Solar Eclipse Workshop- as told by Dr. Satyendra Bhandari

First of all, I must express my thankfulness and gratefulness to you and all at SPACE for giving me such a splendid opportunity to meet and interact with past, present and future eclipse chasers (including nexgen students). The SEW and the reconnaissance trip to Patna that followed, gave me the exposure to the exciting ways of communicating Science to masses. I have never witnessed such a thoughtful preparation and flawless execution of individual roles– be it the invited talks or the outdoor demonstrations or even the group photo session. I would say it was an exhibition of Real Professionalism.  I am sure this event and the efforts that would follow, would add thousands to the list of Eclipse Chasers! The sincerity, the enthusiasm and the passion of all involved was seen to be believed. Hats off to the ‘Team SPACE’!

The task ahead is challenging in terms of converting the forthcoming TSE into a mass communication event – requiring high level skills in a variety of areas – science, education, teaching, communication, co-ordination and management etc. I am sure, having taken the challenge, your team is committed to excel.

I, for one, am excited and convinced and it would be my endeavor to participate and contribute in whatever seems appropriate. It would be my greatest pleasure to get deeply involved in this venture.

The above interaction has already generated a number of action items for me:

• To prepare a short write up for your SPACE Newsletter about TSE by NIGHT.
• Keep in touch with you regarding planning of shadow band experiment
• And of course, being involved in the planning for the longest total eclipse of the century

And before I close, I would like to place on record my million thanks for the wonderful hospitality and arrangements that made the entire trip so very comfortable and enjoyable. Thanks indeed!

Satyendra

It has been a such a fruitful workshop. SEW has been good learning experience for all at SPACE, for eclipse related matters as well as in organising an international workshop at this level. I thank all the speakers to take some time out from their busy schedules, come for the workshop and deliver such insightful lectures. I also thank all the participants for their wonderful participation, asking questions and involving themselves in the equipment demonstrations.

The equipment demonstrations was a unique feature of the workshop and were conducted in the afternoon winter sun. These demonstration went on to be an important part of SEW. Participants were able to relate to the equipment, touch and ask pertinent questions. The demonstrations (working models and not just displays) also worked very nicely towards the goal of SEW 'Take-Home-an-Eclipse-Plan'.

The topics of equipment demonstrations at the SEW were as follows
Public Demonstration Methods
Pinhole cameras, Binocular Box (Nehru Planetarium, New Delhi)
The Classic Photo, The Classic Way - on film
H-alpha imaging of the Sun (Udaipur Solar Observatory)
Eye safety during eclipses, safe and unsafe filters
Capturing the Shadow Bands
Best Portable Mounts for Eclipse Travel
Telescopes for Eclipse Imagery
Automated Eclipse Photography

The 'Open House' session on the last day of SEW was increased to 90 minutes and ultimately finishing after much more time. There were a lot of meaningful discussions in the Open House. All speakers and guests attended the Open House, chaired by Mr Sheridan Williams FRAS. There was such a tremendous amount of experience present on the dais, participants made full use of this assembly. Every question was answered by many members of the panel, providing answers and more meningfull content related to the question at hand.

We have recordings of the entire proceedings, presentations, lectures, equipment demonstrations, open house and participants questions for all three days. We are working to produce a DVD of the SEW content. The proceedings DVD should be available in about 2 weeks. Do send a mail to sew@eclipsechasers.org (subject = SEW proceedings) if interested in obtaining the DVD.

The reconnaissance visit to Patna and the nearest centerline point lasted two days. We managed to cover all tasks listed before the trip. While at Taregna (on the centerline) we did go to several schools there and gave impromptu lectures about the eclispse, its circumstances, and tried to dispell some of the deep rooted myths associated. In fact all the SEW speakers spoke to students about how lucky they were that the greatest eclipse of 21st century is coming right to their homes, while eclipse chasers have to travel great distances and spend so much money to come to the eclipse, so on 22nd July everyone should come out and watch the eclispe safely, and not to stay indoors. Eclipse goggles were distributed by Eric Brown to all schools. Thanks Sheridan, Dr. Sinha, Dr Bhandari, Eric, Xavier for the impromptu talks in the schools.

