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The View From Baja — The September 10th Program

by Howard L. Cohen, Associate Professor of Astronomy, Department of Astronomy
University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
September 1991

A total eclipse of the sun occurred on July llth of this year. Excitement and anticipation reached almost delirious levels in the weeks and days before this event. Contributing factors included (1) favorable prospects for clear weather, (2) a midsummer date, (3) a relatively accessible eclipse track, (4) a path through major population areas, and (5) an exceptionally long duration (longest until 2132 A.D.).

The eclipse path crossed Baja California Sur. This region is still relatively unpopulated and undeveloped, but usually favored by the clearest weather in the Western Hemisphere. Here too the duration of totality was near maximum.

Both the weather in Southern Baja and the eclipse did not disappoint. Before July 11th, some thought the upcoming eclipse would be the astronomical highlight of the decade. Now, in fact, many veteran eclipse chasers assert this eclipse will rank among the great astronomical spectacles of the last hundred years.

At the September meeting of the Alachua Astronomy Club, I will present the view from Baja, pictures taken by myself and my family which fully justify these accolades. September's program will begin with slides of Baja Sur and "Lands End" where the waters of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific turbulently mix. Included will be photographs of the evening planets and twilight skies brilliantly colored by ejecta from the Mount Pinatubo eruption in the Philippines. Also slides will show the magnificent sunrise which greeted observers early on eclipse morning. The program will continue with eclipse pictures revealing the moon's very first bite out of the sun. Photos will show both the approach of the lunar shadow over the Baja mountains and the advance of the moon over the solar disk. Finally, the program will conclude with the sights and sounds of totality including snapshots of the visible planets, the eerie eclipse twilight which fell upon us, the wealth of ruby prominences which circled the moon's limb, the truly phenomenal corona woven with immense polar streamers, and the diamond ring which marked the end of over six minutes of breathtaking totality.

Since there is no cure for eclipse addiction once smitten, we will conclude with a review of prospects for upcoming eclipses of the sun, including those for Florida and Gainesville.

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