Solar Eclipse this Saturday AM

[Whitters]

THE UNUSUAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 2003 MAY 31

Early on Saturday, May 31, 2003 there will be a most unusual eclipse of
the Sun.  At maximum extent it will be visible as an annular eclipse from
much of the Highlands of Scotland (including Inverness), Lewis in the
Outer Hebrides, the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, the Faeroes, Iceland
and most of Greenland, at around dawn.  The rest of the UK will see the
Sun rise partially eclipsed.  

For locations in the south of Scotland and in the north-east of England,
the Sun will rise at maximum eclipse, when around 87 percent of the Sun
will be obscured.  At locations further south and west, the Sun will rise
steadily later, after maximum eclipse has occurred, reducing the time
between sunrise and fourth contact - the end of the partial phase.  For
details of local circumstances, would-be observers should consult the
various tables and other information given in Fred Espenak's website at:

http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/ASE2003/ASE2003.html

Sheridan Williams also has an excellent site at:

http://www.clocktower.demon.co.uk/eclipse2003/

This will be the first annular eclipse to be visible from anywhere in the
United Kingdom since that of April 8, 1921 which was also visible from
north-west Scotland, the Orkneys and Shetlands. An annular eclipse occurs
when the Moon's distance from the Earth is such that the apparent size of
its disc is smaller than the disc of the Sun during a central eclipse.
Consequently, at maximum eclipse, the dark disc of the Moon lies entirely
within the disc of the Sun, leaving a bright ring or "annulus" of sunlight
- the so-called "ring of fire" - all around.

The May 31 solar eclipse is the first central (i.e. not just a partial)
eclipse of its Saros series (Saros 147), and it covers the northernmost
part of the Earth; in fact it partly misses the Earth, passing above and
beyond the North Pole.  Normally, when one considers total or annular
eclipses of the Sun, the Moon's shadow moves from west to east across the
Earth's surface. However, during the solar eclipse of May 31, the Moon's
shadow passes from the sunlit hemisphere (the daytime side) of the Earth,
over the North Pole, and just grazes the surface of the Earth on the other
(far) side of the pole. At this time of the year, the northern polar
regions are illuminated by the Sun, while the southern polar regions are
in darkness. These circumstances mean that the Moon's shadow will, on this
occasion, move from east to west over the Earth's surface, in the opposite
direction to that which is normally experienced.

The annular phase begins at 03:45 UT and ends at 04:31 UT. Since this
takes place at or shortly after dawn, the Sun's altitude will be extremely
low throughout, so would-be observers will need an absolutely clear,
near-perfect horizon.  For example, from the northernmost part of
Scotland, the annular eclipse will occur at dawn, at 3:45 am UT (4:45 am
BST), so from Inverness the Sun will be right on the horizon during the 75
seconds of annularity.  Observers intending to travel to Scotland to view
the annular eclipse should consult local weather forecasts for guidance as
to the most likely locations offering a cloud-free north-eastern horizon
at dawn on May 31.  Again, for details of local circumstances, consult
Fred Espenak's website as recommended above.

The maximum duration of the annular phase is 3m 37s, and from Reykjavik in
Iceland the annular phase will last only 1 second less than this.  However
annularity will not actually be visible from Reykjavik since the Sun will
be only about 3 degrees above the horizon and behind a local mountain.

The eclipse will be visible as a partial eclipse from the extreme
north-east of Africa, the Middle East, Europe (except south-west France,
Spain and Portugal), Asia (except the south and east), Greenland and
north-west North America. The partial eclipse begins at 01:46 UT and ends
at 06:30 UT.  

For those fortunate enough to witness the annular phase - to see the Sun
rise as a thin ring of light - the May 31 solar eclipse will be a
memorable experience. Please send any pictures to the BAA
(picture@britastro.org) for possible publication.

John Mason.
BAA Publicity Officer.

[Greg]

I will be watching the eclipse from hastings. It will rise with the Moon already half off the Sun's disk. It will be less than 5 degrees above the horizon at last contact!!
If it's clear it will be a terrific photo oportunity!
If it's clear!!!

[Whitters]

Yes the BIG IF

[Greg]

I have been looking at the special weather forecast for Saturday in the South East around North Kent and London. It is not all gloom and doom.

There may be quite a lot of broken cloud during the day. It will be humid with a chance of a thunder storm. It apears to be getting even warmer.

Judging by the sunrises and sunsets over the last couple of days from Bromley, it is possible we might see the sun - even that low down, BUT I feel that if everything goes according to plan, it will be a very hazy start low down before the sky clears leaving broken cloud with light wind. It might be something similar to the Transit of Mercury.

I will be in Hastings standing near the road to Fairlight on the coast - the view from there is spectacular - giving it big in the East.

[Brian Weller]

Hi All,
I was up at about 04.30 aiming to take photos of the eclipse. The sky was almost completely clear except for the area in the northeast. I saw a slight glow once or twice between 5 and 5.30. The sun finally came out of the clouds just 5 minutes after the eclipse finished.
See you all,
Brian.