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Diamond Ring Effect
Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
The total solar eclipse of 1999 crossed Europe, Asia Minor and South Asia. Among the many countries in the path, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey attracted most eclipse chasers because of their favorable weather prospects. NASA's 1999 total eclipse website has detailed predictions and maps of this remarkable event.
The Ken Willcox Memorial Eclipse Expedition brought 98 people to Turkey to witness the last total solar eclipse of the Millennium on 1999 August 11. I served as expedition leader while the role of tour director fell into the capable and experienced hands of Gary Spears (Spears Travel).We enjoyed spectacular cloud-free views of totality from our own private beach along the eastern shore of Lake Hazar in eastern Turkey. For more about our expedition to Turkey, see 1999 Eclipse report.
My primary telescopes for this eclipse were a Vixen 90mm f/9 fluorite refractor (fl=810mm) and a Vixen 80mm f/8 fluorite refractor (fl=640mm). Nikon N70 SLR's were attached to each of these instruments. The telescopes were bolted in tandem on a Celestron Super Polaris equatorial mount.I also had three Nikon SLR's with programmable backs and two video cameras.
Below is a selection of photos obtained from the eastern Turkey. For more 1999 eclipse images, visit all four photo galleries:
| A - Overview | B - Diamond Ring | C - Corona | D - Sequences |
Click on each image below to see a larger photo.
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2nd Contact Diamond Ring - 1 (T99-2-0001w) In the seconds immediately preceeding the start of totality, the corona fades into view and the crescent Sun appears as a dazzling jewel during the diamond ring effect. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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2nd Contact Diamond Ring - 2 (T99-2-0203w) In the seconds immediately preceeding the start of totality, the corona fades into view and the crescent Sun appears as a dazzling jewel during the diamond ring effect. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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2nd Contact Diamond Ring - 3 (T99-2-0405w) In the seconds immediately preceeding the start of totality, the corona fades into view and the crescent Sun appears as a dazzling jewel during the diamond ring effect. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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Diamond Ring at 2nd Contact (T99-01w) Before totality begins, the corona appears during the diamond ring effect. Brilliant, ruby-red prominences shine along the edge of the Sun with laser-like intensity. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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Dazzling Diamond Ring (T99-2nd-1w) At 2nd contact, the diamond ring effect immediately preceeds the start of totality. Structure in the corona has been digitally enhanced and the sky background has been adjusted to match the appearance as seen by the naked eye. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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Second Contact Composite Diamond (T99-34b1w) Multiple exposures were combined to show an enhanced corona during the second contact diamond ring effect. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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Third Contact Composite Diamond (T99-34b3w) Multiple exposures were combined to show an enhanced corona during the third contact diamond ring effect. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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Baily's Beads at 3rd Contact (T99-05w) The appearance of Baily's beads signals the end of totality. This remarkable sequence of four images reveals the bead's first appearance and their development against a background of spectacular prominences. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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Baily's Beads and Priminences (T99-126aw) In the seconds immediately preceeding (and following) totality, the crescent Sun appears as a series of bright beads. This effect is caused by sunlight shining through deep valleys along the edge of the Moon. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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Final Diamond Ring (T99-06w) At 3rd contact, the diamond ring effect heralds the end of totality. Structure in the corona has been digitally enhanced and the sky background has been adjusted to match the appearance as seen by the naked eye. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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3rd Contact Diamond Ring - 1 (T99-2-2930w) When totality ends, the corona fades from view and the crescent Sun reappears as a dazzling jewel during the diamond ring effect. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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3rd Contact Diamond Ring - 2 (T99-2-3233w) When totality ends, the corona fades from view and the crescent Sun reappears as a dazzling jewel during the diamond ring effect. Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
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3rd Contact Diamond Ring - 3 (T99-2-3536w) When totality ends, the corona fades from view and the crescent Sun reappears as a dazzling jewel during the diamond ring effect./p> Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY) |
All photographs, text and web pages are © Copyright 1999 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: 2006 Oct 20
