Next live webcast: Total Lunar Eclipse of February 20-21, 2008

ANNULAR SOLAR ECLIPSE
MAY 31, 2003

The annular eclipse photographed by
Olivier Staiger at 03:50 UT from Flight NW34.
Courtesy: Olivier Staiger/High Moon

On Saturday, 2003 May 31, an annular eclipse of the Sun was visible from within a broad corridor which traverses the far Northern Hemisphere. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow began in northern Scotland, and quickly swept across Iceland and portions of Greenland. A partial eclipse was observed within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which included most of Europe (except Spain and Portugal) and the Middle East as well as from central and northern Asia.

Astronet, Copernicus Public Observatory and Mira Public Observatory, in cooperation with the Dutch educational website Kennislink ("Knowledge Link") organised a live webcast of the event from the Netherlands and Belgium.

Rise of tiny solar cusp by
Copernicus Public Observatory
(The Netherlands)

One of the images by
Mira Public Observatry
(Belgium)

The live webcast took place on Saturday, May 31st from about 03:20 to 04:45 UTC. Astronet received many outstanding pictures by enthousiastic photographer from The Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, England, Danmark and Norway. These pictures are shown on this page. Where no country is mentioned the picture was taken in The Netherlands.

The eclipse as seen from
The Netherlands and Belgium
Courtesy: Olivier Staiger/High Moon

ARCHIVE IMAGES OF COPERNICUS PUBLIC OBSERVATORY

ARCHIVE IMAGES OF NORWAY's WEBCAST BY ASTRONOMY.NO

PHOTOGRAPHIC RESULTS

Berry Holl, Vianen

Wilco Boerman, Diepenveen,
taken at Eemshaven,
high resolution

Markus Burch, Switzerland,
taken at Ólafsfjörður, Iceland

Giampaolo Zuntini,
Imola (BO), Italy,
from Cervia (RA), Italy

Simona Righini,
Medicina Radiotelescope Station
Bologna, Italy

Arjen Hofland,
Delft

Theo Mulder,
Bovenkarspel

Jenny Valk,
Zoetermeer

Rainer Klemm,
Passau, Bavaria, Germany

Paul Maguire,
Newcastle, England

Cees Bassa,
Utrecht

Mathias Vejerslev,
Hillerød, Denmark

Marius Puttmann,
from Brora, Scotland

Rijk-Jan Koppejan,
from Veere

Hans Hagebout,
Hoofddorp

Gijs de Leeuw,
Oostwoud

E. Serafini,
Cervia (RA), Italy

Fabio Pignata,
Delft

Michiel v.d.Puijl,
West-Terschelling

Marius van der Kuijl,
Wieringerwerf (more)

Marius van der Kuijl,
Wieringerwerf

Roel Janssen,
(more)

Robin Bonell (11 y),
Leicestershire, UK

Zeger W. Hendrikse,
IJsselmeer

Alex Middleton,
Strathy Point, Sutherland, Scotland

Derek Brankin,
Dundee, Scotland(more)

Derek Brankin,
Dundee, Scotland

Mark Krijgsman,
Den Haag

Martin Galea De Giovanni,
Malta

Frans Cambron,
Oudenaarde, Belgium

data99, Gooik (Belgium)

Georges Calon, Eindhoven

Rick Abrahams, Steenwijk

Hans Pijlman, Nieuwveen

Frans Janssen, Boskoop

Chris Schram, Nootdorp

Cor Berrevoets, Middelburg

Elbert Karssenberg, Genemuiden

Anders Spissøy, Norway

Martijn Gnirrep, Amsterdam

Emiel Altink, Steenbergen (N.Br.)

Michiel Berger, Alkmaar

Rob J. Bruin, Barendrecht

Don

Paul van der Burg, Arnhem

Jan Noot, Warffum

Alfons Ruiter, Goor

Bram Waagmeester

Theo Mulder, Bovenkarspel

Arno Bollen, Sittard

John Pals, Gouda

Frans de Waal (more)

Kevin, Veghel

Ruud van de Laar, Ter Aar

Margaret Dearman
Hopeman, Moray, Scotland

Jan Are Andreassen
Narvik, Norway

Mario Eghthuijsen, Hoogerheide

Marc van Beelen, Rijnsburg

Rolf W. Pieters, Utrecht

Marcel van der Werf, Delfzijl

Max Kroon, Wateringen

Raymond J.M. van de Ven Glover
Medemblik

Adosh van der Heijden
(more)

Carolien van Slijpe
& Martijn Duim

Dick Vis, Haarlem (Schalkwijk)

Joost de Vries

Paul de Beurs, Blaricum

Nancy Lippens, Utrecht

Jelle de Plaa, Zeist

Joost & Sjak, Amsterdam

Simon Wiersma, Hellevoetsluis

Thijs Knaap, Amsterdam

Roel 't Jong, Haarlem

Leon Rademakers, Heerlen

Rene J. Heeringa, Emmeloord

Ronald Blom

Edgar Alphenaar, Vlaardingen

Marco Verstraaten, Callantsoog

Tim Kraayvanger

Patrick Heijmans, Heesch

Patrick F. Dammeijer

John Timmerman, Leens (Gr)

