MrEclipse.com Banner
Quick Index
Solar Eclipses | Lunar Eclipses | Blog | Night Sky | Upcoming Eclipses | Photo Index | Travel | Potpourri | Links | Store | Search

1999 Total Solar Eclipse

Photo Gallery A (Overview)

Photographs by Fred Espenak

1999 Aug 11 Total Solar Eclipse
1999 Total Solar Eclipse
This sequence encompasses the entire eclipse from start to finish.

The total solar eclipse of 1999 crossed Europe, Asia Minor and South Asia. Among the many countries in the path, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey attracted most eclipse chasers because of their favorable weather prospects. NASA's 1999 total eclipse website has detailed predictions and maps of this remarkable event.

The Ken Willcox Memorial Eclipse Expedition brought 98 people to Turkey to witness the last total solar eclipse of the Millennium on 1999 August 11. I served as expedition leader while the role of tour director fell into the capable and experienced hands of Gary Spears (Spears Travel).We enjoyed spectacular cloud-free views of totality from our own private beach along the eastern shore of Lake Hazar in eastern Turkey. For more about our expedition to Turkey, see 1999 Eclipse report.

My primary telescopes for this eclipse were a Vixen 90mm f/9 fluorite refractor (fl=810mm) and a Vixen 80mm f/8 fluorite refractor (fl=640mm). Nikon N70 SLR's were attached to each of these instruments. The telescopes were bolted in tandem on a Celestron Super Polaris equatorial mount.I also had three Nikon SLR's with programmable backs and two video cameras.

Below is a selection of photos obtained from the eastern Turkey. For more 1999 eclipse images, visit all four photo galleries:
| A - Overview | B - Diamond Ring | C - Corona | D - Sequences |

Blue Bar

Click on each image below to see a larger photo.

T99-09n
Partial Eclipse
Magnitude = 0.19
(T99-09w)

Partial Eclipse - Magnitude = 0.19 (T99-09w)

Twelve minutes into the eclipse, almost 1/5 of the Sun's diameter is obscurred by the Moon (10:30 UT).

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/250 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-19n
Partial Eclipse
Magnitude = 0.49
(T99-19w)

Partial Eclipse - Magnitude = 0.49 (T99-19w)

Nearly 1/2 of the Sun's disk is eclipsed (10:55 UT).

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/250 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-29n
Partial Eclipse
Magnitude = 0.79
(T99-29w)

Partial Eclipse - Magnitude = 0.79 (T99-29w)

Eighteen minutes before the total eclipse begins, about 80% of the Sun's diameter is gone! (11:20 UT)

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/250 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-01n
Diamond Ring
at 2nd Contact
(T99-01w)

Diamond Ring at 2nd Contact (T99-01w)

Before totality begins, the corona appears during the diamond ring effect. Brilliant, ruby-red prominences shine along the edge of the Sun with laser-like intensity.For more diamond ring photos, visit Photo Gallery B - Diamond Ring.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/125 second on Ektachrome 100
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-2-2425n
Outer Corona
(T99-2-2425w)

Outer Corona (T99-2-2425w)

A long exposure (2 seconds) reveals a wealth of details in the outer corona. Polar streamers and arches are seen extending to the edge of the frame. Note that the inner and middle parts of the corona are completely overexposed.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 90mm f/9 Fluorite Refractor
Exposure: 2 seconds, f/9, Kodak Royal Gold 100
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99comp2Bn
Visual Corona
(T99comp2Bw)

Visual Corona (T99comp2Bw)

A computer enhanced image of the solar corona was created by combining twenty-two separate negatives into a single photograph (see: 1999 Composite Photo). The process reveals a wealth of subtle details, structures and streamers in the corona. For more solar corona photos, visit Photo Gallery C - Corona .

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 90mm f/9 Fluorite Refractor
Exposure Range: 1/250 to 4 seconds on Kodak Royal Gold 200
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-03n
Eclipse Sequence
at Lake Hazar
(T99-03w)

Eclipse Sequence at Lake Hazar (T99-03w)

The eerie twilight sky of totality is seen above of Lake Hazar, Turkey. Espenak and his telescopes are silhouetted against the lake while a time lapse sequence reveals various phases of the eclipse from start to finish.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N8008 and Sigma 18-35mm zoom
Exposure: f/5.6, auto, Royal Gold 200
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-06n
Final Diamond Ring
(T99-06w)

Final Diamond Ring (T99-06w)

At 3rd contact, the diamond ring effect heralds the end of totality. Structure in the corona has been digitally enhanced and the sky background has been adjusted to match the appearance as seen by the naked eye.For more diamond ring photos, visit Photo Gallery B - Diamond Ring.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 90mm f/9 Fluorite Refractor, 1/60 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-40n
Partial Eclipse
Magnitude = 0.80
(T99-40w)

Partial Eclipse - Magnitude = 0.80 (T99-40w)

Nearly 4/5 of the Sun's diameter is still covered by the Moon (11:55 UT).

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/250 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-49n
Partial Eclipse
Magnitude = 0.50
(T99-49w)

Partial Eclipse
Magnitude = 0.50 (T99-49w)

Half of the Sun's diameter is still covered 40 minutes after totality ends (12:18 UT).

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/250 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-58n
Partial Eclipse
Magnitude = 0.20
(T99-58w)

Partial Eclipse - Magnitude = 0.20 (T99-58w)

The final 20% of the Sun remains covered by the Moon (12:40 UT)

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/250 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99-04n
Totality Over Elazig
(T99-04w)

Totality Over Elazig (T99-04w)

A dramatic view of totality is seen in a wide-angle photograph shot from Elazig, Turkey. A programmable camera automatically captured the scene from Espenak's hotel in Elazig while he photographed the eclipse 30-km away at Lake Hazar.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Elazig, TURKEY)
Nikon N8008 and Nikkor 24mm, f/5.6, auto, Royal Gold 200
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99video1n
Eclipse Animation
(T99video1w)

Eclipse Animation (T99video1w)

A series of still images were combined into a movie of the eclipse from start to finish.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

T99seq1n
Eclipse Sequence - 1
(T99seq1w)

Eclipse Sequence - 1 (T99seq1w)

A series of 9 still images were combined into a time sequence of the eclipse from start to finish. The corona has been computer enhanced to show subtle details and prominences.For more eclipse sequence photos, visit Photo Gallery D - Sequences.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 80mm f/8 Fluorite Refractor & AP 2x Barlow, 1/250 second
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak



1999 Total Solar Eclipse - Photos and Reports

Solar Eclipse Photographs

Copyright Notice

All photographs, text and web pages are © Copyright 1999 by Fred Espenak, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. They may not be reproduced, published, copied or transmitted in any form, including electronically on the Internet or WWW, without written permission of the author. The photos have been digitally watermarked.

The photographs may be licensed for commercial, editorial, and educational use. Contact Espenak (at MrEclipse) for photo use in print, web, video, CD and all other media.

Return to: MrEclipse Main Page

WebMaster: MrEclipse
Last revised: 2006 Oct 20