The Annular Solar Eclipse of May 31, 2003 from Iceland
-Richard Nugent, IOTA, JSCAS, HAS
NASA's Johnson Space Center Astronomical Society (JSCAS) in cooperation with Astronomers from the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) conducted its 28th Solar Eclipse Expedition to the island of Iceland to observe and record the annular eclipse of May 31, 2003. Led by IOTA Vice President and veteran eclipse chaser Paul Maley (27 eclipses) this Ring of Fire expedition included IOTA astronomer Richard Nugent (17 eclipses), and veteran eclipse chasers Dr. Lynn Palmer, Dick Mischke, Matt Delavoryas, Debbie Moran, Christine Triessl, Robert Geary, Cody Wallace, Gary Donaldson, David Callender, Emiko Allen, Mary Ann Ott, Dr. Dick Dietz, Dr. Susan Landon, Eli and Dalia Maor, Howard Bruensteiner, and Ruben Morales. Although not with NASA's JSCAS group, IOTA astronomers Derald and Denise Nye from Tucson (27 eclipses) were on hand in Iceland to view this eclipse.
This was not an ordinary annular eclipse - due to the high latitude landfall of the anti-umbral shadow of the Moon, the shadow passed over the North Pole and moved "backwards" on the Earth's surface compared to lower latitude eclipses. This eclipse proved to be a race to find holes in the clouds as on eclipse day as a storm front began to move in over the entire island of Iceland. Armed with scattered weather information and a fleet of rental cars, 15 members of the group set off from Lake Myvatn northwestward to the Skagi peninsula and set up equipment 25 kilometers north of Dalvik. Only the extreme northern limit of Iceland was in the clear looking over the cold waters of the Arctic Ocean. The timing was right- the weather held out and the annularity was visible through some thin clouds.
The Sun rose over the Arctic Ocean at 2:35 AM and first contact occurred just after 3 AM with the Sun just 0.7 degrees above the horizon. As the partial phases progressed the Sun was drifting in and out of high thin stratus/cirrus clouds. With about 70% of the Sun covered by the Moon, it moved into thick clouds and disappeared. A thin band of clear sky was just above the Sun and within about 1 minute before the start of annularity, the Sun had reached this only clearing !!! At the start of 2nd contact, I could see the Baily's Beads forming (sunlight broken up into "beads" by the lunar mountains at the Sun's limb) through my telephoto lens. I quickly called Dick, Mary Ann, David and Emiko to look. What started out as a site along the side of a mountain with just 5 of us had mushroomed into about 75 persons, including many passing cars, buses and even runners !
We witnessed slightly over 3 minutes of annularity from our location of 66 degrees 5 minutes north latitude, just 25 miles outside the Arctic Circle. At mid-eclipse, the Sun was just 3.7 degrees above the horizon.
Sunrise at 2:35AM 3:20 AM, just Annularity (central eclipse) View of eclipse over
after 1st contact through thin clouds 4:05 AM the Arctic Ocean
Eclipse site 200 meters above the Arctic Ocean. Left to right: David,
Emiko, Dick, Mary Ann and Richard
Greenland
Our trip included a visit to Kulusuk Island, population 360 persons. Its located on the southern border of Greenland at the Arctic circle. After departing the plane, we walked about 2 miles to Kulusak Village, with stunning views of floating icebergs and snowcapped mountains in the background. The children in Kulusuk Village were extremely friendly and seemed to cluster around Mary Ann. We watched a ancient drum dance and a demonstration of how the villagers catch their fish using kayaks and spears. Instead of walking back to the plane, some chose to ride back on dogsleds through the snow. Kulusuk Island was a beautiful place, our stay there was way too short.
Icebergs on Kulusuk Island Kayak fishing demo Hiking to Kulusuk Village Approaching Kulusuk Village
Mary Ann and her new friends Richard and new friends Taxi ride back to the plane Mary Ann enjoying the ride
Richard enjoying the ice, a cool break GPS Receiver in Greenland
from Houston's summer heat Read the Location at bottom!!
The Vestmanna Bird Cliffs at the Faroe Islands
The Faroes are a series of islands halfway between Iceland and the United Kingdom. Our group took a boat tour around the famous Vestmanna Bird cliffs, some towering upwards of 500-700 meters above sea level. So high, there summits are rarely visible due to the constant cloudy foggy weather. These cliffs are the home of thousands of birds and hundreds of lambs and sheep. Despite the fact that the cliffs are at a very steep angle, farmers still fence off their portion for raising sheep. Not all the sheep survive the cliffs - the boat Captain said 25% of the sheep fall from the cliffs to their deaths into the frigid ocean waters and rocks below. Just before our arrival to the Faroes, a strike was underway by workers in many trades. Fruits and vegetables were not available and restaurants closed early, if they were even open ! As travelers, this made eating a major task.
Sheep and lamb Birds on cliffs Towering cliffs Cliffs with caves Sheep on cliffs