An assortment of Fred Espenak's photographs of the total solar eclipse of 2001 June 21 are featured on this page. Click on each thumbnail image to see a larger photo. For more images, please visit 2001 Solar Eclipse Photo Gallery: Part B.
The Moon's shadow swept acros southern Africa where totality lasted from three to four minutes. Espenak's report from Chisamba, ZAMBIA describes the eclipse in detail.Many other eye-witness accounts can be found on MrEclipse's 2001 Eclipse reports page.
In recent years, Fred has begun to experiment with image enhancement techniques through computer processing. This permits a much more realistic representation of the solar corona's appearance to the naked eye. For more information about image enhancement techniques, see Digital Composites for Solar Eclipsesand 2001 Eclipse Composite Photo.
Click on each image below to see a larger photo.
Partial Eclipse - 36.6% (T01-P115) The partial phases of the eclipse were well under way when Fred Espenak took this photograph of the Sun at 12:15 UT from Chisamba, ZAMBIA. At that time, the eclipse magnitude (fraction of the Sun's diameter was covered by the Moon) was 0.366 or 36.6%. This corresponds to an obscuration of 25.4% of the Sun's surface area. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Partial Eclipse - 59.4% (T01-P123) Fifty-three minutes into the partial phases, over half of the Sun's diameter (59.4%) is covered by the Moon. This photograph was taken at 12:35 UT from Chisamba, ZAMBIA. Although 50.4% of the Sun's surface area was then obscured, there was still no apparent evidence that the eclipse was in progress as seen with the naked eye. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Partial Eclipse - 82.9% (T01-P131) With fourteen minutes remaining before totality, 82.9% of the Sun's diameter was eclipsed at 12:55 UT. Even though 79.4% of the Sun's surface area was then obscured, the Sun was still much too bright to look at without using a solar filter. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Diamond Ring at 2nd Contact (T01-02) Seconds before totality begins, the corona appears during the diamond ring effect. Brilliant, ruby-red prominences shine with laser-like intensity. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Baily's Beads Sequence at 2nd Contact (T01-01) The appearance of Baily's beads presages the start of totality. This amazing sequence of five images shows the Sun's crescent breaking up into a series of beads which quickly vanish against a background of spectacular prominences and the chromosphere. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Baily's Beads at 2nd Contact (T01-111C) Just seconds before totality begins, the last beads of sunlight shine through deep valleys along the Moon's rugged limb.Baily's beads were first observed by English astronomer Frances Baily in 1836. During the 2001 eclipse, one huge prominence was seen even before the total phase began. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Totality Over Zambia (T01-09) The eerie twilight of totality is seen against a backdrop of thorn acacia trees in this wide-angle photograph shot from Chisamba, ZAMBIA. A programmable camera automatically photographed the scene while Espenak operated two telescopes nearby. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Visual Corona (T01-04) Twenty-two separate negatives were computer processed and combined to create an image which captures the visual appearance of the corona as closly as possible. (see: 2001 Composite Photo). Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Chromosphere at 2nd Contact (T01-113C) As totality begins, the ruby red chromosphere is visible along the 2nd contact limb.Several spectacular prominences tower above the Sun's surface. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Eclipse Sequence (T01-03) Nine photos were combined into a sequence showing the various phases of the eclipse. The central image of the corona during totality is a composite of 22 separate negatives which reveal subtle details and structures in the Sun's atmosphere. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Astronomer and Eclipse (T01-w409) Observing from Chisamba, ZAMBIA, Fred Espenak obtained this self portrait with his telescopes and the total eclipse using a programmed camera and full frame fisheye lens. Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
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Southeast Corona (T01-2cmpSE) A close up view of the southeastern quadrant of the corona reveals details in streamers and arches. Twenty-two separate negatives were computer processed and combined to create an image which captures the subtle structures and features. The faint star one diameter east (left) of the eclipsed Sun is the magnitude 4.2 star 1 Geminorum. (see: 2001 Composite Photo). Total Solar Eclipse of 2001 Jun 21 (Chisamba, ZAMBIA) |
All photographs, text and web pages are © Copyright 2001 by Fred Espenak, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. They may not be reproduced, published, copied or transmitted in any form, including electronically on the Internet or WWW, without written permission of the author. The photos have been digitally watermarked.
The photographs may be licensed for commercial, editorial, and educational use. Contact Espenak (at MrEclipse) for photo use in print, web, video, CD and all other media.
WebMaster: MrEclipse
Last revised: 2008 Aug 12