The place Taregna has a urban myth associated with it. Mathematician-Astronomer Aryabhatta was born at this place and looked at the sky from this place. The name Taregna stands for 'Tare ginna' = counting stars. There used to be a Taregna Math (or Mutt) at this place, but not present now. The area is fully converted to fields. It seems fitting that the July eclipse be observed from this ancient place, which is right on the centerline.

On behalf of everyone at SPACE and personally an heartfelt thanks to the esteemed eclipse speakers, you made the Solar Eclipse Workshop a very successfull event in the IYA.

All the participants of SEW are now members of Eclipse Chasers Athenaeum, and the speakers have also consented to be on the advisory panel of the Eclipse Chasers Athenaeum.
www.eclipsechasers.org/sew

Here's wishing you a Happy New Year 2009, the year of the Greatest Eclipse of 21st Century.

A Question & Answer session has been planned at the SEW. This will be for 60 minutes at the end of second day. All the eminent SEW speakers will be invited on the Panel and questions put forth to them by the participants. The session has been named as 'Open House'.

When all the speakers of SEW gather on the panel, there will be tremendous amount of collective knowledge, experience and insights available to the participants of SEW. The panel has authorities in the field of  Solar Physics, Solar Eclipses, History of Eclipses and Transits, Planning you Eclipse trip, Experiments and Science of Eclipses, Weather predictions. This is the first time ever that such a ready think tank will be available for putting all your Eclipse questions forth. This kind of opportunity has never been presented before.

SPACE invites participants as well as non participants to put forth their question in this list. Your questions will be addressed to the panel of speakers with your name, and answered back in this forum.
We request you to submit your questions on or before 6th January 2009.
Please mark the subject of the email as SEW Question.

There are a few seats available in SEW, interested persons can still register themselves.

If there is any Amateur Astronomer who has not registered because of the participation fee, please mail your concern as soon as possible to
sew@eclipsechasers.org

Practical demonstrations of methods and equipment are a unique feature of the Solar Eclipse Workshop (SEW). Such a large scale demonstration gathering, covering all aspects of a Solar Eclipse Watch, has never been exhibited before. The demonstration range from Public watches, Amateur Astronomers' Imaging, and Professional Scientific Experiments.

Professor Ambastha of Udaipur Solar Observatory has confirmed that he will be demonstrating the entire actual equipment that is required for his experiment of Corona, under the Total Solar Eclipse.

Professor James Huddle, US Naval Academy has confirmed that he will be bringing equipment to show and demonstrate to the participants at SEW. He is speaking on experiments the students can conduct during a Total Solar Eclipse.

In these afternoon outdoor demonstrations participants will see the actual process that professional astronomers and eclipse chasers run through at the eclipse sites. The demonstrations are hands on, participants will be able to see, touch and experience the equipment and ask questions.

   Some of the demonstration are:
   Imaging the Elusive Shadow Bands,
   Capturing the Entire Sequence of a Solar Eclipse on a Single Photo Frame,
   Holding a Public Watch in your Organisation for a Large Number of Audience,
   Eye Safety during Public Watches,
   How to automate the entire photographic process and enjoy the eclipse with binoculars!
This is just a sampling of the demonstrations planned at SEW, there are more.

This email also to remind you that only two days are left for registration for SEW.
www.eclipsechasers.org/sew/

Hello Fellow Astronuts, Eclipse Chasers and Adventurers,

Its an exciting time preparing for the Solar Eclipse Workshop (SEW)

The upcoming total solar eclipse passing over India is the greatest in the 21st century.
The SEW speaker list includes some of the greatest names connected with eclipse in the present times
Prof. Jay Pasachoff (Chair of the Working Group on Eclipses of the International Astronomical Union),
Prof. Arnab Rai Choudhuri (Professor, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore),
Prof. Ashok Ambastha (Udaipur Solar Observatory),
Mr. Sheridan Williams (Fellow of Royal Astronomical Society),
Mr. Jay Anderson (co-author of the NASA eclipse circulars with Fred Espenak, a meteorologist, an astrophotographer, a tornado-chaser.....)
Dr. Satyendra Bhandari (Scientist, Ex ISRO)
Mr. Xavier Jubier (most visited eclipse website: xjubier.free.fr )
See the complete speaker list at
http://www.eclipsechasers.org/eclipsechasers/sew/speakers.html

We, at SPACE, are truly honoured to have such an august presence at the Solar Eclipse Workshop. Its an accomplishment for SPACE to gather such 'Eclipse Personalities' under one roof.

