BBC News | Total Eclipse | Earth wonders at heaven's giftadishakti.org/pdf_files/1999_solar_eclipse_signs_and... · 2014. 11. 6. · an hour for the eclipse, said: "It is very unfortunate

Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive

FeedbackLow Graphics

Help

Wednesday, August 11, 1999 Published at 18:58 GMT 19:58 UK

Earth wonders at heaven'sgift

The eclipse as seen from an RAF Hercules at 11.11BST

It was an event that left few in its pathuntouched.

The century's final solar eclipse gavepeople across Europe and South Asiathe chance to know in the mostspectacular way that, whateverhappens on Earth, it is part ofsomething bigger.

Starting off the American coast, theshadow of the Moon raced across theAtlantic at 2,400 kph (1,500 mph).

A sound picture of theeclipse across theglobe from BBC'sWorld At One

A million people had travelled toCornwall, south-west England, so theycould stand in line with the Sun andMoon. For them, the first contactbetween the two came shortly before10.00BST.

While others in Europe waited, across the UK outside thezone of totatily, people left offices and stood outside to bepart of the partial experience.

Relevant Stories11 Aug 99 | Total EclipseEuropean watchers facedeclipse lottery

24 Aug 99 | Total EclipseEclipse experience startsflood of e-mail

11 Aug 99 | Total EclipsePicture gallery: All eyesskyward

11 Aug 99 | Total EclipseUK touched by history

In this section

Eclipse provides uniquesolar image


European watchers facedeclipse lottery

Eclipse seekers flock toIranian town

Asian fear and wonder ateclipse

Eclipse shadow unveilsscientific mysteries

Under the Moon's shadow

Eclipse experience startsflood of e-mail

Eclipse scientists in theswing

Safety in sight

UK touched by history

Eclipse eye damage reportsrise

BBC News | Total Eclipse | Earth wonders at heaven's gift

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_417000/417694.stm (1 of 4) [25/12/2000 9:13:34 AM]

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sport/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/default.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/on_air/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/feedback/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_417000/417694.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/help/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/darkness.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/08/99/eclipse_wallpaper/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417694_wato.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417694_wato.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417694_wato.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417694_wato.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_416000/416017.stm

Buddhist monks gathered at the EiffelTower

But the main prize - to witnessthe very last bead of light beingextinguished, to see the Sun'sheavenly crown explode, andthen to behold the rebirth of theSun - was denied those inCornwall.

Joining them in the straight lineto the Sun was heavy cloudcover. Crossed fingers, prayersand even sun dances had allbeen in vain.

Across the Channel in northernFrance there were clear skies,though, as there were in

Munich - right until the moment of totality. A torrentialdownpour picked perhaps the worst moment of all to fall.

The streets of Ramnicu Valcea, thesouth-central city in Romania wheretotality could be seen the longest, werecrammed.

In Egypt, Muslims shut themselves awayon the orders of clerics. Others flocked tomosques as earthquakes and anout-of-season hailstorm intensifiedunease.

The BBC's NickBryant: "Tens ofmillions looked tothe skies"

Jordan and Syria declared a nationalholiday. Russian TV found manyMuscovites more concerned withdomestic difficulties. One woman said:"I'm not really interested in the sky."

Anita Modjahedpour, from the Iranian capital Tehran,e-mailed BBC News Online's Talking Point to say: "My eyeshave a little smart pain but it isn't important because theeclipse was so valuable for me and I know it will happen onlyonce in lifetime."

Spectators in Pakistan and Bangladesh suffered the samefate as those in the UK, having their views obscured byclouds and having to resort to television.

Teenager Lubna Hamid, who waited on top of her house foran hour for the eclipse, said: "It is very unfortunate to misssuch a rare spectacle."

And residents in Afghanistan painted a similar picture - toobusy with struggling for survival against poverty and theconflict to bother with the eclipse

Pagan weddings eclipsehearts

Eclipse sparks recordpower surge

Wildlife fooled by doubledawn

South-West delivers eclipseverdict

Papers thrilled by eclipse

Total eclipse. Totalcoverage

A global perspective of theeclipse

Views of the eclipse fromaround the UK

The eclipse - how was it foryou?

Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it

Eclipse news archive



http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417984_bryant11pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417984_bryant11pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417984_bryant11pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417984_bryant11pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_423000/423145.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

Turkish commandos watched theeclipse while on guard in Sivas

"More important for us is ourstomachs and safety," saidshopkeeper, Gul Agha.

Cornwall's St Michael's Mount duringthe blackout

In some Indian villages, priestsrang temple bells and tookturns beating steel plates withsticks to ward off evil.

But, like Pakistan, cloud covermeant most of India saw theeclipse departing the way it hadarrived - obscured.

It finally ended in the Bay ofBengal at 12.36GMT.

But the disappointment of manyof those who missed out couldnot hide the wonder of livingthrough one of nature's greatestspectacles.

Watch the firstcontact as theMoon appears infront of the Sun

Cheers and tears had followed it alongits path. On the Cornish beaches, peoplekissed, some danced, others sensed aneerie calm as the lights went out andcame back on.

And considering the truly astronomic coincidences involved inseeing a total eclipse, it is perhaps no wonder. On no otherplanet in our solar system will the Sun and a moon appearthe same size.

For that event to happen where there is life to appreciate itseems truly miraculous.

Advanced options | Search tips



http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417192_firstcontact_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417192_firstcontact_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417192_firstcontact_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417192_firstcontact_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/tips.htm

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | ©



http://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/copyright.htm

Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help



One of the best views could be had on TV

As the shadow of the eclipse sped its way across northernEurope, eclipse watchers were left at the mercy of theweather to determine the quality of the view.

In Stuttgart and Munich, totalityproved a total washout

In Cornwall in south westEngland - the first land toexperience totality - cloudyskies and periodic rainobscured the view but failed todampen enthusiasm.

The last eclipse of themillennium was greeted withfireworks, cheers and whistling.

In Germany thousandstravelled to the southern city ofMunich to witness the event,but as the Moon's shadowapproached the heavensopened and a torrential

downpour washed away the view for some.

Above the clouds

In this section










Safety in sight









A global perspective of the

BBC News | Total Eclipse | European watchers faced eclipse lottery


http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sport/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/default.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/on_air/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/feedback/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_417000/417585.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/help/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_416000/416017.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_423000/423145.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stm

In Munich, and across much of Germany, the best view to behad was transmitted back to Earth from aircraft circling highabove the cloud cover.

Watch GermanTV's commentaryon the eclipse (inGerman)

Hundreds packed roadside rest areasalong the A8 highway, nicknamed the'Eclipse Autobahn,' because it follows thepath of the Moon's shadow.

Germany was also the scene of one ofthe first reported eclipse accidents, when a student sufferedsevere burns after climbing an electricity pylon in an effort toget a better view.

In Paris, crowds gathered at thefamous landmarks

As the shadow raced acrossFrance at more than 2,000kmh,heavy cloud also proved aproblem although mostcontinued to stick to advice ofusing protective spectacles orpin-hole cameras.

Each small and short-livedbreak in the cloud sparkedcheers and applause fromcrowds across the country.

In Paris, which experienced99% totality, city landmarkssuch as the Eiffel Tower andthe Arc de Triomphe proved the

focus of the eclipse watching hordes.

And in the town of Reims, American opera singer JessyeNorman sang He's Got the Whole World in his Hands.

Tying the knot

In Belgrade, Jovan the chimp takes alook at the partial eclipse

In the town of Ermenonville,north of Paris, two Frenchastrophysicists tied the knot justminutes before the eclipse sothat they could witness theunion of Sun and Moon as manand wife.

In Romania watchers basked inperfect conditions and enjoyedthe longest totality of anyone -apart from those who partedwith a lot of money toshadow-chase on Concorde.

eclipse



Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it




http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417585_germany_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417585_germany_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417585_germany_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417585_germany_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

The BBC's JeremyCooke reports fromRomania, whichexperienced thelongest period oftotality

Those who could afford it sippedchampagne high above the clouds astwo of the supersonic aircraft alternatelycaught up with and on occasion overtookthe eclipse.

Witnesses in Bucharest, many dressedin traditional costume, said spontaneous

applause broke out as a surreal purple light surrounded themand the Sun disappeared for nearly two-and-a-half minutes.

Economic boost

Tourism officials are expressing quiet satisfaction at a miniboom the eclipse has bought to a country still struggling toimprove its fragile economy.

