Eclipse of the Sun today

Geoff.D

Geoff.D

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An eclipse of the Sun is visible today for about 3 hours starting at 09:31 and lasting for about 3 hours, reaching a peak at about 11:00.

Cape Town should also be able to see it at a maximum of 20%. PTA(Gauteng) will experience 50%. It si visible from PTA right now.

The peak is over Tanzania with the maximum lasting about 3 minutes. It is an annular Eclipse meaning that at its peak a ring of sunlight will surround the Moon. The reason is the distance of the Moon away form the Earth is at a maximum, thus not blocking out the Sum completely.

The next Eclipse will be in 2017, over the USA, which will be a total Eclipse.
 
Here is what it looked like a few minutes ago. Fujifilm X-T10 + a very makeshift filter.

eclipse.JPG
 
I used a big korn bites packet to look at it, works well as a filter :)
 
So cool, dunno why. The total eclipse I witnessed looking out over the Zambesi river valley was one of my greatest experiences.
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
So cool, dunno why. The total eclipse I witnessed looking out over the Zambesi river valley was one of my greatest experiences.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree. The one we viewed in Egypt ( March 2006) was an absolutely amazing experience never to be forgotten.
 
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ScottulusMaximus said:
So cool, dunno why. The total eclipse I witnessed looking out over the Zambesi river valley was one of my greatest experiences.
Click to expand...

There is something about a total eclipse that is just amazing. Was at one up near Musina and everyone just started clapping when it was at maximum.
 
ToxicBunny said:
There is something about a total eclipse that is just amazing. Was at one up near Musina and everyone just started clapping when it was at maximum.
Click to expand...

Am sure the moon appreciated it..:p, but agree- awe inspiring sight.
 
DSC_2396-cropped.jpg

Best I could do. I'll leave eclipse photograph to the professionals.
 
Toxic T said:
That is pretty good. How did you capture it?
Click to expand...

It's a 1:1 crop, so that's as good as it gets. I used a Nikon D3200, 70-200, with a doubler and a nd 3.0 (10 stop) filter. f/22 and 1/4000th, ISO 100.
 
We just used some of the Black Foil that we sell... could see it perfectly!
 
Pencil in to your calendars the month of February 2017.

We will be able to view a Lunar Eclipse as well as Sun Eclipse in the same month.

An annular solar eclipse (between 0.25 and 0.75 over SA) on the 26th February 2017, preceded two weeks earlier by a penumbral lunar eclipse on the 11 February 2017.

After that a fairly lean period with a number of Eclipses hardly viewable over South Africa, until the big one on the 25th November 2030 (06:51:37), which will be a total Eclipse over Botswana and South Africa, magnitude 1,047, lasting for 3 minutes and 44 seconds.
Visible everywhere in SA, but total in the Northern parts of South Africa.
 
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A great view from here in Zambia. Clear skies and a welders mask worked a treat to view it, but this is a crop taken directly with my Tab S2.

756e4c1385309b61cf8fa83b60b1e354.jpg
 
Saw a glimpse thru the clouds here in CT. Just a little bite out of the sun. Let's hope Apple doesn't notice, they might sue
;)
 
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