Acknowledgments

Information on these pages is gleaned from many eclipse sites all over the world.  Thanks to them, and especially to Fred Espenak of the Goddard Space Flight Center.  Fred has unarguably the best eclipse resource on the Internet - be sure to visit his page. Click here to go there in a new window.

Please feel free to e-mail me with any comments or criticisms.  Also, if you want any further information on the eclipses of 2001 & 2002, e-mail me.

All artwork for the Africlipse Logos on this web site are by kind favour of good  friends at Online Advertising,  Click here to e-mail them!

Africlipse - The African Total Solar Eclipses up to 2030

"Now eclipses are elusive and provoking things... visiting the same locality only once in centuries. Consequently, it will not do to sit down quietly at home and wait for one to come, but a person must be up and doing and on the chase."

Rebecca R. Joslin (1929)

Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking out the Sun´s light for a few fleeting moments - anything from a second to a maximum of 7 minutes 31 seconds.  It is an extraordinary coincidence that the Sun is 400 times the diameter of the Moon but is also 400 times further away - so they appear the same size in the sky!  At least twice a year, the Moon passes in front of the Sun and a solar eclipse will occur somewhere on earth.  This may be a partial eclipse or it may be a central eclipse.  Central eclipses can be annular (where the Moon does not completely cover the Sun and a ”ring of fire” is seen around the black unlit face of the Moon); or central eclipses can be total (where the Moon completely covers the Sun).

On these pages I intend to cover in some detail the total solar eclipses of 21 June 2001 and 4 December 2002 as well as other African Eclipses.  See the Index Page for full details.  Basic mechanics and dynamics of solar eclipses are also be covered on these pages in a short tutorial.  For information on lunar eclipses, visit Fred Espenak’s magnificent site, or Cees Bassa’s excellent site at http://phys.uu.nl/~bassa.

On this site you will find maps showing the path of totality of the 2001, 2002, 2006, 2013, 2027 and 2030 Total Solar Eclipses, which should give you some idea of where you should be if you want to have the ”total” experience.  There are also timings and partial eclipse percentages for many Southern African locations for 2002, so that if you cannot get to the zone of totality, at least you will know the local circumstances for a location close to you.

These pages will be updated regularly so bookmark them and return as often as you like for any more information.  Also, visit the solar eclipse links for more detailed (and possibly more accurate) information.  As well as providing hints on still and video photography, Fred Espenak´s site is probably the most detailed of all eclipse sites and is a must if you are considering viewing the eclipses.

Suppliers of Suitable and EU Certified Eclipse Viewing Glasses are:-
Astroshades - e-mail them
Rainbow Symphony - e-mail them
Click on their name to send them e-mail - don´t forget to mention the Africlipse Website in your e-mail!

[Home] [African Solar Eclipses] [Eclipses] [Lunar Eclipse] [Safari] [Past & Future] [Miscellaneous]

[2001]  [2002]  [2005]  [2006]  [2010]  [2013]  [2016]  [2017]  [2020]  [2027A]  [2027T]  [2030A]  [2030T]
[Shadows] [Eclipse Types] [The Saros]

[2001 Maps] [2002 Maps] [2006 Maps] [2013 Maps] [2027 Maps] [2030 Maps]

 [Top]  [Index]  [Links]  [Site Map]

This Africlipse InfoSite developed, executed and maintained by Peter Tiedt 2001-4.  Please advise me if you link to my site!