The Reports of August 11th Total Eclipse in Esfahan

by Alireza Mehrani

No doubt, the phenomenon of eclipse is one of the most wonderful and beautiful happenings in the space. When our mother, the Sun, wears a veil, her beauty doubles; and when she drops the veil, she looks like a bride showing her pretty face from behind the screen. Darkness after the light and light after the darkness are really amazing. This is a phenomenon comprising the order, power, beauty, fear, hope, light and darkness and causing us to bow in respect for all this greatness.

In order to get the most appropriate scientific use of this phenomenon, the members of AAS had been prepared since long time ago. About 20 of our members, being selected in a scientific competition, practiced for three months on their scientific projects.

We did our best for this group. On August 7th, the group left for the scientific site selected for the eclipse, where it was located in "Chadegan", 130 kms west of Esfahan. We had chosen a country site behind "Zayandeh-rud" dam as the residence of the scientific groups from different countries as well as the members of AAS.

It was cloudy on August 7-10; and it was expected to rain. In the afternoon of August 10th, the weather condition completely changed and we had a clear sky. We had the opportunity to do the remaining works. On August 11th, tens of AAS members pointed their telescopes and cameras towards the Sun. The excitement among the observers was beyond description.

After the gradual covering of the Sun, it got darker and darker. The shadows made on the earth seemed full of imaginations. Under the trees, people were amazed observing thousands of pictures of the arches of the Sun created in the opening within the bushes. All of the eyes were towards the sky.

Finally, when the total eclipse took place, the observers began crying of joys. The telescopes and cameras were busy. I was busy shooting pictures with a Betacam camera, together with a friend expert in the field. I did not know where to look. The amazed people, activities of AAS members, dark sky, the screen of the monitor of the camera, the corona and several more scenes were worth looking at, but I just had two eyes and the time was limited!!

People started to do their usual works when the Sun showed herself again. I am very happy to have been able, with the cooperation of my friends in Esfahan Municipality and AAS, to make the situation more suitable for the citizens of Esfahan to observe this phenomenon.

If man does not move from where he lives, he may not have the possibility of observing more than one/two total eclipse phenomena during his life time. My friends and I are very tired because of our many activities during the last months, but I feel observing this phenomenon is so worthy for which being tried is quite trivial a matter.

The comprehensive report of individual scientific activities of AAS on the eclipse are in the annexed pages as follows:

1. photography group

2. painting group

3. spectroscopy group

4. shadow band group

5. the film shooting group

6. special guests

7. activities of other members of AAS

I hope the reports are useful for you.

Good Luck!