . Thus, you should not The Wildlife Society of Zim- do, they are unlikely to take out go out in T-shirt and shorts to babwe is willing to do a re- their frustrations on nearby peo- see the eclipse. Wear long search study on just what does ple. My experience with animals sleeves and jeans on E-day. Ma- A happen. But has such a study in eclipses is that they go to bed laria is a serious problem. Oliv- been done before? What was (or do whatever they normally do ier "Klipsi" Staiger http:// found? Where are the reports? at nighttime.) eclipse.span.ch mobile phone +41.79.449 4630 Geneva Swit- I have found and heard of a From: zerland E- mail: olivier. number of verbal accounts that ... I agree with Hugh... I have [email protected] A member of birds and domestic animals did seen 6 eclipses, all with some the Outerspace Advertising Net- 2 behave very unusually, but is sort of animal presence.. birds, work http://www.outerspaceads. there a body of animal/bird/ dogs, fish, deer. At most, they net insect/fish/... behaviour scien- seem confused, and hide as 0 tific literature on the subject? though nighttime is approaching. From: Carton, WHC Surely eclipses must have Indeed! During the 90 seconds passed over wildlife areas in From: Bill Kramer of totality in Finland (22th July 0 the past - what happened?? 1990) I have been severly bitten I have been to two eclipses near by mosquito's, just below the Just after the 1999 eclipse I wildlife (Africa 1980, Java handkerchief that I had around saw a letter in two British 1983). In each case, the wildlife my head to cover it against mo s- 1 newspapers asking people to has reacted, but it should be quito's. The bits were a real send in any reports (with video noted that they did nothing ab- chain of red "pearls" on my evidence if possible) to Rupert normal. Nocturnal animals forehead. Wil Carton. Sheldrake, who was wanting awoke for the night will others to collect observations. When headed to nest. The birds were From: Peter Tiedt where are the cows?" (I have Schneider http://nicmosis.as. THAT on tape too...) arizona.edu:8000/ Is this the first reported sighting of "Wil's Beads" :-))) 1990 - Atka Island (Alaska). From: Evan Zucker During totality the otherwise Glenn apparently has a better From: Glenn Schneider omnipresent bald eagles which memory than I. As he knows, inhabit the island (prolific as I was with him (and the Ama- A few first-hand, but admittedly pigeons in the park) were no- teur Observers' Society of subjective observations. where to be seen. Maybe it was New York City) on 10 July 72, the eclipse, or maybe the rain and I don't remember anything 1972 - Southern bank of the St. (another cloud out, ugh!) which about mosquitoes. Perhaps it's Lowrance River. 2 minutes be- sent them to their eeries. because my primary memory fore totality a cloud of mosqui- is the disappointment over be- toes rose up from the river bank 1994 - Bolivian Altiplano (near ing clouded out. (where none had been seen for Huachacalla). Noted minutes I can't "forget the several hours before) and bit the AFTER totality that a heard of ~ I believe Joe Rao was just insects for now". heck out of us during the 50 llamas had returned to graze down the road from us (and Had we NOT been eclipse - which we were clouded at their "home turf", which was DID see totality, the dog ). clouded out, I out of anyway - adding insult to right by our campsite. None I wonder if he remembers any might not have our misery. I can't "forget the were seen in the immediate area mosquitoes. been able to insects for now". Had we NOT before second contact. Thus, operate my cameras been clouded out, I might not the MUST have been on the Good luck with 2079! I'll be for fending off the have been able to operate my move DURING totality, but we happy just to see 2045. Evan hungry horde. cameras for fending off the hun- were too oblivious to move- H. Zucker San Diego, Califor- gry horde. ments on the ground as we were nia glued to the celestial movements 1976 - Summit of Mt. Delagate above. (Australia). Also about 2 min- utes before totality (gloriously 1999 - On the Black Sea. Dol- seen through a large drifting hole phins were seen frolicking near in broken clouds) a chorus of the ship we were on shortly after cattle clamored a cacaughophy third contact. Maybe they with the approach of the umbra. would have done so anyway, but The hillsides below us were rife I hadn't seen any at any other with domestic cows, mindlessly time except as we passed chewing their cud until t-2 min- through the Bosporus many days utes, then the mooing dominated earlier. all other sounds around us. No stampede, just surround-sound of Reprise: 1974 - Cape Leeuwin, mooing. I don't know if you Austraila. Told before on the would venture to extrapolate this [SE] mail exploder, the tale of bovine behavior to African carni- "the Dog, the Sea Gulls, and the vores, that may be a stretch. Jackass", so to save bandwidth see: http://nicmosis.as.arizona. Aside: 1n 1991, in Buena Vista, edu:8000/ECLIPSE_WEB/ Baja California, my wife who ECLIPSE_74/ was seeing her first TSE, having ECLIPSE_74_REPORT.html heard an audio tape of the cows of '76, asked during totality while Cheers! Sorry I will miss the we were lying on beach blankets conference, but hope to see on the Mexican beach sand "so, some of you in Zambia. Glenn Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 22 AFRICA 2001 ZIMBABWE TALK IN BELGIUM

