• Total Solar Eclipse, 26 February 1979: Corona: Diamond ring, chromosphere drawing, inner corona, middle corona. (Part of 1979 eclipse image document. Images total 300K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 11 July, 1991 (corona obscured by clouds: see "Sky and Horizon" section)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 3 November 1994: Corona: Diamond ring, chromosphere, inner corona, middle corona, extreme outer corona, polar to rectangular conversion for a "panorama" of the corona; obvious earthshine on moon. (Part of 1994 eclipse image document. Images total 700K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 24 October 1995: Corona: Corona well before totality, diamond ring, chromosphere, inner corona, extreme outer corona, earthshine on moon. (Part of 1995 eclipse image document. Images total 600K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 21 August 2017: Corona: Corona well before totality, diamond ring, chromosphere, inner corona, extreme outer corona, earthshine on moon. (Part of 2017 eclipse journal and image document. Images total 20MB) NEW 12/2017!

• Total Solar Eclipse, 26 February 1979: Sequence (Full eclipse, but base photo taken well before totality).
• Total Solar Eclipse, 21 August 2017: Sequence (About 70 percent of eclipse, with totality; part of larger document). NEW!

• Total Solar Eclipse, 26 February 1979: Horizon: Fisheye photo sequence of approaching umbra; 180 degree panoramic view of umbra during totality (composite photo and drawing); photo of the departing umbra, showing obvious curvature. (Part of 1979 eclipse image document. Images total 300K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 11 July 1991: Sky and Horizon: All-sky photos before, during, and after totality; enlargement from panorama showing umbra before totality. (Part of 1991 eclipse image document. Images total 300K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 3 November 1994: Horizon: Totality and horizon with 20 mm lens. (Part of 1994 eclipse image document. Images total 700K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 24 October 1995: Sky and Horizon: All sky photo of approaching umbra; totality and horizon from two 16 mm fisheye images; totality and horizon with 14 mm rectilinear lens. (Part of 1995 eclipse image document. Images total 600K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 21 August 2017: Wide Angle of Horizon: Totality and horizon with full frame fisheye lens, plus photo to southwest with similar lens. (Part of 2017 eclipse journal and image document. Images total over 20MB) NEW!

• Total Solar Eclipse of 11 July 1991: Panoramas: Series of Nine 360 Degree Panoramas! (Images total 300K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 3 November 1994: Panoramas: Series of six 360 degree panoramas of the umbra before, during, and after totality (Part of 1994 eclipse image document. Images total 700K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 24 October 1995: Panoramas: Series of six 360 degree panoramas of the umbra before, during, and after totality. (Part of 1995 eclipse image document. Images total 600K)
• Total Solar Eclipse, 21 August 2017: Panorama: Single 360 degree panorama of 2017 eclipse SITE, but not during totality. (Part of 2017 eclipse journal and image document. Images total over 20MB.) NEW!

• Total Solar Eclipse of 24 October 1995: Light Curve: (With comparisons to 1979, 1991, and 1994 eclipses) (Images total 300K)
• Total Solar Eclipse of 21 August: Light Curve: (with comparisons to 1979, 1991, 1994, 1995)
• Also see the Eclipse Experiments & Data and Astronomy Images & Articles sections.
• Future images envisioned for this site:
  • High resolution 360 degree VR eclipse panoramas, including one of the umbra 20 seconds before totality at the Total Solar Eclipse of 11 July, 1991.
  • 360 degree simulations of the predicted appearance of umbra from Germany at the Total Solar Eclipse of 11 August, 1999.
  • 360 degree panoramic VR movies of the umbra at past and future eclipses. Stay tuned!
  • Video of the lunar umbra, diamond ring, and corona at several total solar eclipses.

• All-sky reflectors
• Indexing rotary camera platform and compact photovisual telescope
• Astro Gadgets! Jeffrey R. Charles' amateur and professional projects
• Versacorp telescope accessories, including the patented DiaGuider

Need information about eclipses for your planetarium, motion picture, or other project? Jeffrey R. Charles performs science consulting in regard to eclipse phenomena and instrumentation. Please direct inquiries to Jeffrey R. Charles (jcharles *at* versacorp.com) or click here for more information about total solar eclipse related science and engineering consulting.

Links to Other Eclipse & Astronomy Sites

Return to EclipseChaser Home Page Table of Contents

Go to Versacorp Home Page Table of Contents

Astro Images by Jeffrey R. Charles: The following links are for astronomy images that are a part of this web site. Images of a given subject are typically grouped in tables which include appropriate captions. Most tables are only 460 pixels wide, so they should be viewable on most screens. Some images are also referenced in various articles at the EclipseChaser web page. Licensing inquiries for images at this site may be directed to: sales *at* versacorp dot com.

