The 1999 August 11 Total Solar Eclipse
Updated 2000 July 17Optimized for 1024 x 768 pixel screen resolution
This Page is also available in German
Updated 2000 July 17Optimized for 1024 x 768 pixel screen resolution
This Page is also available in German
On August 11, 1999, a total solar eclipse was visible from Austria - for the first time since 1842. Another total solar eclipse will not be visible from Austria until the year 2081.
The images below show the shadow of the moon crossing Europe. Besides the lunar shadow, clouds over wide parts of Europe dominate these satellite images.
METEOSAT 6 Images © ZAMG, used with kind permission
About 500 people gateherd in the park around the Johannes-Kepler-Observatory in Linz, Austria. While the partial phases of the eclipse were occasionally visible through the telescopes in the observatory (image below right), totality was completely clouded out. The approaching lunar shadow, the darkness during totality, and the fast receding shadow afterwards (Image below left) was nevertheless an impressive sight for the people at the observatory!
Aufnahme © E. Wais, LAG
Left: Skyview at the Johannes-Kepler-Obeservatory in Linz, just after the end of totality. © Th. Schobesberger, LAG
Some members of the Linzer Astronomischen Gemeinschaft (LAG) were more lucky. Erich Meyer observed the total eclipse in Rechnitz, Burgenland, through thin clouds. He captured the view of the sky during totality with a wide-angle photograph (left image). The enlargement (right image) shows the planet Venus to the lower left of the eclipsed Sun.
Left: Sky during totality. 1 second exposure through 35mm lens set to f/4 on ISO 100 color slide film. © E. Meyer, LAG
A group of LAG-members observed the eclipse at Nikitsch, Burgenland. Although the total eclipsed sun was first covered by clouds (left image), Gerald Maschek captured this image of the inner corona with spectacular prominences (right image, enlarged section below left) at 3rd contact. A fraction of a second later, totality endet with this dramatic "diamond ring" (image below right).
Left: Sky during totality. 1 second exposure through 18mm lens set to f/8 lens on Kodak Ektachrome Select 100. © G. Maschek, LAG
Left: Prominences in an enlarged section of the previous image. © G. Maschek, LAG
For Manfred Aschinger, the most expirienced eclipse observer among the members of the LAG, Manfred Aschinger, this was the seventh total eclipse he observed successfully. In Mondsee, where - contrary to the forecasts - totality was visible without much clouds, he captured these images of the solar corona.
Links: Middle Solar Corona. Celestron Comet Catcher (500mm Focal Length f/3.6), 1/15 second exposure on Fujichrome 50. © M. Aschinger, LAG
About one minute before begin of totality began, Alfred Fischböck captured the thin crescent sun in Rechnitz in Burgenland (left image). Despite thin clouds, prominences and the innermost corona can already be seen in this image.
During this solar eclipse, amateur photographer Günther Meindl pointed his camera towards an astronomical object for the first time. He captured this spectacular shot of the "diamond ring" through thin clouds in Mettmach near Ried im Innkreis.
Left: Crescent Sun, only seconds before the 2nd contact. 1/1000 second exposure through 600mm lens set at f/4.5. © A. Fischböck, LAG
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