Eyes on the Skies

I HOPE you managed to get at least a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse last month. The clouds here in Peebles weren't very kind, but elsewhere in the Borders seemed to fare much better. I'm sure anyone who got a decent view couldn't have failed to be impressed.

I have to admit that I wasn't in Peebles for the event, nor even in the Borders. I was 38,000ft above the Faroe Islands experiencing my first total solar eclipse! And what an experience it was.

A few months ago a friend of mine offered me the chance to accompany him on a flight into the path of totality as it raced across the North Atlantic and over the Faroes. After two seconds of serious consideration I said 'Yes!' The chance to see a total solar eclipse is something that is on many people's 'bucket list' and as an amateur astronomer that is certainly the case for me.

The fantastic thing about the flight option is that it guarantees you'll see the event irrespective of the clouds, because you'll be soaring above them. So it was that three of us from the TweedAstroS set off for Glasgow airport at 4am on the morning of the eclipse. We had our cameras and binoculars at the ready, all with special filters for protection and a great sense of anticipation of the morning to come.

We took off at 7.30am and headed north towards the Faroes. In less than 90 minutes we were circling over the islands, watching and photographing the face of the Sun as it gradually disappeared behind the Moon. We could also see other flights circling above the clouds which, as the Sun's power was gradually extinguished, began to take on the colours of an eerie twilight.

As totality approached, the pilot lined us up with the path the Moon's shadow would follow. Even at almost 500mph we wouldn't keep pace with it for long, but it would help to extend the time of totality by a few precious seconds.

Suddenly the shadow was visible on the cloud tops, racing up behind us and then darkness swallowed the cabin as the Moon perfectly obscured the face of the Sun. Up until then I'd been photographing events, but now I just sat there doing a fairly passable impression of a goldfish. The beautiful corona of the Sun, not normally visible but extending millions of miles out from its surface was clear to see.

Prominances leaping out of our star's atmosphere were like tiny glowing beads around an impossible circle of darkness where once there had been blinding light. At that point I realised why ancient civilisations were terrified by these events. Even when you have a complete understanding of what is going on, your mind has difficulty processing the sight.

Then a flash of light, the 'diamond ring' and the Sun's power started to flood back. Probably the quickest 3 minutes of my life, but certainly never to be forgotten. I can now understand why some folk chase eclipses all around the world. There'll be a total eclipse visible from the USA in August 2017. I'm pretty tempted I have to say!

Tweeddale Astronomical Society will be holding its final meeting before the summer break on the 14th April, when we'll be having a couple of short presentations, stovies and a raffle. This meeting will take place at Peebles Community Centre, Walkershaugh, starting at 7.30pm.

You can follow the activities of the Society on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/peeblesastro and at www.tweedastro.org.uk.

Until next month, look up and 'Clear Skies!' Dr Tom Johnston </text> <text> A REGULAR feature from Tweeddale Astronomical Society...

I HOPE you managed to get at least a glimpse of the partial solar eclipse last month. The clouds here in Peebles weren't very kind, but elsewhere in the Borders seemed to fare much better. I'm sure anyone who got a decent view couldn't have failed to be impressed.

I have to admit that I wasn't in Peebles for the event, nor even in the Borders. I was 38,000ft above the Faroe Islands experiencing my first total solar eclipse! And what an experience it was.

A few months ago a friend of mine offered me the chance to accompany him on a flight into the path of totality as it raced across the North Atlantic and over the Faroes. After two seconds of serious consideration I said 'Yes!' The chance to see a total solar eclipse is something that is on many people's 'bucket list' and as an amateur astronomer that is certainly the case for me.

The fantastic thing about the flight option is that it guarantees you'll see the event irrespective of the clouds, because you'll be soaring above them. So it was that three of us from the TweedAstroS set off for Glasgow airport at 4am on the morning of the eclipse. We had our cameras and binoculars at the ready, all with special filters for protection and a great sense of anticipation of the morning to come.

We took off at 7.30am and headed north towards the Faroes. In less than 90 minutes we were circling over the islands, watching and photographing the face of the Sun as it gradually disappeared behind the Moon. We could also see other flights circling above the clouds which, as the Sun's power was gradually extinguished, began to take on the colours of an eerie twilight.

As totality approached, the pilot lined us up with the path the Moon's shadow would follow. Even at almost 500mph we wouldn't keep pace with it for long, but it would help to extend the time of totality by a few precious seconds.

Suddenly the shadow was visible on the cloud tops, racing up behind us and then darkness swallowed the cabin as the Moon perfectly obscured the face of the Sun. Up until then I'd been photographing events, but now I just sat there doing a fairly passable impression of a goldfish. The beautiful corona of the Sun, not normally visible but extending millions of miles out from its surface was clear to see.

Prominances leaping out of our star's atmosphere were like tiny glowing beads around an impossible circle of darkness where once there had been blinding light. At that point I realised why ancient civilisations were terrified by these events. Even when you have a complete understanding of what is going on, your mind has difficulty processing the sight.

Then a flash of light, the 'diamond ring' and the Sun's power started to flood back. Probably the quickest 3 minutes of my life, but certainly never to be forgotten. I can now understand why some folk chase eclipses all around the world. There'll be a total eclipse visible from the USA in August 2017. I'm pretty tempted I have to say!

Tweeddale Astronomical Society will be holding its final meeting before the summer break on the 14th April, when we'll be having a couple of short presentations, stovies and a raffle. This meeting will take place at Peebles Community Centre, Walkershaugh, starting at 7.30pm.

You can follow the activities of the Society on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/peeblesastro and at www.tweedastro.org.uk.

Until next month, look up and 'Clear Skies!' Dr Tom Johnston </text>