From: Koen Geukens To: Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2000 8:25 AM Subject: [SE] Zimbabwe -talk in Belgium (Antwerp)

Hello, SEC2000 is just finished but there is again something to do in Antwerp that can be of interest for eclips chasers in that area who want to go to Zimbabwe next year. In Antwerp (Wolstraat 43) there is a pub called ViaVia. It is no ordinary pub, but it is a place where a lot of activities are organized around traveling. In Dutch it is called a "reiscafe", what can be translated as a "travel pub". In november there are two evenings where a slideshow is presented about "an adventurous jeep- safari through southern Africa". On 16 november it's all about Namibië, on 30 november it is about Botswana and Zimbabwe. Each evening there are two sessions, one at 20h and one at 21h30. And it is free.

Regards, Koen

FLIGHTS TO AFRICA FROM EUROPE “I would like to From: Jeff Batten To: Librairie Uranie / Place Lucien From: Laroche / 56000 Vannes / Tél. : com> Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 02 97 47 09 97. France I don't have exact email url Europe, see the 2000 8:29 PM Subject: [SE] but maybe you can find it on eclipse from the Eclipse charter flight to Africa best regards, Christophe, Les car- the web.> His e mail is : from Europe nets de l'astronome ... Spécial dorje back the same Hello, Does anyone have any in- astrosurf.com/carnets-astronome day.” formation on the European char- From: Manfred Rudolf ter flights to Africa for the day of From: Olivier Staiger Info the eclipse. [email protected]> Charter flight about the 2-day eclipse from Europe to Zambia round- quickie Olivier refers to be- I would like to fly down to Africa trip: see the links at the bottom of low can be found at: from Europe, see the eclipse from my page : http://eclipse.span. the airport, and fly back the same ch/2001tse.htm, there is a http://www.astronomie.at/ day. Thanks Jeff planned fligth from Vienna Aus- asc/sofi01.htm tria (and I have been told that From: ccmlt route to catch more passengers, Munich Hi Jeff, hi all, The scientific tbc ). However I do not know if it bookseller and publisher will happen for sure. And the site "Uranie" (france) has a good is in German. proposition for you. I don't have exact email url but maybe you Olivier "Klipsi" Staiger can find it on the web. http://eclipse.span.ch, mobile phone +41.79.449 4630 Geneva The trip is one day in lusaka from Switzerland, E-mail: olivier. paris. arrival june 20 , departure [email protected], A member of to paris june 21 after eclipse. the Outerspace Advertising Net- Price is about 5000 FF (about 650 work, http://www.outerspaceads. US$) with breakfast and lunch. net Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 23 AFRICA 2001

GLASSES FOR AFRICA

F rom: send in their unused or un- may have a French name....] To: that they could be sent out to Does anyone know more Can anyone help? Francis Sent: Wednesday, Oc- where/who I could contact? tober 04, 2000 5:40 PM Sub- But the article didn't give any PS My appeal in UK has re- ject: [SE] "Glasses for Af- contact address or email ad- I know OXFAM in Belgium sulted in about 100 000 being rica" dress or website.... Searching have had a huge campaign collected, most of which are the web (using my favourite and collected 200 000 for here waiting to be distributed Just after the 1999 eclipse our www.google.com) has found Mocambique (which they to schools as part of an local newspaper had a story other websites which also ran have tested, individually!!) eclipse information pack.... about a French Charity called the story but none give any but I would lik eto contact the More details at the Antwerp "Glasses for Africa" which names or contact addresses. French group. conference (:)) was appealing for people to [And of course, this charity

