10 June 2021
An annular solar eclipse with challenges
As if December 2020 was a challenge with Covid19 - 2021 was not getting better. The world was/is in a kind of "lock down".
Annularity would be in norther Canada, northern Greenland, northern Siberia
Plan A
Annularity in Northern Canada, flights London to Montreal, with Air Inuit, via Kuujjuaq to Kangirsuk, purpose of watching and imaging a grazing annular solar eclipse at the southern line. Hotel Coop connected and avalable.
Canada closed well months ahead and remained closed for travelers (even for US), so ... not an option.
Plan B
Annularity in Northern Siberia, flights London to Moscow, Novosibirsk, Yakutsk, Chokurdach, travel (boot or 4 wheel, depending on ice/water) to Russkoye Ustye, central line. Connected with guide and experienced local Bolot, the trip. Staying with family on central line.
Russia in amber list for UK and not allowed to travel to, so ... had to cancel the arrangements I made with Bolot few days before departure.
Plan C
Annularity in Northern Greenland, flights via Portugal (was on green list to UK), Denmark (only country you can get into Greenland, but amber for UK, hence via Portugal), Ilulissat, Qaanaaq, central line. Hotel Qaanaaq booked and available once two major eclipse groups cancelled month before.
Portugal moved from green to amber list just a few days before travel, and connections via Iceland or Faroe Islands (UK green list countries) obliged 4 and 5 days quarantine, so on hold for the next 24 hours, because have to leave for all the flights - and no change for UK. The day of actual leave, learned from the hotel in Qaanaaq, that travelers were kept and stranded in Ilulissat for 5 days isolation and not allowed to travel further. Would observe a large partial of about 90% though …
Plan D
Annularity at sunrise with US eFlights, or with private Citation Cessna jet or organized via Sky & Telescope flight. US remained closed for travelers, US in amber list for UK and not allowed to travel to ... unless any change last minute, but no.
For the Cessna, to have an attractive cost, ideal 4 passengers where needed (can have 8 for the 6 windows). For an annular eclipse not a lot of candidates. Looked even into propeller planes, so it would make it cheaper just for two passengers, but I did not like the idea we can not get that high, and after all, if you go by plane, you want to be above the clouds. So after all UK-US remained closed
Other Plans?
Tried really all kind of options to get into the path of annularity, but unfortunately travel ban for any of the countries where I had to be, did not allow me to go to. A shame but most importantly is that everyone is safe and healthy and Covid19 is not spread out in those remote areas or anywhere else. Looked as well at options to observe partial in the UK green list countries, such as Iceland. Local Quarantine was a show stopper. Or observing a transit of the International Space Station (ISS) at partial phase - not ona option for any of the green list countries either.
Ultimate Plan?
Partial solar eclipse from the UK … Looking at weather patterns day and morning of the eclipse. Prospecs for the day was not very good. UK covered in clouds, might clear in afternoon ... when eclipse would be finished. A little better change at the north east coasts, the like of Grimsby, Edinburgh ... Decided in the morning to stay in Tissington and see how the clouds evolve and hope to see something of the eclipse and observe and image with Lunt35, DMK41, my best solar friend.
Below maps, where annularity is/was, and partial for UK
As if December 2020 was a challenge with Covid19 - 2021 was not getting better. The world was/is in a kind of "lock down".
Annularity would be in norther Canada, northern Greenland, northern Siberia
Plan A
Annularity in Northern Canada, flights London to Montreal, with Air Inuit, via Kuujjuaq to Kangirsuk, purpose of watching and imaging a grazing annular solar eclipse at the southern line. Hotel Coop connected and avalable.
Canada closed well months ahead and remained closed for travelers (even for US), so ... not an option.
Plan B
Annularity in Northern Siberia, flights London to Moscow, Novosibirsk, Yakutsk, Chokurdach, travel (boot or 4 wheel, depending on ice/water) to Russkoye Ustye, central line. Connected with guide and experienced local Bolot, the trip. Staying with family on central line.
Russia in amber list for UK and not allowed to travel to, so ... had to cancel the arrangements I made with Bolot few days before departure.
Plan C
Annularity in Northern Greenland, flights via Portugal (was on green list to UK), Denmark (only country you can get into Greenland, but amber for UK, hence via Portugal), Ilulissat, Qaanaaq, central line. Hotel Qaanaaq booked and available once two major eclipse groups cancelled month before.