Romanian women don traditionaldress in perfect eclipse-watchingweather

With the Moon completelycovering the Sun, Romaniansand the thousands of visitorswho had travelled from acrossEurope got a spectacular andrare view of the Sun'smysterious atmosphere, orcorona, which burns at morethan one million degreescentigrade.

That was the main lure forscientists who gathered atremote sites across thecontinent to get the best view,free from Earth-basedpollutants.

Even the Holy See gave way to the eclipse as Pope JohnPaul II cut short his weekly audience with pilgrims in theVatican, saying: "I'm finishing up now, because I know thatsome of you are in a hurry to see the eclipse."





http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417585_romania.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417585_romania.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417585_romania.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417585_romania.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417585_romania.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417585_romania.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/tips.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/copyright.htm

Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help



Iranians and foreigners watched the eclipse in Isfahan

Eclipse watchers flocked to the town of Isfahan in central Iranon Wednesday.

They went there in unprecedentednumbers after the US space agencyNasa said it would be one of the verybest places to watch the solar event.

The visitors filled the town's majesticsquare and its hotels.

"It's total frenzy, it's jam-packedeverywhere, on the main square andthe two banks of the Zayendah RudRiver," said one French tourist.

As middle of the night descended for two minutes into themiddle of the day, crowds shouted "God is great!" - andwhistled in honour of the spectacle.

On the balcony of the historic Ali Qapu palace, scientistsequipped with high-tech cameras gazed at the phenomenonwhich could be seen for nearly two across a band 100km (60miles) wide.

Celestial celebrations

In this section










Safety in sight










BBC News | Total Eclipse | Eclipse seekers flock to Iranian town


http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sport/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/default.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/on_air/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/feedback/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_417000/417598.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/help/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/darkness.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/08/99/eclipse_wallpaper/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_416000/416017.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_423000/423145.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stm

But for millions, the event signified a spiritual, solemn time.Muslim clerics called for special Shiite 'namaz-e ayat,'prayers offered at times of natural phenomena to celebrateGod's glory and power.

Muslim tradition holds that the prophetMohammed, the founder of Islam,prayed for the duration of an eclipse.

In the Iranian capital Tehran, whichwitnessed only a partial eclipse, tens ofthousands of people heeded the call tomass prayers and gathered at mosques.

"The great Iranian people must showtheir humility before the all-powerful one and creator of theuniverse and perform the prayer of divine signs," said thespiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

'End of the world'

In Jordan, the mood was more sombre as doomsayerspredicted the end of the world.

The moon covered 80 per cent of thesun in Jordan

In Amman, a preacher at thecapital's King Abdullah Mosque,said: "This is a sign ofdoomsday and it should be alesson to all to stick to the wordof God."

Jordanian shopkeeper SamirQalaji, 47, was reported to say:"We are scared that the sun willnever rise again."

Entering into the spirit of theevent, Lebanon's electricitycompany promised to suspendpower restrictions so thattelevision broadcasts could be

watched uninterrupted.

Since Israeli bombs damaged a power station in June, manyhomes have been without electricity for hours during the day.

State of emergency

Minor earthquakes and an unseasonal hailstormaccompanied Egyptians as they flocked to mosques in thecapital, Cairo.

The Egyptian authorities put government hospitals and firebrigades on alert, apparently fearing widespread injuriesamong eclipse spectators.

Senior clerics issued an edict forbidding people to look at theSun directly because it transgresses Islamic law to harm

eclipse



Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it




http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

oneself.





http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/tips.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/copyright.htm

Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help



Wonder mixed with traditional fears for many in India

Thousands of people in India carried out sacred rituals as theeclipse passed over South Asia, while others ignoredtraditional fears to witness a unique wonder of nature.

Hours before the eclipse touched thesub-continent, devout Hindus wereflocking to the holy city of Kurukshetrato take a ritual bath in two sacred lakes.

People were also reported to begathering at holy sites along the RiverGanges.

According to Hindu mythology, the eclipse represents thedemons Rahu and Keta locked in celestial combat and eatingthe Sun.

Some texts say the eclipse presages widespread destruction.

The authorities made a concerted effort to dispel some of themyths, organising special lectures in schools and collegesacross India.

In this section










Safety in sight










BBC News | Total Eclipse | Asian fear and wonder at eclipse



Hindus bathed at holy sites

But even in the commercialcapital, Bombay, offices andshops closed early as workingduring the eclipse is consideredbad luck.

