Solar eclipse - What science can you do?

I'm just curious.
Along with the oohs and aahs of a solar eclipse.
Is there any science an amateur can gather that may be useful for someone?

Dave Mc D got me thinking after his talk at Whirlpool last year that you dont need a huge scope or that to contribute.
(Dave, if you're reading, PM me with regards to this)

It's just the there are a lot of us spending a great amount of cash and
taking a lot of effort to get into the shadow of the Moon for a few seconds.
I nearly feel guilty that all I'll take away from it is a few pretty pictures.

Just a thought.....

Personally i would treasure those few pics foe life.

I think the biggest BUZZ would actuially being there......................forget taking pics..........................just witness the event with your eyes.

I nearly feel guilty that all I'll take away from it is a few pretty pictures.

Frank - I'm not sure what science could be done but I would strongly suggest you just enjoy the moment - to the point of simply taking a few pertinent pictures rather than spending the eclipse sweating over your kit...

If you enjoy this one, you can concentrate more on data for the second one you go to...

HTH

Dave

Frank,
an interesting ponderment. I would think that with so many amateurs gazing up at the skies during an eclipse like that, what use is one person's observations too. However, you just don't know what could pop up as 'extraordinary' for you, out of luck or not.

For instance, if there was a satellite pass of sometime close to or during totality, you might catch its own eclipse. You could photograph Mercury or Venus if they are close by and can only be seen during totality. Has there ever been a meteor or bollide recorded during a total solar eclipse?

Just some thoughts of mine that I would look for.

Seanie.

dmcdona wrote:

If you enjoy this one, you can concentrate more on data for the second one you go to...

I saw the '99 eclipse from a ship in the English channel so this will be my second. (fingers x'd!)
I deliberately didn't bring any gear fro the '99 one
(just some eclipse glasses and a pair of binos)
Just took it all in.

I'm not even sure if I want to shoot the 'usual' shots.
I'd like to try and capture the feeling of the event.
(no science there!)

I guess it's all about the buzz.

You are right, Frank: "... capture the feeling".
Our group will have at least 3-4 video cameras rolling, simultaneously recording different aspects of the event: the SUN, our faces and screams, the crescent sun shadows from leaves, thermometer indications, etc.

As for science, I am not so sure if amateur astronomers (and perhaps profesionals) can do it.
But science is science, you never know what a wise scientist can come up with: During my first eclipse in Kastellorizo island, Greece, a scientific group aboard an oceanographic vessel were supposed to measure the levels of photosynthesis in phytoplankton during the eclipse. wow!
:shock: I didn't know wether to lough or cry when I heard about it. :shock: