Total Solar Eclipse
August 11, 1999

These are some photographs of the total solar eclipse on August 11, 1999, taken near Rastatt, Germany. Unfortunately the weather was very cloudy, especially the 2 minutes at totality.

The following are photographs of projected images of the partially eclipsed sun from a 2.5-inch (6-cm) refractor telescope.

The telescope set-up The telescope set-up. The image of the sun is projected on a plate below the telescope. This meant that several people could take pictures, even with simple cameras. The size of the image is much larger than directly through the camera lens. Here the projected solar image is being videoed.
Using this method, there is absolutely no danger of eye injuries.
The sun before the eclipse
The sun before the eclipse.
.		 The sun at 11:21 Just after first contact
Just after first contact. 11:21 Central European Summertime
The sun at 11:44
The sun at 11:44 Central European Summertime		 The sun at 11:55
The sun at 11:55 Central European Summertime
The sun at 12:18
The sun at 12:18 Central European Summertime		 We were completely clouded in at totality. We could not see the Earth's shadow but it became as dark as a very dark night. Students measured a drop in light of a factor of 1000. The temperature dropped 7°C.
The sun at 12:43
The sun at 12:43 Central European Summertime		 The sun at 12:55
The sun at 12:55 Central European Summertime
The sun at 12:57
The sun at 12:57 Central European Summertime		 The sun at 13:21
The sun at 13:21 Central European Summertime

Here are some pictures of the group we went with. They are from Emil-Fischer-Gymnasium, Euskirchen, Germany where our son Rory is in Grade 13. A math teacher, Herr Simon Oswald, made all the arrangements and planned the various experiments with the students.

The group at the busstop in Euskirchen.
Waiting for the bus at the busstop in Euskirchen.

.		 In the bus
In the bus on the way to Rastatt on August 10. The trip there took about 4 hours - only 1 small traffic jam.
Cloudy sky
This is what the sky looked like before the eclipse, but we hoped it would improve.		 Where we were staying
This is where we were staying.
.
Group preparing indoors
The groups preparing for the eclipse indoors.		 Group doing research
Last minute reading up on solar eclipses.
The temperature group indoors
Indoor preparations of equipment to measure changes in temperature and light during the eclipse.		 The temperature group outdoors
Making temperature and light measurements outdoors before the eclipse.
The math group
Calculating the area of the sun covered by the moon at a partial phase of the eclipse.		 The Stonehenge group
Seeing how Stonehenge in Southern England can be used to predict solar and lunar eclipses.
Equipment outside
Equipment set up outside		 Last-minute preparations
Last-minute preparations
The group
Most of the group fitted out with special eclipse sunglasses and waiting for holes in the clouds.
.		 Videoing an interview
The preparations, experiments and eclipse were recorded on video for a local TV station and for the participants.
Traffic jam
On the way home. The trip took 10 hours! It seemed to be one long traffic jam. Over 10 million people travelled to Southern Germany to see the eclipse.

Here are two photographs of totality taken by Ingo Schaar, a lucky friend of ours who was not that far away from where we were but saw totality through a hole in the clouds.

Totality showing prominences
The total eclipse. There are big prominences at the top right and at the bottom.		 Totality showing corona
Totality. The solar corona.
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May, 2000
Text and photographs are ©copyright 1999 Vicki Sherwood except the 2 photos of totality by Ingo Schaar
Photographs may not be copied or used without permission
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