Pregnant women and childrenare discouraged from seeingthe eclipse, and conservativefamilies across India refrainedeven from cooking food on theday of the eclipse.

A farmer sets up a scarecrow to repelevil

"We have closed up ourkitchens. No cooked food hasbeen left around and whateverthere is will be given to the poorand to beggars," said Bombaydiamond exporterPraveenshankar Pandya.

In western India, along the pathof totality, there was near totaldarkness for just over a minuteat 1800 local time (1230 GMT).

Despite cloudy weather andtraditional fears, large numbersof scientists, amateurstargazers and tourists took upposition in towns and villages to

watch the eclipse.

The BBC's SanjeevSrivastava: An eeriesilence

The BBC's Sanjeev Srivastava, reportingfrom the path of the eclipse, says therewas an eerie silence as the shadow ofthe moon completely covered the sun.

The temperature dropped, and birds flew to their nests.

But he says that for many scientists camping out to watch thephenomenon, the cloudy weather meant they did not get aclear view of the sun.

Elsewhere, there was also disappointment because of theweather.

In the Pakistani city of Karachi, thick cloud covered the sky,forcing many people who had gathered on rooftops for aglimpse of the eclipse to watch it on TV.

Mosques throughout the city were reported to be packed with

eclipse



Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it




http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417669_sanjeev.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417669_sanjeev.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417669_sanjeev.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

Animals were temporarilydisorientated

worshippers offering specialprayers. In some parts of theBangladeshi capital, Dhaka,monsoon clouds and the hazealso spoiled the view at dusk.

The eclipse finally ended overthe Bay of Bengal at12.36GMT.






Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help

Tuesday, August 24, 1999 Published at 13:20 GMT 14:20 UK


A satellite image shows the Moon's shadow on Europe's western edge

The drama is over and the Moon haspassed over the Sun, but for scientiststhe work is just beginning.

From the UK to the India, theyharnessed the darkness of the August99 total solar eclipse to try to solvemysteries about the Sun and its effecton the Earth, generating masses ofdata which must now be interpreted.

How solar storms strike the Earth andknock out satellites, why the Sun's

atmosphere is much hotter than its surface and how theSun's heat drives the Earth's climate are just some of thequestions the researchers are asking.

And new mysteries have also been thrown up. ProfessorMark Bailey, Director of the Armagh Observatory, UK,observed the eclipse from Alderney in the Channel Islands.He told the BBC: "As the eclipse grew towards totality, wehad very unusual phenomena in the sky. Two very darkbands stretched right across the sky, bracketing the Sun likeparallel lines, which I have never heard reported before."

Champagne scientists

In this section










Safety in sight










BBC News | Total Eclipse | Eclipse shadow unveils scientific mysteries



In the Romanian city of Ramnicu Valcea, where totality lastedlongest, scientists from Williams College, in Massachusetts,US, cracked open bottles of champagne as the Sun began toreappear.

The 1999 solar eclipse will lead togreater scientific understanding

"It worked great," said JayPasachoff, director of theHopkins Observatory atWilliams College. Working fromthe roof of a hotel, he andcolleagues carried outexperiments on solar heating,the Sun's corona and the Sun'smagnetic field.

The 1999 solar eclipse will leadto greater scientificunderstanding, largely becauseits track across Europe andSouth Asia allowedastronomers many vantagepoints with clear skies. Also,

the Sun is nearing the peak of its 11-year activity cycle, sothe corona should be more active than during previouseclipses.

The eclipse is an important scientific opportunity for two mainreasons. Firstly, it completely cuts out the Sun's light for shorta time which can be precisely predicted. This means that theeffect of the Sun on the Earth's atmosphere can bemeasured.

Radio waves

For example, the ionosphere is a little-understood outer layerof the Earth's atmosphere. This is where the Sun's energyfirst affects Earth. Radio waves bounce off the ionospheremuch better in darkness than in light, so they can be used toprobe the behaviour of the enigmatic layer.

Secondly, the Moon perfectlyblocks out the body of the Sun,leaving its outer atmosphere, orcorona, in perfect view.Normally, the Sun's intenselight means the corona is nearlyimpossible to observe in detail.