• Deep-Sky Objects (under construction)
  • Deep-Sky Astro Photos with Camera Lenses (film and digital)
  • Deep-Sky Astro Photos with Questar 3.5 Telescope (on film)
  • Deep-Sky Astro Photos with Celestron 8 Telescope (on film)
  • Imaging Nebulae from the Big City (digital astro photos, 2011)
• Comets (under construction)
  • Comet Halley (tbd)
  • Comet Hyakutake (tbd)
  • Comet Hale-Bopp (tbd)
• Planets (under construction)
  • Venus
  • Mars
  • Jupiter
  • Saturn
• Astronomical Events Other Than Total Solar Eclipses:
  • Conjunctions, Occultations, and Other Events of the late 1970's (under construction)
    • Lunar Occultation of Venus, Twilight (12/1978)
    • Total Lunar Eclipse (9/1979)
  • Conjunctions, Occultations, and Other Events of the 1980's (under construction)
    • Lunar Occultation of Venus, Daytime (1980tbr)
    • Penumnral Lunar Eclipse (1/1981tbr)
    • Total Lunar Eclipse (tbd/1982)
    • Lunar Conjunction with Venus (TBD)
    • Conjunction of Mars and Mercury (Less than an arc minute of separation!) (tbd)
  • Conjunctions, Occultations, and Other Events of the 1990's (under construction)
    • Annular Solar Eclipse (clouded out before maximum eclipse) (1/1992)
  • Conjunctions, Occultations, and Other Events, 2000 to 2009 (under construction)
    • Total Lunar Eclipse (tbd)
    • Transit of Mercury (tbd)
  • Conjunctions, Occultations, and Other Events, 2010 to 2017 (under construction)
    • Transit of Venus (tbd/2012)
    • Transit of ISS (10/2017)

Links to Other Eclipse & Astronomy Sites

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____________________________________________

Airborne Astronomy & Optical Communication, Astrophotography, Comets, Model Railroading, Unusual Darkroom Techniques, Wide Angle Photography, & Other Cool Stuff

Technical Articles & Papers by Jeffrey R. Charles:

• ALAT - Airborne Large Aperture Telescope.
  A ~3 meter telescope (or array of telescopes) deployed at ~21 km altitude on a Multiple-Function Lighter Than Air Platform. (40K text file)
• ARDOC - Airborne Relay for Deep-Space Optical Communication. (Major part of ALAT paper; 40K text file).
• Spin-off Applications for LTA (Lighter Than Air) Related Technology. (Part of ALAT paper; 40K text file).
• PDF file of entire ALAT paper, a previous ARDOC paper, and all related illustrations. (1.6 mb).

• Accessible Telescopes: Windows to the Universe for People Living with Disabilities (New! 10/2018)
  (1.8MB PDF file. Describes several designs for wheelchair-accessible telescopes, plus ways that existing telescopes can be modified to be accessible. Also includes a few brief telescope reviews.)
• Adventures in Astrophotography with a Small Telescope.
  This paper includes an Astrophotography Exposure Guide and step by step instructions for off-axis guided astrophotography 35K text file (linked images will be added later)
• Astronomical Images, Acquired from Within 10 Meters of Shielded Streetlight (20K html file with 500k of linked images)
• Astro Gadgets! Jeffrey R. Charles' amateur and professional projects (20K text file plus 300K of linked images)
• Flip Mirrors and Other Optical Image Switching Systems.
  This paper begins with a history of image switching system (flip mirror, etc.) development for astronomical telescopes, including the development of the Versacorp VersAgonal as an amateur project in 1982. It focuses on the use of flip mirrors and other image switching systems for subject acquisition and convenient switching between visual and photographic use of a telescope or other optical system. Some systems, such as the patented Versacorp DiaGuider, combine the functions of a flip mirror and off-axis guider. Most of this document is under construction.
• Astro Images: Images are envisioned to include: Comet Hyakutake with 300 mm lens; Comet Hale-Bopp with 300 mm lens; Summer Milky Way with 16 mm fisheye lens; M42 with Celestron 8" SCT; Deep-Sky & Other Astro Photos with Questar 3.5. (from 1988 RTMC presentation) Total Lunar Eclipse of 6 Sept. 1979 with Celestron 90 mm f/11 Maksutov; Dark Total Lunar Eclipse of 1982 in front of starry background with 105 mm lens. (Under Construction)
• Images of Astrphotography Equipment: Images are envisioned to include: Small Telescopes Set Up for Astrophotography; Versacorp DiaGuider; VersAgonal (1982 amateur prototype); Versacorp VersAgonal. (Under Construction)

