Bob Braeunig prepared this mosaic from photographs I took at four total eclipses of the Sun--Hawaii in 1991, Bolivia in 1994, Aruba in 1998, and the Black Sea in 1999. Even though different telescopes were used, image sizes have been matched and exposure times are roughly equivalent. The color differences are largely a result of the different films that were used. The photos confirm visual impressions and clearly show changes in the corona's appearance from one eclipse to the next. (Orientation of the Sun's axis is not consistent, but polar brushes provide good visual clues.) Solar activity follows an 11-year cycle. The Sun reached the maximum of Cycle #22 in 1991, and sunspot activity was again noticeably increasing by 1999. The corona tends to be more uniform and symmetrical near solar maxima. |
Eclipse Comparison |
Bob Braeunig prepared this mosaic from photographs I took at four total eclipses of the Sun--Hawaii in 1991, Bolivia in 1994, Aruba in 1998, and the Black Sea in 1999. Even though different telescopes were used, image sizes have been matched and exposure times are roughly equivalent. The color differences are largely a result of the different films that were used. The photos confirm visual impressions and clearly show changes in the corona's appearance from one eclipse to the next. (Orientation of the Sun's axis is not consistent, but polar brushes provide good visual clues.) Solar activity follows an 11-year cycle. The Sun reached the maximum of Cycle #22 in 1991, and sunspot activity was again noticeably increasing by 1999. The corona tends to be more uniform and symmetrical near solar maxima. |
Photography Notes: Hawaii - Meade 2045D (1000mm f.l. at f/10) and Kodachrome 64 film Bolivia - Meade 2045D (1000mm f.l. at f/10) and Fujichrome Velvia 50 film Aruba - Meade 2045D (1000mm f.l. at f/10) and Fujichrome Velvia 50 film Black Sea - Televue Ranger with field flattener (520mm effective focal length at f/7.4) and Fujichrome Sensia II 400 film |