During an eclipse, scientistscan see the violent magneticstorms in the corona whichmight explain why the corona istwo million degrees Celsius,whilst the Sun's surface is arelatively cool 6,000 degrees

eclipse



Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it




http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

During an eclipse scientists can seethe violent magnetic storms in thecorona

Celsius.

Even in areas where cloudblocked a clear view, scientific

experiments were successful. At Land's End in the UK, DrBarrie Jones, head of Physics and Astronomy at the OpenUniversity, was searching for waves of pressure changes inthe atmosphere.

"These are believed to be generated because the Moon'sshadow cools the atmosphere," Dr Jones told BBC NewsOnline. "I know I'll have some good data and hope to detectthese waves for the first time."

Cause and effect

Dr Jones's equipment is highly sensitive and has to detectpressure variations of just a hundredth of a millibar. Thesepressure waves are in the atmosphere all the time, generatedby sunsets and sunrise and by the wind going overmountains.

Dr Barrie Jones says his experimentswere not spoilt by cloudy skies

"They are important ways ofcarrying energy around theatmosphere and so ofimportance in the generalunderstanding of weather," saidDr Jones, a veteran of fiveeclipses.

"The beauty of the eclipse isthat you know exactly what iscausing the waves, and whereand when. So you can link aspecific wave train back to aspecific cause. Usually thesewaves are caused by such amixture of events you cannotlink cause and effect. This will

give a much better understanding of the process."

Dr Jones's experiment worked well but was his enjoyment ofthe spectacle spoiled by the cloudy skies? Not at all. "It wasactually very impressive, a great wall of darkness flying overthe Atlantic towards us and really nice orange and pinkcolours around the horizon."

This page was prepared for the 1999 total solar eclipseon 11 August. The next total eclipse can be seen acrosssouthern Africa on 21 June, 2001.



http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_416000/416017.stm

Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help



From under the Moon's shadow, BBC correspondentsrelay their experiences of the eclipse

Justin Webb was with an animal experiment in Soisson,France.

Here in Soisson what they did was gather a group of animalsat an aerodrome on some high ground.

They were farm animals, about a dozenof them, with their hay and little pens. Alot of people came and looked at them.It was anything but an ordinary day forthe animals right from the word gobecause they were being poked andprodded in a manner that they probablyweren't used to on an ordinary day onthe farm.

Anyway, when darkness fell, peoplewere moved away from the animalsbecause there was a feeling that they

might behave oddly, might even be dangerous. But I have tosay nothing untoward happened, indeed nothing muchhappened at all.

The animals simply looked as if they were preparing to go to

In this section










Safety in sight










BBC News | Total Eclipse | Under the Moon's shadow



View from the Arc de Triomphe

sleep in a quite sensiblefashion and that is what one ortwo of them did. The chickensstopped clucking and thedonkey stood very still and sodid the cows. When it got lightagain they just seemed to wakeup again.

I talked to a vet afterwards whosaid that, frankly, in his view theresult of the experiment wasthat animals do not behaveoddly in eclipses. He said thatall the literature saying that theydo was mistaken. It was

probably the result of non-objective people looking at thesethings.

Certainly, from the point of view of this experiment in northernFrance, the lesson of the day is that animals do not doanything strange. There is a bigger question mark, I guessthough, about the humans.

Caroline Wyatt felt the downpour in Munich.

The omens weren't good. Early morning sunshine in Munichrapidly disappeared behind gloomy skies with weatherforecasters predicting just a 30% chance of viewing theeclipse.

The tens of thousands of tourists who had flocked to the maincity for the event found themselves in need of umbrellas andraincoats alongside their eclipse viewing glasses.

A damp day for Munich

In Munich's Olympic stadium,where the main event was held,families huddled together underumbrellas to watch music anddance from around the world.

Even the efforts of theGhanaian drumming groupappeared to be in vain. Butthen, just as the moon began topass across the face of the sunthe clouds cleared and peoplerushed to put on their viewingglasses.

In town, shops and factoriesshut punctually at mid-day to

give employees the chance to see the developing eclipse.But it was not to be. Just as the totality reached Munich, theheavens opened and there was a torrential downpour.

In the eerie twilight that enveloped the city, spectators were

eclipse



Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it




http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

forced to watch their television screens broadcasting picturesfrom above the cloud cover. It was the closest most people inMunich got to view the only total eclipse in this region withintheir lifetimes.