Portugal moved from green to amber list just a few days before travel, and connections via Iceland or Faroe Islands (UK green list countries) obliged 4 and 5 days quarantine, so on hold for the next 24 hours, because have to leave for all the flights - and no change for UK. The day of actual leave, learned from the hotel in Qaanaaq, that travelers were kept and stranded in Ilulissat for 5 days isolation and not allowed to travel further. Would observe a large partial of about 90% though …
Plan D
Annularity at sunrise with US eFlights, or with private Citation Cessna jet or organized via Sky & Telescope flight. US remained closed for travelers, US in amber list for UK and not allowed to travel to ... unless any change last minute, but no.
For the Cessna, to have an attractive cost, ideal 4 passengers where needed (can have 8 for the 6 windows). For an annular eclipse not a lot of candidates. Looked even into propeller planes, so it would make it cheaper just for two passengers, but I did not like the idea we can not get that high, and after all, if you go by plane, you want to be above the clouds. So after all UK-US remained closed
Other Plans?
Tried really all kind of options to get into the path of annularity, but unfortunately travel ban for any of the countries where I had to be, did not allow me to go to. A shame but most importantly is that everyone is safe and healthy and Covid19 is not spread out in those remote areas or anywhere else. Looked as well at options to observe partial in the UK green list countries, such as Iceland. Local Quarantine was a show stopper. Or observing a transit of the International Space Station (ISS) at partial phase - not ona option for any of the green list countries either.
Ultimate Plan?
Partial solar eclipse from the UK … Looking at weather patterns day and morning of the eclipse. Prospecs for the day was not very good. UK covered in clouds, might clear in afternoon ... when eclipse would be finished. A little better change at the north east coasts, the like of Grimsby, Edinburgh ... Decided in the morning to stay in Tissington and see how the clouds evolve and hope to see something of the eclipse and observe and image with Lunt35, DMK41, my best solar friend.
Below maps, where annularity is/was, and partial for UK
Heavy clouds in Tissington. Checked in the morning the UK weather conditions. All cloudy, some gaps maybe in areas like Grimsby or Edinburgh, but overall, did not look good. So decided to take my chances and stayed home.
Heavy clouds before maximum, and now and then the eclipsed sun came through, visual en an hand held iPhone pic. Once maximum, a few good views and near the end it went more clear. Some imaging with Lunt 35 DMK 41. But then it was only a few minutes to go to contact 4.
Heavy clouds before maximum, and now and then the eclipsed sun came through, visual en an hand held iPhone pic. Once maximum, a few good views and near the end it went more clear. Some imaging with Lunt 35 DMK 41. But then it was only a few minutes to go to contact 4.
From the places I planned, but had to cancel:
Annularity with clouds in Chokurkdakh, Siberia - received images below from my supposed to be guide Bolot (himself being in Yakutsk: "We’ve managed to observe through a X-ray.
With clouds, it’s in Chokurkdakh."
Clear blue sky in Qaanaaq, Greenland - received some images from Hans Jensen (Hotel Qaanaaq). Nu annular pic, but you can not expect it all from locals, unless some one with iPhone: "Here as you can see clear blue sky, no wind as the sun was shaded. It just feels cooler and not dark, it got a little darker but for quite short time.
Around the moon we could see the sun that was not dark as the moon shaded 95% of the sun around the moon. It was bright all the time and we could feel it getting cooler but for quite a short time."
There wa an experience, my 3rd eclipse, experience every time I think everyone here from town experienced the eclipse."
eFlight Sky & Telescope clear sky.
Kangirsuk, Canada no reports from this southern line - Seen on internet from Nunavut, with some clouds from Iqaluit or about
Annularity with clouds in Chokurkdakh, Siberia - received images below from my supposed to be guide Bolot (himself being in Yakutsk: "We’ve managed to observe through a X-ray.
With clouds, it’s in Chokurkdakh."
Clear blue sky in Qaanaaq, Greenland - received some images from Hans Jensen (Hotel Qaanaaq). Nu annular pic, but you can not expect it all from locals, unless some one with iPhone: "Here as you can see clear blue sky, no wind as the sun was shaded. It just feels cooler and not dark, it got a little darker but for quite short time.
Around the moon we could see the sun that was not dark as the moon shaded 95% of the sun around the moon. It was bright all the time and we could feel it getting cooler but for quite a short time."
There wa an experience, my 3rd eclipse, experience every time I think everyone here from town experienced the eclipse."
eFlight Sky & Telescope clear sky.
Kangirsuk, Canada no reports from this southern line - Seen on internet from Nunavut, with some clouds from Iqaluit or about