Total Solar Eclipse, 11 July 1991, Expedition
Twelve people of diverse ages and backgrounds went from Montgomery
College
to the great eclipse of 11 July 1991. This eclipse was special for
several
different reasons. It was the longest eclipse that will occur until
2132
and was seen by more people directly along the eclipse path than any in
previously recorded history. The eclipse path passed over Mexico city
and
many other populated areas, from Central America to Brazil. The sun was
very active, being near its peak in the 11-year cycle, and showed many
prominence. Using the college's 3 1/2-inch Questar telescope with a
35-mm
Nikon camera, Diana Woody and Harold Williams took some suburb
photographs
of solar prominence, Baily's Beads (the last light of the photosphere
shining
through deep lunar valleys), and the solar corona (the atmosphere of
the
sun). Charles Phillips, a member of the MC expedition, using a 35-mm
camera
with a telephoto lens and a tripod, captured pictures of the Diamond
Ring
just before and after totality. Camile Conroy took photographs of the
people
before, during, and after the eclipse with a hand-held camera. The
group
stayed in Puerto Vallarta, state of Jalisco, Mexico, at the
beautiful
Buganvilias Sheraton Resort on the beach, but traveled to a fishing
village
on the coast, Sayulita in the state of Nayarit, the day of the
eclipse.
The travel was arranged by Eclipse
Edge of MetaResearch.
A report on the eclipse expedition is here.
This was my first total eclipse and my only edge eclipse so far.
In February 26, 1998 at Curacao, in the Netherlands Antilles the
National
Capital Astronomers, NCA,
arrange
an eclipse trip while I was president of this organization. I am
now webmaster of NCA. I viewed the eclipse from near the
centerline.
It was spectacular, but if I have a choice, at the next total eclipse I
will go to an edge eclipse again. I loved the way the Baily's
Beads
danced on the edge for a moment. Tom Van Flanderin eloquently
explains
it this way.
Fred Espenak's Eclipse Pages,
best general scientific source of eclipse maps, dates, and general
data.
Everyone uses Fred Espenak, he is without peer for specific eclipse
information.
Wendy Carlos Eclipse Pages,
some of the finest pictures taken by a true artist of eclipses and
music.
Eclipse Glasses which you will need for the December 25, 2000
partial
eclipse of the sun, which will be around 53.5% in the Washington, DC
metro
area, unless you want to wear a box over your head:
Total
Solar Eclipses Paths 2001 to 2025 from Fred Espenak.
Next two solar eclipses crossing the United States of America are
August 21, 2017 and April 8, 2024.
Montgomery
College's
Planetarium home page
Web page by Dr. Harold Alden Williams.
Last changed 11:40PM November 9, 2004.