Jeremy Cooke in Ramnica Vellcea, Romania.

After a cloudy start to the day the conditions for viewing theeclipses here in the town of Ramnica Vellcea were perfect.

The total eclipse here lasted longer than anywhere on Earth.The crowds, many of them in traditional Romanian costume,clapped and cheered as the Moon shadow completelycovered the Sun.

Romanians dress for the occasion

And then there was a strangequiet for some two minutes and23 seconds until the first solarrays could once again be seen.

During the eclipse the Sun'sspectacular atmosphere wasclearly visible, causing delightnot only for Romanian peoplebut for the thousands ofoverseas visitors, some ofwhom had travelled thousandsof miles to be here for anexperience which lasted lessthan three minutes.

It was, though, a trulyremarkable sight and one that will never be forgotten bythose who witnessed it.

Romanian officials will be delighted that everything has goneso well. The country drew great pride from the fact that it wasto be the sight of the longest eclipse.

Major initiatives to increase tourism seem to have beensuccessful in a country that so badly needs to improve itsfragile economy.

Chris Morris in Turkey.

From a high mountain path in Central Turkey, hundreds ofpeople cheered and clapped as a wall of darkness rushedtowards us across the plain below.

For about one and a half hours, the Moon had been eatingaway at the edge of the Sun. Suddenly it was dark - not thedeep darkness of night, but a cloak of grey. As the Sundisappeared, the temperature dropped. A halo of light dancedaround the edge of the Moon.

The planet Venus was visible in the sky - it was mesmerising.



Turkey takes a peak

In a little more than two minutesthe total eclipse was over. Thefirst narrow crescent of the Sunreappeared from behind themoon.

The darkness gave way to astrange purple half-light.Everything seemedluminescent. As the darknessraced away from us towardsthe Iranian border, theimmense power of the Sunquickly brought normal lightconditions back under clearblue skies.

The farmers in the fields below us resumed their work.

Sanjeev Srivastavav in Hudco village near Bhuj, India.

Astronomers and amateurs shouted in joy at the time of thetotal solar eclipse. For more than a minute there was neartotal darkness and an eerie silence as the Moon completelycovered the Sun.

There was also a perceptibledrop in the temperature, andthe breeze blowing over thisdesert village suddenly felt a lotcooler. As the Moon's discbegan to leave the Sun, it waslight again, and birds, whichhad flown to their nests onlyminutes earlier, came chirpingout again.

In India, there are severalmyths attached to an eclipse.According to some religioustexts, the solar phenomenon isa sign of the Sun's anger and is

followed by widespread destruction. Pregnant women andchildren are discouraged from seeing the eclipse, and inconservative families across India, even food is not cookedon the day of the eclipse.

In the run up to the eclipse, a concerted effort was made todispel these myths and special lectures were held in schoolsand colleges across India.

The campaign to spread positive awareness seems to havehad an impact, and together with scientists and astronomers,thousands of amateur stargazers and students turned out towatch this amazing celestial event.



Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help

Tuesday, August 24, 1999 Published at 13:19 GMT 14:19 UK


The view from Hull, UK, e-mailed by the creative team at Kingston Internet

The majestic spectacle of the total solareclipse is thrilling millions and hasprompted a torrent of e-mails to BBCNews Online. Delights, disappointmentsand photographs have been flooding insince just after totality drew darknessover the UK.

Many hundreds have already sentmessages and the flow is increasing aspeople across the European continentbegin to share their cosmicexperiences. By noon on Wednesday,

more than 20 e-mails were arriving every minute, and the ratewas increasing.

The total eclipse also prompted the most intense usage everof the video streamed by BBC News Online, of the UKeclipse and then following totality eastwards.

The site is also bringing the latest news from Cornwall toIndia, plus comprehensive background. Users can also relivethe eclipse through recorded video files.

In this section










Safety in sight










BBC News | Total Eclipse | Eclipse experience starts flood of e-mail



Eclipse by e-mail

Colin Myles sent in his view fromCambridge, UK

Nicky Hill, in Sweden, told BBCNews Online how e-mail hadadded to his enjoyment: "It wasan amazing sight, but the mostamazing thing was continuouslycomparing notes via e-mail withmy brother David who lives inNorth Wales. Isn't technologygreat!"

