Episode 187

In this episode of the Observers Notebook podcast, host Tim Robertson talks to a number of observers of the April 8, 2024 Total Solar Eclipse to get their first hand experience.

Special thanks to Ken Poshedly, John Oneal, Keith Drake, Daniel Herron, Lisa Tate-Holmes and Scott Harris for sharing their experiences.

As the Total Solar Eclipse of 2024 becomes a memorable astronomical event witnessed by many, it will be preserved and shared by observers through documented visual observations and vivid personal recollections. The ALPO wishes to share all the depth and nuance of this experience as well as its scientific and measured magnitude in an upcoming issue of Journal of the ALPO.

Please send in your observations and reports, whether they be images, drawings, diagrams, or written documentation and descriptions to:

PLEASE NOTE ECLIPSE OBSERVATIONS PREVIOUSLY SENT TO [email protected] SHOULD BE RESENT TO THE ABOVE EMAIL ADDRESS.

Reports should include the following information and data:

Observer’s name and exact location of the observation. Include an actual address, the city, state, and country or if in a rural location, an approximation, as well as latitude and longitude from where you observed the eclipse.

Date and time (Universal Time preferred) include “eclipse contacts” would be helpful.

• First contact occurs when the partial phase of the eclipse begins

• Second contact is when a total phase begins

• Third contact is when the total phase ends

• Fourth contact occurs when the partial phase ends.

Include an exact time for any specific events or observations observed with the naked eye or with instrumentation.

Instrumentation details including type of optical aid (telescope, binoculars, naked-eye, etc.), focal length, aperture (inches or mm), filter details (if used).

Sky conditions should include seeing (steadiness) and transparency as well as general sky conditions. Report weather descriptions, especially from any weather instruments brought to your site.

Written descriptions and impressions are welcome too, about what was observed at various stages of the eclipse. This can include observations during the partial phases concerning wildlife, sky darkening, shadow bands just before and after totality, and any other environmental effects. Be sure to note the time for these events. For totality, size, shape, and extent of the corona, prominences, chromosphere, etc. are of interest as well as sky colors, visibility of landscape, visual identification of planets, stars, etc., including weather conditions at the time. Visual impressions of the diamond ring are welcome too.

We hope it was a wonderful eclipse wherever you were and that you will share your observations with us. The ALPO will analyze and report these observations collectively, in an upcoming issue of the Journal.

For more information you can visit the ALPO web site at:

www.alpo-astronomy.org/

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