L. Geelhoed, Oegstgeest

Jan Kelderhuis, Drachten

Henk Bril

Zbigniew Motyka,
Katowice, Poland (more)

Marcel van der List,
Delfgauw (more)

Andrew, Françoise and
Tycho de Jong, Delft

Ruud (Breda)

Björn Kummeling, Silvolde (Gld)

Albert van Duin, Beilen

R. Bouwens, Terneuzen

Jeff Simmelink, Sittard

Johan Brouwers, Son en Breugel

Govert Buizert, Doorn

Peter van Dongen, Hedel (NBr)

H.Jongsma, Elsloo (Frl)

Bart Veltman, Duiven

Frank Mokveld, Nootdorp

S. Cauberg, Maastricht

Hof family, Apeldoorn

Berry Holl, Vianen

André Vonk, Moerkapelle

Floris Altink, 9 y
Steenbergen (Nbr)

Fred Kramer
A20 bij Maassluis

Phil Cork
Witney, Oxfordshire, England

Marius v.d. Hoeven, Ede

Jos Wouters, Hoofddorp

Jos Weijenberg, Leiderdorp

Ilona Wilmont, zwolle

Han Verhaar, Den Haag

Anca Buit, Enschede

Desiree Bogert, Westerland

Michèl Coenen, Geleen

Rene Overgauw, Alphen a/d Rijn

Leo van der Nat
Rotterdam

Rudy (11 y) & Martin (9 y) Heithuis
Oosternieland (Gr)

Leo van den Berg, Deurne

Peter van Bommel, Grave (NB)

Roeland Merks, Amsterdam

Mylène Provence, Hoofddorp

Ron Uiterwijk, Raalte

Martijn Lammerts, between
't Goy en Beusichem (more))

Jaap Vreeling,
Raamsdonksveer

Wouter Slokker
Ouderkerk a/d Amstel

Wouter Slokker
Ouderkerk a/d Amstel (more)

Gerrit Jansen
from Grebbeberg

Frank Stevens,
Veghel

Jan Besselink, Ulft
(weather picturess)

Derick Rethans
(more)

Arno Paanstra, Veenendaal

Dennis van Duijn, Moordrecht

Leo van Wijngaarden, Vlaardingen

Silvester Arendse, Delft

Ab Aberson, Ruinerwold Weerwille

Reijnoud van der Niet, Rotterdam.

Linda van Hagen,
at Scharwoude

Martin Nederveen,
at Hardinxveld-Giessendam

Gary Williams
Southend on Sea, Essex, UK

Maarten and Esther Wilschut,
Rotterdam (more)

Pi Toth Istvan,
Budapest, Hungaria

Marjan van Lunteren , Nieuwegein

Robert Kater, Zandvoort

Mitchel Gerritzen, Arnhem

Geert Donker Duyvis, Delft

Hendri Karssenberg, Neede

C. Peekstok, Medemblik

Job Geheniau, Den Haag

Mikael Skafar, Sweden

John Pals, Gouda

STRANGE ECLIPSE ON MAY 31

The partial phase of the solar eclipse began at 1:46 UT and ended at 6:30 UT. The partial phases of the eclipse, the magnitude decreasing as the distance from the track increases, could be seen from Europe (except the south west), the extreme northeast of Africa, northern and western Asia, much of Greenland, northwestern parts of north America and Arctic regions. The central line of the annular phase began at 4:02 UT in the north Atlantic Ocean to the southwest of Iceland and swept in a tight curve across western Iceland and the Denmark Strait to end at 4:14 UT in the north Atlantic Ocean, just off the Greenland coast. Along this line the length of annularity remained almost constant - about 3m 37s. The Sun was low along all of the central line; nowhere does its altitude exceed 3º.

Orthographic projection map of Earth
showing the path of penumbral (partial)
and antumbral (annular) eclipse.

Stereographic projection of Earth
depicting the path of penumbral and
antumbral eclipse in greater detail.

Courtesy: Fred Espenak/NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center
In northern Europe a large partial eclipse was visible the early morning. For Scandinavian observers, the eclipse began just after sunrise, so that the entire event was visible. In central and southern Europe the Sun roses partially eclipsed and just part of the event was visible.

The animation shows the shadow of the Moon
moving across the Earth during the eclipse.
Within the lightly shaded area of the shadow
the eclipse will only be partial. The area in
which the eclipse will be annular is marked
by the moving red spot. Click for full animation.
Animation: A.T. Sinclair

In The Netherlands and Belgium sunrise occured at 3:26 and 3:36 UT respectively. The greatest magnitude was almost at sunrise. Therefore two tiny horns of a solar crescent rose from behind the horizon. Many observers in The Netherlands gathered along the western shore of the Southern Sea ("IJsselmeer") where there was an unobstructed view of the northeastern horizon so they could catch a glimpse of this rare phenomenon.

The eclipse in The Netherlands. Times are in UTC + 2.
Courtesy: Museum Sterrenwacht Sonnenborgh

OTHER LIVE WEBCASTS

Another live webcasts was organised by Astronomy.no. The Norwegian Meteorological Institute recorded the temperature, minute by minute during the eclipse.