In England, Ian Gow said thetotal eclipse made our smallpresence in the Solar Systemparticularly obvious: "It was arare occasion when youactually felt the magic andsheer presence of space and

the planetary movements at first hand."

The eclipse was only partial inSwitzerland, from where Jim Burns toldBBC News Online: "Through gaps in theclouds, I glimpsed a beautiful, cold lightfrom the Sun."

E-mails from countries further afield havealso come in including Canada, Iceland,Russia and Pakistan. BBC News Onlinehas even had emails from Brazil, where

the eclipse is not visible at all, praising the coverage.



eclipse



Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it


BBC News | Total Eclipse | Eclipse experience starts flood of e-mail


http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/tips.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/copyright.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help

Thursday, August 12, 1999 Published at 14:13 GMT 15:13 UK


All eyes: Rare sunshine in Cornwall ahead of the eclipse

For two minutes, Britain stood still inawe.

Millions of people stopped work towatch the last eclipse of the centuryand experience a once in a lifetimemoment.

Cloudy skies meant observers inCornwall - the only part of mainlandBritain which witnessed "totality" - wereunable to see the phenomenon in all itsbeauty.

Watch highlights ofthe BBC's eclipsecoverage

But the eclipse's effects were dramaticnonetheless. The temperature droppedand darkness fell in Falmouth at10.11GMT (11.11BST).

For some people it was a spiritual moment, for others ascientific one. But for everyone it was unforgettable.

Calls to hospitals

Despite warnings about not looking

In this section










Safety in sight










BBC News | Total Eclipse | UK touched by history


http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sport/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/default.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/on_air/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/feedback/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_417000/417381.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/help/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/darkness.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/08/99/eclipse_wallpaper/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_ec_highlight_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_ec_highlight_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_ec_highlight_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_416000/416017.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_423000/423145.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415227.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stm

Peter Hunt reviewsthe day's events inCornwall

directly at the sun, some eye hospitalsreceived calls from worriedeclipse-watchers.

Across the UK, millions of people took a break from work towitness the eclipse and when they went back to work theNational Grid reported a record-breaking power surge.

The BBC's NicholasWitchell: "A once ina lifetimeexperience"

Hundreds of people who gathered on theIsles of Scilly were the first to witness theheavenly phenomenon. Oneholidaymaker described it as "awesomeand incredible" because the event had"nothing to do with man".

As Cornwall was plunged into darkness for two minutes andsix seconds, couples kissed on the beaches and drew suns inthe sand.

Darkness greeted with fireworks

Crowds cheered loudly and celebrated the moment of totalitywith fireworks.

More than 300 people gathered atthe feet of the Angel of the North inGateshead

TV astronomer Patrick Moore,watching in Falmouth,described it as a "strange,weird experience".

He said: "The temperaturedropped suddenly and the lightdropped and there werestrange atmospheric effectstoo, a strange kind of breeze Ihave not felt before."

Two women in Alderney, whohad witnessed the last eclipsein 1927, said this time the skyhad not gone as black and thetemperature had not droppedas much.

Listen to the eclipse:Reactions from twolocations in Cornwall

The hoped-for view of the Sun's coronaframed by the shadow may have beenobscured by a band of heavy cloud andrain but skywatchers refused to let itdampen their spirits.

"It was absolutely fantastic, a wonderful experience," saidAndrea Simmons from Penzance.

Wall of darkness

eclipse



Signs and wonders

Eclipse links

Eclipse archive

Solar science

Day becomes night

Sun block

Watch it




http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417958_hunt.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417958_hunt.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417958_hunt.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_witchell9pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_witchell9pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_witchell9pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_witchell9pm_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417703_montage.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417703_montage.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_417703_montage.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428841.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428839.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_428000/428832.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355058.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355070.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355059.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355065.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355053.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_355000/355049.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381164.stm

A wall of darkness swept towards Europe at 1,522 miles perhour (2,400km/h), closely followed at one point by twoConcorde aircrafts, which had set off from London'sHeathrow Airport early in the morning.

The BBC's JaneO'Brien: "A momentof magic"

Two hundred passengers were treated toa trip of a lifetime as they chased theshadow of the moon at twice the speedof sound.

