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Reports on the 2002 solar eclipse.


An eclipse of the Sun will occur over Southern Africa (and Australia) on 2002 December 04. This eclipse will be total (for up to 80 seconds) in a narrow strip running across the Southern African subcontinent. All areas outside this strip will see a partial eclipse only.

Click on each picture below to see the full story.

total eclipse animationThis animation shows what it will be like to see the total eclipse of the Sun.

sun path The movement of the Sun in the sky during the eclipse, as seen by people in the path of totality.

map 1 Map showing the path of the eclipse over South Africa.

eclipse_map A more detailed, higher resolution map of the eclipse path in South Africa created by the Johannesburg Planetarium.

full eclipse pathThe full path of totality across the Earth.

moon shadowSimulations of the shadow of the Moon during the eclipse.

totality - to doWhat to do if you will be in the path of totality.

planets and stars Chart showing the bright planets and stars that may become visible in the sky at totality.

jhb anim Animation of the partial eclipse seen outside the path of totality. The example shown is for Johannesburg.

eclipse at SA citiesTable and images showing how much of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon at eclipse maximum for a number of cities in South Africa.

pinhole projectionWatch the eclipse safely with pinhole projection of the Sun.

mirror projectionWatch the eclipse safely with mirror projection of the Sun.

eclipse viewerWatch the eclipse safely with eclipse viewers.

binocular projectionWatch the eclipse safely with binocular projection of the Sun.

telescope projectionWatch the eclipse safely with telescope projection of the Sun.

No. 14 welders glassesWatch the eclipse safely with No. 14 welders glasses.

unsafe eclipse viewing Unsafe ways of viewing the Sun. It is easy to do it right - don't risk blindness. Viewing a solar eclipse can cause eye damage. HartRAO disclaims any loss or injury howsoever incurred from viewing the eclipse.

eclipse photography Photographing the partial and total eclipse.

eclipse causeWhat causes eclipses of the Sun?

eclipse quiz Do you understand what will happen during the eclipse of 2002 Dec 04, and how to watch it safely? Try our Eclipse Quiz and find out! Educators - try the quiz on your students and colleagues.

madam
and eve"Madam and Eve" cartoon creators Rapid Phase have made a wonderful set of child-friendly cartoons using the Madam and Eve characters and the Pezoolies TV characters to explain the eclipse and how to watch it. Download them now from the FEST website - click on the picture at left!

eclipse leafletA summary of the key points about the eclipse is available as a two page A4 leaflet, in English and other local languages. Make copies and hand them around! Development of this leaflet was funded by FEST - the Foundation for Education, Science and Technology.

HartRAO participation in the Eclipse

HartRAO held a three-day workshop at the observatory in July to train educators from science centres and education centres in the northern provinces of South Africa about the eclipse. These centres are carrying out workshops for educator and students in their area. HartRAO is similarly carrying out workshops in Gauteng about the eclipse. This work is partly sponsored by FEST. It is one of a number of eclipse projects they are sponsoring.

Some 1200 visitors learned about the eclipse at the Sasol Techno-X science festival held in August in Sasolburg. A pictorial report illustrates how we went about it. In addition, over 40 groups totalling over 2000 visitors that have visited HartRAO since July have have received eclipse education.

Eclipse Links

Solar Eclipse 2001 June 21 over Southern Africa

What is it like to experience a solar eclipse? Read and see what it was like at the last eclipse:

HartRAO contact information

Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory
P.O.Box 443, Krugersdorp 1740, South Africa
http://www.hartrao.ac.za
Phone: +27 (12) 301-3100 Fax: +27 (12) 301-3300
e-mail: visit@hartrao.ac.za
www.hartrao.ac.za/other/eclipse2002/index.html
Last updated 2002/11/26 by mike@hartrao.ac.za
. since 2002/06/14