The observation of the total solar eclipse was a complete success for everybody in our group of 14 german amateur astronomers led by Daniel Fischer, Königswinter and the two scouts provided by ZAWA. The sky was perfect clear besides a small patch of smoke from bush fires at the northern horizon (visible in the fish eye image during totality). So even stars of mag 7.2 are visible in the longest exposured slide with the 500 mm lens. We observed from the north western corner of the Kafue National Park in Zambia at 14°02'13.3" S and 25°38'24.0" E. This was about 8 km north of the center line, which yields the longest possible duration of the totality of 3 min 46 sec for the given longitude due to the actual moon rim profile. The images of the eclipsed sun were made through a Maksutov telelens with 1100 mm focal length @ f/10.5, a Sigma APO 170 - 500 mm telelens @ 500 mm (f/8) on a modified old Polaris mount and an 8 mm Peleng Fisheye lens on Fujichrome Velvia (ISO 50). The exposure times varied between 1/250 sec. (contacts) and 30 sec. (corona at mid-eclipse). All images © 2001 Bernd Brinkmann. They may not be used in any form elsewhere without the written permission of the author. |
In the closeup the filamentary network of the protuberances are visible. |
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In this high resolution scan star up to 7.2 mag are marked. |
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Besides the eclipse we stayed 3 weeks in Zambia and visited four National Parks and the Victoria Falls: |
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were seen in the Livingstone NP: |
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On the way back to Lusaka we made an excursion to the Kariba Dam near Siavonga. Here you can see me at the 128 m high crest of the dam. |
Our last hours in Lusaka we spent relaxed at the Vineyard Lodge, which has always been a pleasant home when we stayed there (6 nights at all during 4 stays). |
The last view back to a wonderful country which we all appreciated during these 3 weeks. |
first published: 01.07.2001 by Bernd Brinkmann
orientation of solar images changed; closeup of protuberances added; text and
new images added: 08.07.2001 BB