1999 Total Solar Eclipse

Photo Gallery C (Corona)

Photographs by Fred Espenak

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.

Click on each image below to see a larger photo.

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Inner Corona
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Inner Corona (T99-2-0607w)

A very short exposure (1/250) shows the inner corona and several prominences.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 90mm f/9 Fluorite Refractor
Exposure: 1/250 second, f/9, Kodak Royal Gold 100
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

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Middle Corona
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Middle Corona (T99-2-1415w)

An intermediate exposure show structure in the middle corona.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 90mm f/9 Fluorite Refractor
Exposure: 1/15 second, f/9, Kodak Royal Gold 100

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Outer Corona
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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

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Outer Corona & Moon
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Outer Corona & Moon (T99-2-2627Mw)

Two long exposures (4 seconds) have been averaged and stretched to reveal details on the dark side of the Moon.The lunar illumination actually comes from Earthlight because Earth appears to be full from the Moon's vantage point.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 90mm f/9 Fluorite Refractor
Exposure: 4 seconds, f/9, Kodak Royal Gold 100
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

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Corona's Structure
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Corona's Structure (T99-2-sumsubw)

Image processing with Adobe Photoshop was was used to reveal the wealth of subtle detail in the solar corona. The radial brigthness of the coronahas been subreatced to emphasize coronal details. This image was produced from 22 individual negatives using exposures from 4 seconds to 1/250 second.

Total Solar Eclipse of 1999 Aug 11 (Lake Hazar, TURKEY)
Nikon N70 and Vixen 90mm f/9 Fluorite Refractor
Exposure: 4 seconds to 1/250 second, f/9, Kodak Royal Gold 100
Photo ©1999 by Fred Espenak

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Visual Corona
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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. This version closely resembles the appearance of the corona as seen by the naked eye.