• Part 1: Converting a Panorama to a Circular Image and Vice Versa - Without a Computer! (60K text file) (Linked graphics and images will be added later)
• Part 2: All-sky Reflector with "Invisible" Axial Camera Support (30K text file plus ~400K of linked graphics)
• Part 3: Techniques for Wide Angle Eclipse Photography (30K text file with ~250K of images)
• Part 4: Fun With Wide Angle Optics (Most of this document is under construction.)
• More Wide Angle Images: Images are envisioned to include: Photos with Axial Strut All-Sky Reflectors (From 1987 RTMC presentation. Under construction.)
• More Images of Wide Angle Instrumentation: Images are envisioned to include: Cassegrain Omniramic (TM) Reflector with Axial Secondary Support Strut; All-Sky Reflector with Axial Camera Support Strut (Under construction.)
• Looking for wide angle optics and related instrumentation? Versacorp offers instruments such as patented axial strut wide angle reflectors and indexing rotary camera platforms for taking 360 degree panoramic images.

• Taubenberg Rail Park: An HO Model Railroad on 1m x 1.25 m Industrial Shelving - a real space saver! (30K text file plus 200K of linked images)

• Preliminary Proposal for Rebuilding the New York World Trade Center Site, a paper that presents concepts and designs for infrastructure and memorials that may be applicable to rebuilding at the New York WTC Site, with emphasis on construction that increases resistance to attack. (260K PDF file)
• Proposed Design for World Trade Center / September 11 Memorial at New York WTC Site. This paper presents a specific memorial design for the World Trade Center site that is compatible with the LMDC-Selected Libeskind site plan and the mission statement, guiding principles, and program elements for the WTC memorial competition. (900K PDF file, posted 8 Sept., 2003)
• XGA size Screen saver image of Jeffrey R. Charles' Design for WTC Memorial. (Free for private noncommercial use by individuals, provided each user obtains it directly from the Versacorp web site.)

• Sinking of the Steamship Titanic, a 1975 essay by Jeffrey R. Charles, written for an assignment in high school. Includes more recent analysis about the possibility of delaying the sinking by counter flooding, and whether the Titanic really broke in two at the surface vs. locally imploding beneath the surface. (40K text file)

• The Falsehood of Cosmic Doomsday Myths: Fact Versus Fiction in the Solar System.
  The purpose of this paper is to ameliorate distraction and unease many may have experienced due to "doomsday scenarios" that were circulated circa 2008, some of which involve a so-called "rogue planet". Specifically, the somewhat long document demonstrates that, based on the current state of the Solar System and the laws of physics, many predicted "doomsday scenarios" are mere fantasy, won't happen "on cue", and in fact cannot happen, particularly in the near term time frame most proponents predict. It is different from my other papers, but necessary because it appears that more and more people are being influenced by false "doomsday scenarios", and this trend has to stop. The paper is intended to neutralize the impact false doomsday scenarios may potentially have on people, specifically in the Church, where there are at least two "lines of defense" (spiritual and intellectual) against such "false teaching". The paper emphasizes religious arguments against many "popular" doomsday scenarios, but also addresses secular concerns about such far-fetched, false predictions. This is because the so-called "science" in a vast majority of such predictions is flawed in obvious ways. The paper was first presented on 22 August, 2008, in Downey, California. The linked file is only in draft form. (900KB PDF File)

• Who Will Cry for Humanity (2010)
  A tribute to victims of war and terrorism, with emphasis on 9/11.

• Samyang 8 mm Proportonal Projection (e.g. quasi-stereographc) Wide Angle Lens (2009)
• Leica M9 Initial Review, Tests and Comparisons (2013) Includes comparison to Hasselblad-Imacon V96C digital back.
• Leica M Mount Lens Tests and Comparisons (2015) Addition to Leica M9 Review Web Page
• (In Work, 2024:) Fujifilm X Camera (and Lens) Reviews, Tests, Comparisons
• Fujitsu P-2000 Series Laptop Computer (under construction)
• Nikon Super Coolscan 4000 ED Film Scanner (under construction)
• Sony DSC-F707 Digital Camera (under construction)

All text and images © Copyright 1997-2017, Jeffrey R. Charles or Specified Organizations.

