Libya, mars 2006

 A Total Solar Eclipse & Astrophotography in the desert

 

TSE Libya 2006

 

The Total Solar Eclipse took place under perfect conditions in the southern desert of Libya, 2006-03-29. Not a cloud in sight for several days. Maximun phase was 10:15 UT. Venus was very easy to spot, even before totality. I missed the "flying shadows phenomenon". The Moonshadow, due west, manifests well in the picture. A  typical digital camera operator is seen in siluette. Visually the Solar Corona was magnificent. A group of three well defined streamers due west and a more complex cluster of streamers due east made us happy. Just before third contact, an intense red chromospheric spot made the Grand Finale of the totality! A party of five Swedes went together with Irish and English people and stayed in the desert for nine days. A temperaturegraph during the event is available here.

 

 

 

 

Astro Libya 2006

 


Astrophotography in the desert of southern Libya, some 200 km from the Tchad border. The Zodiacal light was a prominent feature in the early evenings, when Orion was setting. A weak Gegenschein was spotted with some effort in zenith, around midnight. This picture shows the rising Milky Way, in the mornings, with Jupiter in the upper right and Aquila in the left upper corner. A homebrewed
Barndoor Tracker made my astrophotography a relaxed duty. The darkest place on Earth it was? Well, it sure must be very close. A telescope had been too much.