An eclipse of the Sun will occur over Southern Africa (and Australia) on 2002 December 04. This eclipse will be total (for up to 80 seconds) in a narrow strip running across the Southern African subcontinent. All areas outside this strip will see a partial eclipse only.
Click on each picture below to see the full story.
This animation shows what it will be like to see the total
eclipse of the Sun.
The movement of
the Sun in the sky during the eclipse, as seen by people in the path
of totality.
Map
showing the path of the
eclipse over South Africa.
A more detailed, higher resolution
map of the eclipse path in South Africa created by the Johannesburg
Planetarium.
The full path of
totality across the Earth.
Simulations of the
shadow of the Moon during the eclipse.
What to
do if you will be in the path of totality.
Chart showing the bright planets and stars that may become
visible in the
sky at totality.
Animation of the
partial eclipse seen outside the path of totality.
The example shown is for Johannesburg.
Table and images showing how much of the Sun will be
obscured by the Moon at eclipse maximum for a number of
cities
in South Africa.
Watch the eclipse safely with pinhole
projection of the Sun.
Watch the eclipse safely with mirror
projection of the Sun.
Watch the eclipse safely with eclipse
viewers.
Watch the eclipse safely with binocular
projection of the Sun.
Watch the eclipse safely with telescope
projection of the Sun.
Watch the eclipse safely with No. 14
welders glasses.
Unsafe
ways of viewing the Sun. It is easy to do it right
- don't risk blindness. Viewing a solar eclipse can cause eye damage.
HartRAO disclaims any loss or injury howsoever incurred from viewing the
eclipse.
Photographing the partial and total eclipse.
What
causes eclipses of the Sun?
Do you understand what will happen during the eclipse of
2002 Dec 04, and how to watch it safely? Try our
Eclipse Quiz and find out!
Educators - try the quiz on your students and colleagues.
"Madam and Eve" cartoon creators Rapid Phase have made
a wonderful set of child-friendly cartoons using the Madam and Eve characters and the
Pezoolies TV characters to explain the eclipse and how to watch it.
Download them now from the FEST website - click on the picture at left!
A summary of the key points about the eclipse is available
as a two page A4 leaflet, in English and other local languages.
Make copies
and hand them around! Development of this leaflet was funded by FEST - the
Foundation for Education, Science and Technology.
Some 1200 visitors learned about the eclipse at the Sasol Techno-X science festival held in August in Sasolburg. A pictorial report illustrates how we went about it. In addition, over 40 groups totalling over 2000 visitors that have visited HartRAO since July have have received eclipse education.