Books and Multimedia By Versacorp or Versacorp Personnel
Books	Books / CDs / Video
Practical Astrophotography, a book by Jeffrey R. Charles (ISBN 1-85233-023-6) Published by: Springer-Verlag as Part of the "Practical Astronomy" Series. Available at popular book stores, including Border Books / amazon.com This informative book captures the effective ways Jeffrey Charles learned astrophotography, sometimes through trial and error. Included are many tips about photography of planets, nebulae, eclipses, and more, plus a sample check list for travel and an astrophotography exposure guide. Covers use of a wide range of telescopes and camera lenses, but focuses on what can be done with small aperture scopes because these are what many people have. It emphasizes film photography (written before digital astrophotography was very affordable), but many of its tips also apply to digital imaging. If you like astrophotography related articles at this web site, you'll really like this book!	Eclipse Chaser's Guide to ...WOW by Jeffrey R. Charles CD: Navagable CD of Eclipse Chaser web site, plus high resolution 360 deg. VR eclipse site images. (Updated version should be available late 2018.) Video: An eclipse video is unlikely, partly because the first 4 eclipses were shot in analog SD video, and there is little 2017 footage of anything but the eclipse itself. A 2-hour digitally edited chronicle of 5 total solar eclipse expeditions had been planned. If a video is made, it may just be posted on a video site, preceded by video ad, but not banner overlays. Book: A hard copy book is unlikely, partly because printing costs are high for a book with images that could rival large HDTV and computer displays. Available now from Versacorp: CD: EclipseChaser web site (with extra images): $19.95 including CONUS shipping. An updated version (larger pix) may be available in late 2018. Click HERE to see larger image of CD cover. Prices and availability subject to change w/o notice.

Need information about eclipses for your planetarium, motion picture, or other project? Jeffrey R. Charles performs science consulting in regard to eclipse phenomena and instrumentation. Please direct inquiries to Jeffrey R. Charles (jcharles *at* versacorp.com) or click here for more information about total solar eclipse and astronomy related engineering consulting and optical instrumentation.

Links to Other Eclipse & Astronomy Sites

Return to EclipseChaser Home Page Table of Contents

Go to Versacorp Home Page Table of Contents

___________________________________________

• Eclipse Images and Technical Information
  • Fred Espenak's NASA GSFC Eclipse Web Site
  • Fred Espenak's Eclipse Link Web Page
  • Fred Espenak's Personal Eclipse Web Site
  • Sky Publishing Eclipse Page
  • Kalmbach/Astronomy Eclipse Links Page

• Eclipse Images
  • Highlights from Staigerland's Live Feb. 26, 1998 Eclipse Webcast
  • 1998 Eclipse Images by Astrophotographer Bob Yen
  • Links to and documents about more recent solar eclipse observations are under construction.

• Eclipse Articles and Journals
  • TBD Eclipse Web Site for 2017 (and later) Eclipses
  • MSNBC 1998 Eclipse Web Page
  • Mary J. Pitzer's Astronomy Page at The Mining Company

• Eclipse & Astronomy Instruments, Consulting, Engineering
  • Versacorp Engineering

• Latin American astronomical organizations
  • Astronomia Sigma Octante, (ASO) an astronomical research center in Cochabamba, Bolivia.
    • Click here to see their home page!
    • Click here to see a brief abstract about ASO.
  
  
• Astrophotos
  • Gary Stevens' Astrophotography Web Site
  • Other astrophotography links under construction.

• Satellite Photos
  • Purdue Satellite Image web page
  • Current Weather Satellite Photo (80K to 160K GIF)

Eclipse Publications by Other Authors:
(Title/Author/Publisher/ISBN/Comments)

• Chasing the Shadow / Harris & Talcott / Kalmbach / 0-913135-21-6 / Well organized and easy to read.
• Observe Eclipses / Reynolds & Sweetsir / The Astronomical League / 1-886336-10-5 / Good technical info. Also covers lunar eclipses.
• The Sun in Eclipse / Maunder & Moore / Springer-Verlag / 3540761462 / Includes some details about future eclipses through 2020.
• Totality: Eclipses of the Sun / Litman & Willcox / University of Hawaii / 0-8248-1371-5 / Good sections on the causes of eclipses and on eclipses in mythology.

Return to EclipseChaser Home Page Table of Contents

What people are saying about Jeff Charles' award winning EclipseChaser web site:

"A goldmine of solar eclipse information and images from a dedicated eclipse chaser and former NASA engineer."
- Sky Publishing (Publisher of Sky and Telescope Magazine)

"Just saw your Eclipse Chasers Page! Great site! Very interesting!"
- J.K. (JPL)

"You must be down to about the second joint on your fingers after all of the work that you have done on your TWO web pages! Very nice, I am impressed."
- G.K.

"I sure have enjoyed your Mazatlan journal, you write beautifully! It was so well written that it raised my pulse."
- C.W.

"Your eclipse image is fantastic! How did you do that?! Please tell me how I can do that!"
- M.N.

"I looked at www.eclipsechaser.com - very impressive, and fast!"
- J.W. (Springer-Verlag Heidelberg scientific publishing)

"Great pages! Thanks for doing it! Awesome!"
- L.B.

"An aficionado's dream come true. Expedition planning, equipment, a picture gallery, and an eclipse journal all the way back to 1979. As this page says, "Wow!""
- M.P. (The Mining Co.)

The EclipseChaser web site is winner of the Griffith Observatory Star Award for July 5-11 1998.