BRADT TRAVEL GUIDE

From: Sheridan Williams pack was waiting for me! on: info@bradt-travelguides. You MUST mention that com> To: It contained a special dis- you were a Conference dele- Sent: Tuesday, Oc- ing the conference and you count rate. If you email a tober 17, 2000 3:15 PM Sub- can obtain a copy for £8 in- credit card number, and your ject: [SE] Bradt Travel Guide stead of £10.95. I am not sure street address, they will get of the postage costs, but if you a copy immediately. This book was unavailable at you want a copy at the dis- the Conference much to peo- counted rate, please contact Wasn't the conference great? ple's disappointment. When I Bradt Travel Guides by email Sheridan arrived home the conference

ECLIPSE TRIPS

From: To: Sent: Saturday, prepare for it at blacksun/eclipse.htm -Editor, TO CHECK IF YOU October 14, 2000 5:32 PM Blacksuneclipse newsletter - NEED VISA’S Subject: [eclipse] eclipse http://members.aol.com/ to subscribe send email to trips kcstarguy/ blacksuneclipse- CHECK WITH YOUR LO- blacksun/2001eclipse.htm [email protected] CAL MEDICAL CENTER I have started to list eclipse FOR VACINATIONS & trips on my webpage Dr. Eric Flescher, MALARIA ([email protected])- http://members.aol.com/ Eclipse 2001 KUNJANI Sa- kcstarguy/blacksun/ faris tour host- http://www. eclipsetrips.htm kunjani.co.za/eclipse.htm, webmaster, Eric's Black Sun Volume 5, Issue 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER Page 24

SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER SEC2000 RELATED WORDSEARCH 1. Anderson 2. Berghmans 3. Casado 4. Chou 5. Clette 6. Cugnon 7. Edmonds 8. Espenak 9. Fischer 10. Foing 11. Hiei 12. Hopper 13. Jones 14. Kalebwe 15. Koutchmy 16. Krupp 17. Lariviere 18. Makepeace 19. Maley 20. Meiser 21. Pasachoff 22. Podmore 23. Poitevin 24. Rusin 25. Staiger 26. Steele 27. Stephenson 28. Tiedt 29. Van Hellemont 30. Verbelen 31. Verwichte A P O D M O R E B J C D E F G H I E I H Q W E R T Y N U I O P A S D F G O H J K L Z X C V B N M Q W E V Q O E R P O I T E V I N T Y U I P P U R K O P A S E A S S D F G G H J K L Z E X C V B N M Q W K E R R R T Y U N I M O P A S D N I S U R F B G H J O K L Z B X F C V E B A N M Q W E R T Y U E I O P A U S D F E G I O H J H L K Z X C V B N M R Q W E R C T T Y U L I S O I P A P D E D F F G H G J K L Z H X C V B N E N C M Q N W E E R P T Y Y H U I O P O A S H D F N N C H V S N G G R T F E C M G F D S U B V C M Z E O H L E B D M S H H I S J A F J M D G U T R E Y D A S W E R N F Q D J Y E D N W C G B E R F H T D F J R R D T A M E D M O N D S S F H E Y G I D Y F F J K G E H T S Q G W F K E T F F G H D T H Y S G L E L E F D G E D W H E G L S D U N O N G U C T Q E F L I S S N F Q F E M A L E Y Y T D S W E D I R E H R E U P Q A V W G R J R H R X D E C V N I S O W R T W E Y E W J C K H T K T J T H O P P E R O A O D T R S T T N Y F X E A Y L Y K Y B F D E R G P Q P D A S F S D A T G Z R J L Z U L E T H C I W R E V H G F S S W E K E D U T K U E I Z U G H J K L Z X C V B N M A S X E F R Y Y L I X B X I F F F O H C A S A P R S D C C T G T T U Z O C O W O V C D F H J U N B V F D E T G D B U W I X P V P C E S A W L A R I V I E R E R Y T G M L Q O C A B A F P Q W R G S Z C V H F R E R E G I A T S P V A N H E L L E M O N T X J U T Y G R E W S D F B Submitted by: Laura Rose Appleton, (aged 11) Volume 5, 11 SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER PAGE 25