Earlier, 40,000 people in thousands of boats set sail fromCornwall to Hampshire to view the eclipse from the sea,setting a record for Britain's biggest ever maritime gathering.

In London, the eclipse was 96.5% oftotality but eyewitnesses in the capitalsaid they could see little because of thecloud cover.

But hundreds of workers and shoppers inLeeds unexpectedly witnessed the solarspectacle, after a lucky break in theclouds.

Weather forecasters said Yorkshire and Humberside was oneof the best places to view the phenomena outside Cornwall.

The Sun plays hide and seek with theMoon

As the eclipse fever that hadgripped the country began toabate, helplines at twospecialist eye centres started totake calls from people worriedthey had damaged their sightby looking at the sun.

John Hegley offershis eclipse poem

A schoolboy is recovering after plungingaround 20ft from cliffs as peoplegathered to watch the eclipse at a beautyspot on Merseyside.

The 10-year-old was taken to hospital with abdominal, headand leg injuries after falling from a cliff at Wirral Country Park.

Back in the West Country roads are already becomingsnarled with traffic as thousands of spectators make their wayhome.



http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417505_reaction_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417505_reaction_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417505_reaction_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/newsid_416000/416730.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_hegleypoem_vi.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/video/_417958_hegleypoem_vi.ram

Front Page

World

UK

UK Politics

Business

Sci/Tech

Health

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Talking Point

In Depth

On Air

Archive


Help

Thursday, August 12, 1999 Published at 13:53 GMT 14:53 UK


Viewers like these reduced the risk of eye damage

Patients with eye damage caused by the eclipse will continueto arrive at UK hospitals well into the weekend, say experts.

Moorfields Eye Hospital, one of theUK's top centres, has already answered400 calls on its helpline, and helped 40people in the accident and emergencydepartment.

And Birmingham City Hospital has hadmore than 200 calls, and 30 arrivals atcasualty.

The BBC's BobSinkinson: "Somepeople ignored theadvice"

A spokesman for Moorfields said that thesymptoms of eye damage often took upto 48 hours to appear, and predicted asteady stream of casualties.

Ophthalmologists throughout the UK arecontributing to a massive research programme gatheringinformation about eclipse-related eye problems.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is coordinating theeffort.

Relevant Stories29 Jul 99 | Sci/TechGovernment warns ofeclipse danger

In this section










Safety in sight






South-West delivers eclipse

BBC News | Total Eclipse | Eclipse eye damage reports rise


http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/health/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/education/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sport/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/entertainment/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/default.asphttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/on_air/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/advquery/advquery.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/feedback/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/low/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_417000/417528.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/help/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/default.htmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/sci_tech/specials/eclipse_99/darkness.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/special_report/1999/08/99/eclipse_wallpaper/default.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/eclipse99/newsid_381000/381173.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_418065_sink_eves6.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_418065_sink_eves6.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_418065_sink_eves6.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/415000/audio/_418065_sink_eves6.ramhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_405000/405720.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_405000/405720.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_449000/449331.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_415000/415273.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_416000/416017.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418056.stmhttp://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/specials/total_eclipse/newsid_418000/418379.stm

Even though thick cloud covering much of the area of totalityoffered some protection to eclipse-viewers, an NHS helplinereported increased calls.

Looking at the Sun can causedamage to the retina of the eye

NHS Direct in the West Countryis the health advice linecovering Cornwall, Devon andSomerset. Its spokeswomansaid the number of calls onWednesday had risen by 30%compared to the day before.

"There have been a lot of callsfrom people who have viewedthe eclipse and needreassurance," she said.

Permanent eye damage

The BBC's JaneO'Brien: "Manyhave riskedblindness"

Elsewhere, an eye casualty unit atQueen's Medical Centre in Nottinghamreported a sudden increase in thenumber of calls following the eclipse.

At Queen's Medical Centre, clinical nursespecialist Ian Smith said: "Almost straightaway after theeclipse we started getting calls from people who were worriedabout having looked at the Sun.

"Some of those people have been advised to attend, but it isa little early to tell the full extent of how many people will beaffected."

Despite widespread warnings

Documents

BBC News | Total Eclipse | Earth wonders at heaven's giftadishakti.org/pdf_files/1999_solar_eclipse_signs_and... · 2014. 11. 6. · an hour for the eclipse, said: "It is very unfortunate