FEB. 26, 1998 SOLAR ECLIPSE FROM VENEZUELA

On Thursday, 1998 February 26, a total eclipse of the Sun was visible from within a narrow corridor traversing the Western Hemisphere. The totality path (or path of the Moon's umbral shadow) began in the Pacific, continued through northern South America and the Caribbean Sea, and ended at sunset off the Atlantic coast of Africa. With totality lasting in excess of 4min in some places, this eclipse was the longest in duration since the 1991 one in Mexico, and until the 2001 total solar eclipse going over the south atlantic and southern Africa. Some of the best placed sites along the totality path were in Venezuela. Nearly at the peak of its dry season during this time of the year, the weather predictions were for clear blue skies. Also, with totality happening shortly after noontime meant that at these low latitudes (about 12 deg. north) the sun would be placed high above the horizon (roughly 70 degrees elevation), thus, observing conditions seemed ideal.

The accompanying picture of the solar corona during totality was taken by Cesar Briceno of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics from Playa (beach) "El Supi" (about 2km from Adicora), at the eastern border of the Paraguana peninsula, Venezuela (see map), at approximately 2:10pm local time (18:10 UT). Kodachrome 64 slide film was used at the prime focus of a Celestron 6-inch (150mm) newtonian reflector (Focal length=750mm, f/5). Exposure time was 1/2 second. At this location totality lasted 3min 36sec.

Cesar describes the experience:

"We all were very excited when, after experiencing the eerie dim light of the final moments before totality, and the ever-growing cool breeze, all of a sudden the sun was transformed into a black circle surrounded by a beautiful white-bluish corona. We could see solar prominences on the black-sun's edge as ruby-red dots, which through the telescopes were revealed as huge flames. Amidst the deep blue sky, Mercury and Jupiter could be clearly seen above and below the sun, respectively, and much lower was bright Venus. People were exhilarated and many burst into tears while others in nearby houses fired fireworks. It was a truly unique and awe-inspiring experience."

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