Twilight Tours EclipseParticipant OrientationOctober 5th, 2002

By: Joel Harris President – Twilight Tours Inc.

Hello Everyone, and thanksfor attending today’smeeting!!

Basic Eclipse Information

• The Date: Wednesday, 4 December, 2002• The Time: ~ 9:11:12.2 UTC (7:41 PM Local time in S. Australia).• The Place: 30º 17m S, 138° 21m W.• Duration of total phase: ~ 25 seconds.• Solar Altitude at totality: 4°

A Primer: What Causes Eclipses?

Eclipse Geometry - Detail

The Eclipse Path

Eclipse Path – South Australia

Eclipse Path - Detail

Path Detail - Lyndhurst Area

Photo of the Eclipse Site

Travel Tips for Participants

• Valid Passport --- good for at least 6months after dates of travel.

• Australian Visa – is mandatory, canbe obtained online with your ticket #.

• Bring a modest amount of U.S. cash-major credit cards accepted widely.

• Pack lightly --- primarily casualclothes. No formal wear necessary.

More Travel Tips

• Bring ample personal medications,and Rx, in case meds are lost/taken.

• Some venues we visit will have HOTclimate, humidity --- dress lightly, withan ability to layer your garments.

• Remember baggage limits: 2 checkedbags per passenger, w/o extra charges.

Yet More Tips

• Take plenty of sunscreen, with SPF ofat least 15; SPF of 30 is better yet.

• Take a wide-brimmed “sun hat” along.• Insect repellant is a must!!• Bring spare camera batteries, cable

releases, a small tool kit, AC poweradapter kit.

Equipment Pointers

• This eclipse is very, VERY brief. Largeamounts of hardware are unnecessary.

• We will be visiting 6 venues --- leave theheavy stuff behind!!

• Your tour leader will be taking a ‘scopefor nighttime observing – leave yourshome!!

• Eclipse h/w: 35mm SLR or digital, tripod,wide angle lens/zoom lens, cable release.

Deep Partial Phase

What You’ll See (hopefully!)

Solar Chromosphere

Photographic Guidelines

• Again, a very short totality --- besensible about your objectives.

• Limit yourself to ~ 6-8 photos max.• Advise wide-angle images, not

telephoto/narrow angle shots.• Practice your routine, with a timer.• Bracket, bracket, bracket your shots!

More Photo Suggestions

• Film speed: 200 or 400 ISO.• Exposure range: 1/15 second down to

a maximum of 2 secs.• Anchor your tripod and use centerline

weights (sand, water, rocks) in a jug.• Do not spend all of totality looking

through a viewfinder --- gawk!

…Yet More Photo Help

• Digital video cameras (CCDs) shouldbe set to a “manual” iris setting, notautomatic.

• Preset your zoom factor to yield awide angle/landscape formatted scene.

• When panning around the horizon,move slowly and use a steady motion.Fluid head tripods are best for this.

Sources for More Information

• NASA/TP-2001-209990 Eclipse Circular; firstcopy is free via SASE (jander@cc.umanitoba.ca).

• www.omnimap.com --- for detailed topo mapsof the eclipse area.

• http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings• www.cdc.gov/travel - for health information.

• http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse -Fred Espenak’s eclipse home page.

More Information

• www.migrationint.com.au - electronicvisa application online.

• Sky and Telescope magazine.• Astronomy magazine – November ’02.• www.thousandoaksoptial.com - solar

filters and visual eclipse filters.• Your local amateur astronomy club.

Important Flight Information

• Depart: Saturday, November 30th, at11:45 PM, QF 108, from BradleyInternational Terminal – LAX.

• Return: Saturday, December 14th, at~ 7:00 AM, QF 107, to LAX. Note: arrival

time is an approximation ONLY!

“Eclipse Etiquette”

HUH??

During Totality, Please Don’t:

• Use any white light sources.• Use your strobe/flash on your camera;

disable it completely/cover the lens!!• Run amok at the viewing site and

disturb others while they are observing.• Play obnoxious, loud music (> 60 dB)

that would disturb your neighbors.

Items Not Included in Trip Price

• Airport departure taxes both here andin Australia.

• Items of a personal nature (laundry,dry cleaning, alcoholic drinks), mealsthat are not included in the tour,souvenirs, gratuities to coach driversand to local guides, tips to hotelbellhops or airport porters.

…T-t-t-that’s all, folks!!

Any questions??