2003 Solar Eclipse from Dome C Antarctica

2003 solar eclipse

On the 23rd of November 2003 a total solar eclipse will occur over regions of the Antarctic continent. An eclipse occurs at those times when the Moon moves into a position of direct alignment with the Sun and the Earth - as shown in the diagram below. The Sun is 400 times the size of the Moon, and 400 times as distant, so they appear to be the same size when viewed from Earth. When the orbit of the Moon takes it between the Sun and the Earth, the shadow of the Moon is cast upon the Earth - this shadow is known as the path of totality. {from earthview.com}

Path of the eclipse

As shown in the figure below (courtesy of Fred Espenak, NASA/GSFC) a narrow region of east Antarctica and the Southern Ocean lies in the path of totality and will experience a total eclipse. There are only a few Antarctic stations (such as the Russian Mirny station ) within this region. Bases over the rest of the Antarctic continent will experience a partial eclipse. The Australian bases Casey and Mawson will experience about 95% partial eclipses. The US Amudsen-Scott South Pole station will experience about 88% partial eclipse.

Dome C station

The French/Italian Dome Concordia station is one of only a few stations on the high Antarctic plateau. It is located at 75 degrees South latitude, 175 degrees East longitude and is 3260 m above sea level. On 23 November an 85% partial eclipse should be visible from Dome C.

In January of 2003 the Antarctic Astronomy Research Group of the University of New South Wales installed at Dome C station the Automated Astrophyscial Site Testing INvincible Observatory (AASTINO). The AASTINO (pictured below in front of the Concordia Station under construction) is a remote laboratory set up to measure the atmospheric characteristics of the Dome C site relevant to astronomy.

In November 2003 Professor John Storey (from UNSW) and Dr Anna Moore (from the Anglo-Australian Observatory) have returned to Dome C station to perform maintanence on the AASTINO. You can follow their progress via the daily Antarctic diaries they are sending back. John and Anna will be at the station during the eclipse and will send back images over the Iridium satellite network.

Dome C eclipse pictures 23 November 2003

Acknowledgements

The University of New South Wales Antarctic astronomy program is supported by the following organisations:

	the University of New South Wales		IFRTP - the French Institute Polaire
	Italian Programma Nazionale di Ricerche in Antartide		US National Science Foundation
	Australian Antarctic Division		Australian Research Council

Page by Jon Lawrence. Last update 23 November 2003.