Alachua Astronomy Club: Partial Solar Eclipse, 2001 December 14

	Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc.	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
	A Partial Solar Eclipse	Member Astronomical League	Member International Dark-Sky Association
	29°39' N, 82°21' W Altitude: 50 Meters (more or less)		Updated Dec. 19, 2001
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A Sunset Partial Eclipse of the Sun

A Sunset Partial Solar Eclipse
From Cedar Key.
Overcast skies confronted AAC members as they attempted to observe the eclipse from Cedar Key on Dec. 14, 2002. But the Sun broke through just minutes before sunset giving Pam Mydock, Duane Sandene and others a specular view of a sunset partial eclipse!

Click image for eclipse photo by AAC member Ron Irby. Note Moon's disk covering lower left part of Sun
(See more Ron Irby pictures)

Also be sure to see a pretty Cedar Key
sunset picture by Marian Cohen

On the evening of Friday, December 14, 2001 the Sun set in partial eclipse for observers in the Eastern USA. (The eclipse was annular in Costa Rica.) In Gainesville, Florida, about 52% of the Sun's diameter was eclipsed just before sunset. (See below.) Observing the Sun set in eclipse is a somewhat rare and spectacular event and requires a clear, unobscured horizon.

Note: This eclipse was intriguing and tantalizing because it was a preview of the 2002 December 4 total eclipse of the Sun, where the Sun will hover over the Australia outback just before sunset! If you are interested in the Australia total eclipse next year, see Australia eclipse tour information.

The Alachua Astronomy Club, Inc. invited all club members and the public to observe the 2001 December partial eclipse of the Sun from Cedar Key, Florida (see box on left)

Note: See article in Cedar Key Beacon about the AAC event in Cedar Key. (The article erroneously states the AAC will host the Cedar Key Star Party in February. The AAC is not the host for the February event.)

The AAC invited everyone to watch the eclipse with the club from the Beach Front Motel, 873 First Street in Cedar Key.

From Gainesville, Florida take Archer Road [24] west all the way to Cedar Key. (Driving time about one hour.)

Continue to second stop sign (First Street), turn right to Beach Front Motel (about two blocks). There is ample parking. Reservations can be made to stay there by calling 1-866-543 5113 (typically booked up by Thursday evening). See map.

For More Information About

This eclipse including times for Gainesville, Florida and other cities, general eclipse info, eclipse links and eye safety information, and much more, please see the Continental Capers Travel Center information page about this eclipse.

A 2002 Australia Sunset Total Eclipse Tour
(led by our club's Vice President), see Voyages of Discovery.

Eclipse Information for Cedar Key, Florida
(Lat. 29°08.1' N, Long. 83°01.8 W)
2001 December 14
Eclipse Begins 4:11 p.m. EST
Sun's altitude 15°
Sun's azimuth 232° Maximum Eclipse
As Seen From
North Florida
52% of Sun's Diameter

Drawing by H.L. Cohen

Maximum Eclipse 5:20 p.m. EST
magnitude 52.0%
obscuration 40.7%
Sun's altitude 2.5°
Sun's azimuth 242°

Eclipse Ends 5:36 p.m. EST
Sun's altitude 0°
Sun's azimuth 243°
(Sun sets before eclipse over at 6:21 p.m. EST)

For a glossary of eclipse terms,
seeTotal Eclipse Glossary
(courtesy of Continental Capers Travel Center)

Note: The Geminid Meteor Shower was just past its peak on Friday night. (Peak occurred December 13, 2001 at 11:00 p.m. EST.) Late night observers could try to watch for Geminid meteor, one of the better meteor showers of the year (zenith hourly rate = 95).

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