Rob's Photos of Libya 2006 Total Solar Eclipse
A lot of data was collected this time. The phenomena associated
with the sun span a vast range of brightnesses. The eye can
handle all of these, but film (or CCDs) can only look at a narrow range
of brightnesses at a time. The images below were selected to best show
the wide range of brightnesses and what can be seen at each range.
Most of the images below have been cropped. 10:37:36 is an
example of a full frame image. As you can see there was about 1
1/2 sun diameters at the top and bottom of the frames.
Click on the thumbnails below for large JPEG images. There are
also uncompressed images available in TIFF format. You can use either
Photoshop or Office Picture Manager (OIS.EXE) to
view the TIFF images. I recommend you stick to the JPEGs unless you
have a high speed Internet connection.
Copyright Notice
The images linked below are copyrighted. Please review this for more information.
About the Indicated Times
Unfortunately I forgot to sync the camera clock with the GPS the
morning of the eclipse. Thus the UTC times indicated below are a little
off. Later tests though revealed they are close. Note that the camera
clock only
records times to the nearest second. Thus even with a perfectly
synced clock the recorded times may be off by as much as a second. The
estimated times of 2nd and 3rd contact fall within the camera time
intervals below.
About 30 seconds before totality the camera control scenario took
frames as quickly as the camera would record them. On the average
this was slightly over 3 seconds per shot, but it was slightly longer
when the ISO needed to be changed.
10:07:11 UTC Partial Eclipse
1/640 @ ISO 100
This
image of the partial eclipse was taken about 36 minutes before second
contact. Note the sunspots.
TIFF View
10:35:40 UTC ( 4 seconds before 2nd Contact)
1/1250 @ ISO 100
This view taken seconds before second contact shows several large
prominences. The last remaining visible edge of the sun forms a
"diamond ring".
2nd contact was estimated to occur at 10:35:44.
TIFF View
10:35:43 UTC (within second of 2nd contact)
1/320 @ ISO 100
This
view showing the inner corona was taken just before 2nd contact. The
last beads of the brightest part of the sun are still visible.
The prominences that are easily seen in 10:35:50 are mostly washed out
due to their brightness. This frame starts showing the very
complex corona structure. Note particularly on the left side of
the sun. Other corona shots will develop this further.
TIFF View
10:35:50 UTC Prominences
1/2500 @ ISO 100
This
frame shows is a better exposure of the prominences than 10-35-43.
TIFF View
10:36:19 UTC Inner Corona
1/250 @ ISO 100
This
shot shows more detail in the inner corona and is a better exposure
than the 1/320 above. Note the fine structure at the top and
bottom of the sun.
TIFF View
10:36:26 UTC
1/80 @ ISO 100
As
the eclipse progressed slower images were taken. This image at
1/80 shows more detail in the inner corona, but the corona close to the
sun shown in 10:36:19 is starting to become overexposed.
The beginnings of the streamers that were observed with the unaided eye
are starting to appear on the top an bottom of the sun. The deep
magnetic lines on the sides are also becoming more obvious
TIFF View
10:36:44 UTC Outer Corona
1/20 @ ISO 200
This
image is starting to show the outer corona. Two large streamers
at 10'oclock and at 8'oclock are now becoming more definite. A
smaller streamer at 2'oclock is also becoming visible.
The magnetic lines at the sides of the sun are starting to become
overexposed.
TIFF View
10:37:36 UTC
1/10 @ ISO 400
This
final full frame shot of the corona shows its extent. In slower
images the structure was overexposed. The streamers from the previous
frame and several other dimmer ones are now well defined. The
asymmetric shape between the sides and the top and bottom that gave the
bow tie appearance with the unaided eye is now visible.
I estimate that the streamers extended about 1 1/2 sun diameters.
TIFF View
Warning (48 Meg)
10:37:44 UTC Earthshine
1/5 @ ISO 1600
This is the slowest image taken near the
time of max totality. This image is cropped so only the moon is
showing. The rest of the frame is over exposed corona. This frame
did not show the corona extending more than the 10:37:36 shot.
Earthshine
on the moon is apparent in this image.
TIFF View
10:38:59 UTC Prominences on Other Side of Sun
1/1250 @ ISO 100
As
3rd contact approached prominences on the opposite side of the sun
started appearing. Here they are just peaking out over the lip of
the retreating moon.
TIFF View
10:39:32 UTC
1/2500 @ ISO 100
As
3rd contact approached a ring of fire appeared across the side of the
moon. Note the detail in the dimmer ones at the top of the sun.
This was near the time I stopped looking through the camera and just
used used my eyes again.
TIFF View
10:36:46 UTC After 3rd contact
1/1250 @ ISO 100
This
image was taken a couple of seconds after third contact. The
10:36:42 image showed some evidence of brightening.
In this image a distinct bead is visible to the left of the main image
of the appearing sun. The prominences are also visible.
TIFF View
Copyright © 2006 Robert J. Hawley All Rights Reserved.
rjh 5/1/06
This
view showing the inner corona was taken just before 2nd contact. The
last beads of the brightest part of the sun are still visible.
This
shot shows more detail in the inner corona and is a better exposure
than the 1/320 above. Note the fine structure at the top and
bottom of the sun.
As
the eclipse progressed slower images were taken. This image at
1/80 shows more detail in the inner corona, but the corona close to the
sun shown in 10:36:19 is starting to become overexposed.
This
image is starting to show the outer corona. Two large streamers
at 10'oclock and at 8'oclock are now becoming more definite. A
smaller streamer at 2'oclock is also becoming visible.
This
final full frame shot of the corona shows its extent. In slower
images the structure was overexposed. The streamers from the previous
frame and several other dimmer ones are now well defined. The
asymmetric shape between the sides and the top and bottom that gave the
bow tie appearance with the unaided eye is now visible.
This is the slowest image taken near the
time of max totality. This image is cropped so only the moon is
showing. The rest of the frame is over exposed corona. This frame
did not show the corona extending more than the 10:37:36 shot.
As
3rd contact approached prominences on the opposite side of the sun
started appearing. Here they are just peaking out over the lip of
the retreating moon.
As
3rd contact approached a ring of fire appeared across the side of the
moon. Note the detail in the dimmer ones at the top of the sun.
This was near the time I stopped looking through the camera and just
used used my eyes again.
This
image was taken a couple of seconds after third contact. The
10:36:42 image showed some evidence of brightening.