I think (according to my celestial events calendar) that most people in northern Europe will see the Russian total eclipse as a partial eclipse?

I'd have to recheck it.

No pictures can ever do justice to actually seeing a total/partial eclipse.

You have to be there.

Yep i just checked. The total eclipse is gonna be a partial from northern europe (does Ireland come under northern europe for such events or are we still western europe)?

2 lunar eclipses indeed. Always an exciting event. The last one was spectacular. The moon turned blood red for over an hour if i remember rightly. I tried to photograph it with my digicam but didnt have much success.............this year i have my scope so i hope to get get much better pics...............which i am sure i will because i have taken a few great shots of the moon through my scope.

I think (according to my celestial events calendar) that most people in northern Europe will see the Russian total eclipse as a partial eclipse?

I'd have to recheck it.

For the major portion of Europe, it will be partial (to varying degrees of course). Russia is fortunate to lie in the path of totality.

No pictures can ever do justice to actually seeing a total/partial eclipse.

You have to be there.

For better or worse, this is very true. It is something that we all should experience at least once.

Yep i just checked. The total eclipse is gonna be a partial from northern europe (does Ireland come under northern europe for such events or are we still western europe)?

Same thing for Greece.

2 lunar eclipses indeed. Always an exciting event. The last one was spectacular. The moon turned blood red for over an hour if i remember rightly. I tried to photograph it with my digicam but didnt have much success.............this year i have my scope so i hope to get get much better pics...............which i am sure i will because i have taken a few great shots of the moon through my scope.

We had clouds during the last one ... here is my effort using a 13-second exposure: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Eclipses-2007-03-03.htm ... I could not believe how well in turned out and in spite of the clouds.

It will be visible as a partial eclipse from Ireland, but seeing totality cant be beat !

I could not believe how well in turned out and in spite of the clouds.

What cloud?

That is a fantastic image.

Dave i live for the day when i am in a position (financially) to be able to afford the cost of jetting off to a place where a total eclipse happens.

Closest i came was was jetting off to england during the last one.........glad i didnt...............it was cloudy.

I saw the partial eclipse right here from my house and OMG was i impressed.

Even though it was partial.....................the whole sky did darken to a certain degree. It was weird but awe inspiring.

Before i die i will experience a total eclipse.

Google Earth files for eclipses, aurorae and satellites.

xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/SolarEclipsesGoogleEarth.html

That's an excellent site, thanx Michael!

Just got a bit of info from newstalk (Irish radio station who do a travel section) about the trans siberian railway:

The trans-Siberian Railway TRANS

Looking for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that won't torch the ozone layer? Train journeys, by common rule of thumb, create 1/8th of the carbon emissions of a flight. And when it comes to trains, Russia's Trans-Siberian is the indisputable Daddy.

May to September is peak tourist season, but the first thing travellers should do is decide whether they wish to cross Siberia in summer or winter. The former offers more daylight and the possibility of venturing outdoors at numerous stops along the way; the latter is spectacularly photogenic.


Either way, the itinerary is awesome. All trains share a line via Irkutsk, Lake Baikal and Yekaterinburg (where Bolsheviks executed Tsar Nicholas II and his family in 1918). From there, one can continue to Beijing or Vladivostok. The Moscow-Beijing train deviates via the Mongolian steppes, the Gobi Desert and the Great Wall of China. From Vladivostok, one can progress by sea to Tokyo.

As Paul Theroux writes in The Great Railway Bazaar: "The notion of travel as a continuous vision, a grand tour's succession of memorable images across a curved earth -- with none of the distorting emptiness of air or sea -- is possible only on a train."


Contact: It's advisable to book the Trans-Sib through a Russian or Western specialist agency. Real Russia (www.realrussia.co.uk) is an example of the former, and InTourist (www.In Tourist.co.uk) the latter. Fares can cost up to €400 one-way. Check the excellent www.seat61.com for tips

Hi Albert,
I am afraid the only way to stay at a university room is to have an official invitation from the faculty.

Hi dfnsk, thanx for the translation!
Where will you be staying during the eclipse?

And is this the site of the TAL factory? --> www.astrovox.gr/forum/download.php?id=4577 (Google .kmz) at Zaelcovskaya?

I had a talk with university's representative. She said only students of Uni can rent rooms in dorm (or people somehow connected with it)

p.s. i have problems with my laptop now, so i rarely look into this forum, if you have some urgent questions - ask on novosibirskguide forum or via email.