Country Nbr % SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER UPDATE ON MEMBERSHIP USA 81 29 37 Countries Belgium 32 11 UK 27 10 France 25 9 Status after nearly 3 years: 283 subscribers out of 37 different coun- Germany 20 7 tries. Netherlands 20 7 Canada 8 3 Spain 8 3 The Solar Eclipse Mailing List subscribers on the list. Likewise, Australia 6 2 (SEML) is an electronic news- you'll receive e-mail messages Denmark 4 1 group dedicated to Solar that other subscribers send to the India 4 1 Eclipses. Published by eclipse listserver. Only subscribers can chaser Patrick Poitevin send messages. Turkey 4 1 (patrick_poitevin@hotmail. 4 1 com), it is a forum for discuss- Main purpose of this Solar Austria 3 1 ing anything and everything Eclipse Mailing List is to share Ireland 3 1 about eclipses. information between all Solar South Africa 3 1 Eclipse enthusiasts. Our objective Sweden 3 1 Thanks to the voluntary efforts is to permit and encourage world Switzerland 3 1 of Jan Van Gestel of Geel, Bel- wide contacts among eclipse ob- Zambia 3 1 gium, the Solar Eclipse Mailing servers, calculators, scientists, Colombia 2 1 List (listserver) has been in op- ancient researchers, etc. It is a Poland 2 1 eration since 10 December media where you can send ques- Russia 2 1 1997. This is the first mailing tions, answers, items wanted, Thailand 2 1 list devoted solely to topic of items for sales, announcements, Argentina 1 0 solar eclipses on the internet. reports, observations, discus- Bolivia 1 0 sions, information, introductions, Czech Republic 1 0 You can send an e-mail message etc. All topics should be related Finland 1 0 to the list server solareclip- to Solar Eclipses. No commercial Hungary 1 0 [email protected], which will then advertisements are allowed. 1 0 forward your e-mail to all the Japan 1 0 Korea 1 0 Mexico 1 0 Norway 1 0 Romania 1 0 Solar Eclipse Mailing List Sri Lanka 1 0 Ukraine 1 0 Zimbabwe 1 0 Total 283 300 250 200 150 100

Subscribers 50 0 10- 12- 12- 12- 13- 15- 15- 15- 16- 17- 17- 17- D Mar- Jun- S D Mar- Jun- S D Mar- Jun- S ec- 98 98 ep- ec- 99 99 ep- ec- 00 00 ep- 97 98 98 99 99 00 VISION STATEMENT

THE SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER IS A Joanne & Patrick MONTHLY NEWSLETTER ABOUT SOLAR ECLIPSES EDITED BY PATRICK POITE- VIN & JOANNE EDMONDS. FINANCIAL SUPPORT FROM RAINBOW SYMPHONY. Solar Eclipse Mailing List

THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THE SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER IS AVAIL- ABLE ON THE WEB PAGE OF FRED WE’RE ON THE WEB AT ESPENAK. THE SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWS- http://www.Mr.Eclipse.com/ SENL/SENLinde.htm LETTER IS FREE OF CHARGE, BUT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN HARD COPY.

SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWSLETTER UPDATE ON MEMBERSHIP

(Continued from page 25) contact the list owner. If READ ONLY or even abandon you use information or mes- complete from the list. Do NOT send large files. sages from the SEML in any For the convenience of the correspondence, article, pa- See the front page of this Solar subscribers, there is an auto- per or lecture, please men- Eclipse Newsletter (SENL) for matic filter on the size of the tion the SEML and how to details on how to subscribe for messages. Try to send plain subscribe. the SEML. text. If you wish to attach a file anyway, please make it It is never the intention to Please see the graph of the in ASCII. The language is announce the addresses of SEML status over nearly 3 English. Unsubscribe during the members. If you are years. As you will see, just your holidays or do not use looking for somebody, write before the 11 August 1999 auto replies or confirmation a message to the list owner eclipse, subscribers unsub- of receipts. and the contact person will scribed, while just after the be informed. A list of the event, re-subscribe. The maxi- All subscribers automatically subscribers is not available mum number of subscribers give the permission to ar- to the members. In this case was one month after this chive the messages being we avoid junk mailers. eclipse, with 291 subscribers. sent. If you decline, please Again: Only subscribers can Due to the Solar Eclipse Con- write your copyright on the send messages to the Solar ference in Antwerp, Belgium bottom of each message. The Eclipse Mailing List. (October 14 – 15, 2000), the non-copyright messages are number of subscribers in- regarded as public domain The Solar Eclipse Mailing creased again, but overall the and imply your silent con- List is maintained by the list number of SEML subscribers is sent to include such messag- owner Patrick Poitevin quite stable. ing in the archive. If you feel (patrick_poitevin@hotmail. this is wrong or you have com). It is the right of the list changed your mind, please owner to put a subscriber on