Guys,

There is a sweet deal with one of the hotels in Novosibirsk with 2007 pricing (!) and they have sixteen rooms available. I am about to book one of these rooms ... for only 84 euro per night and which is much less than what is being offered elsewhere.

I was wondering if any friends here are certain (or close to being certain) about making it for the eclipse. My total cost for three nights accomodation plus complete round trip airfare and visa expenses will be 1000 euro (give or take 25 euro).

A second option is at Akademgorodok (110 euro/night) whose location is very attractive but it is more expensive and only four rooms with double accomodation are available. I can be coerced in pursuing this option but I would prefer a complete room to myself.

For those seriously interested, please decide rather quickly since those waiting till the last minute will have to pitch a tent and have Seanie stand guard.

PRICES FOR EQUIPMENT OF THE TAL-FACTORY

Hey! 3 new APOs announced from TAL!
Caution: What we would obviously - and very simply call "OTA", the russians probably call: "Telescope/ look-see" :shock:



Message from tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/TALScopes/message/12919

"Here are some web-sites which might be of interest to Tal-users. The total
solar eclipse on Aug 1st, 2008, is visible in Novosibirsk:
www.total-eclipse-2008.com/
eng.olympia-reisen.ru/eclipse2008
Please, look carefully at the end of latter site. You can download a list of
telescopes availbale in Novosibirsk. This list mentions that there are at least three new scopes which are not listed on the official Tal-site
(www.telescopes.ru): Tal 75R, Tal 75APO and Tal 125APO."

Vaggeli and friends ... and especially Mr Eyronymous, Sir!

There is an outfit in Novosibirsk which produces Ritchey-Chretiens including a 14" model under the brand name of AstroSib.

This is a great opportunity to catch the total solar eclipse as well as to return home with a telescope under one's arm with zero transportation costs and zero duties/taxes.

Anyway, I hope to see as many of my Irish friends ... and especially Mr Eyronymous, Sir! in Russia later this year.

Mr Eyronymous, Sir!, I would be honoured if I can carry your luggage to and from the airport, the hotel, your observing site etc.

Anthony, and friends,
Do you know exactly how many times the Sun's relative size will be larger IN A NIKON D70s CCD than in a 35mm film? About 1.5 times larger?

The f/size relation

Vaggeli,

For the Canon EOS digitals, the multiplier is 1.6x. I recall the Nikons being 1.5x but I am not 100% sure.

By the way, serious and mature astrophotographers use Canon equipment exclusively. :mrgreen:

Hey, obviously I am not a serious-mature-astrophotographer!
Plus, I have a NIKON F-601 for 17 ys and I am a Nikon person! 8-)
Nice try though. Thanx for the info!

Good luck with the Tals.
i've sent endless emails to their factory without any response about a problem I had.

EPK, I have a 6" TAL-2M NEWTONIAN.
Excellent telescope, but also a number of serious issues with customer support.
Maybe I can help you? What sort of problem is it?
Or you can try posting your questions at tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/TALScopes
Vagelis.

I can't even remember properly now, Vagelis!
I think it was about my 4" refractor equatorial mount...instead of moving freely in both axes it seems to rotate in increments in the RA axis.
Very strange, as if it was held by a spring, jerking back when it moved!
I stopped using the tripod because of it.

I hope this might help a bit: Improving the TAL Mount.pdf
Vagelis.

If the previous link doesn't work, try:
www.astrovox.gr/forum/download.php?id=5032

I just read something today that said the eclipse from Europe will be about 25% total.

That's a nice big chunck being eclipsed.

Nowhere near as awesome as a total eclipse....but beggers cant be choosers.

Paul,

Do not be fooled by the 25% ... it is nothing! The sun is so bright that totality is the only real means to appreciate the fact that an eclipse is in progress.

I know but ive seen a partial eclipse twice before and it knocked my socks off. Not sure what % of totality they were but i didnt care.

Of course my life long dream is to see a total eclipse. I will one day.

I just have to cherck my celestial diary to see when one happens close to home and i can travel to see it.

You know you're nuts when you start organizing your summer holidays around solar eclipses, going to countries you would NOT normally go to and traveling to places you've only heard of on the Discovery channel describing the fall out from Chernobyl!
Still though, its worth it !

Dave you dont need to do it to show us that you are nuts. We already know it,LOL.

PJ, if you saw what the rest of saw on a Turkish beach in March 2006, you'd understand!