The presentations, demonstrations, and the schedule of SEW is final, barring a few last minute changes.

It is especially the equipment demonstrations which is the unique feature of SEW. The aim of SEW is 'Take-Home-An-Eclipse-Plan'. Towards that aim we have gathered equipment ranging from pin hole cameras to high tech mounts, imagers and telescopes. All the equipment will be at hand for inspections by participants. Speakers are getting their equipment to SEW to demonstrate and answer participant questions regarding each eclipse experiment. You could easily understand the experiment to conduct it yourself during the eclipse.
Checkout the demonstration schedule here
http://www.eclipsechasers.org/eclipsechasers/sew/schedule.html

Don't forget that India will be witnessing another eclipse on 15th January 2010. Annular eclipses have been included in planning the demonstrations.

There's a piece of cake at the end for each participant. We have gathered each speakers' presentation, eclipse related books, software, information, trivia, and so much more. Each participant will get a DVD with all of these contents to peruse the presentations and other valuable information at leisure.

This is a workshop not to be missed, just the like the eclipse of July 2009, It's an opportunity of a lifetime for Indians in our home country.

First Announcement

Eclipse Chasers Athenæum (ECa) the eclipse sphere of SPACE wishes you a glorious and complete Year of Astronomy in 2009. We are pleased to inform you that Solar Eclipse Workshop is being organised at Shankar Lal Concert Hall, Delhi University Campus, New Delhi on 9th, 10th and 11th January 2009.

The greatest eclipse of the 21st century is just a few months away. As you all know India is at the center-stage for this eclipse. The importance of this eclipse is further enhanced by 2009 being the International Year of Astronomy. The furtherance of the commitment of India to space sciences and astronomy research is the prime motto behind this workshop. In the ensuing year another Annular Solar Eclipse passes over southern part of India, around Kanya Kumari and Adam's Bridge on 15th January 2010. Preparations are well underway for experiments, equipment logistics and travel under the lunar shadow, in professional observatories and amateur astronomy circles. Those who haven't started planning, it's time to start now.

The next Total Solar Eclipse passes over India only on 20th March 2034!

This Solar Eclipse Workshop is an intensive three day workshop. All aspects of a successful Solar Eclipse observation will be discussed. Participants will leave with a definite plan for their own eclipse observation. There will be discussions on planning experiments, instrumentation, travel and logistics, anything and everything related to eclipse watching. The aim of this workshop is 'Take-Home-an-Eclipse-Plan'. Weather you want to observe the eclipse, photograph it, or show the eclipse to a large audience, all related aspects will be discussed to help you make definite plan. The workshop intends to bring together professional & amateur astronomers, Ecliptomaniacs, Umbraphiles and eclipse chasers to share their information, knowledge, and experience.

Its an accomplishment of ECa to bring together Eminent Eclipse Personalities from around the world. Speakers for the workshop include Famous Professional Eclipse Chasers from observatories in India and abroad.

* Prof. Jay Pasachoff, The famous eclipse chaser of 47 eclipses, Chairman, International Astronomical Union Working Group on Eclipses, Williams College (Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA), Visiting Faculty at California Institute of Technology (Pasadena, California, USA).

* Prof. Ashok Ambastha of Udaipur Solar Observatory is closely connected with eclipses. His research work on solar eclipses and planetary transits is well known. He plans to observe the July 2009 eclipse using a high altitude balloon or an aircraft!

* Mr. Jay Anderson, the famous meteorologist who’s weather statistics are referred by eclipse chasers all over the world. His is the first name that comes in any eclipse chaser's mind when planning for a site and its weather conditions. He is the co-author, along with Mr. Fred Espenak, of all NASA eclipse bulletins.

* Dr. N. Rathnasree, Director Nehru Planetarium will be speaking on History of Eclipses and Transits. Dr. Rathnasree is an enthusiastic Professional-Amateur Astronomer and works tirelessly for promotion of amateur astronomy in India.

* Mr. Sheridan Williams, Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Assistant Director of the Computing Section of the British Astronomical Association an Eclipse historian. Who has seen 12 central eclipses and the Rocket Scientist! Author of “Total Solar Eclipse 2008 & 2009” a travel guide from Bradt.

* Mr. Xavier Jubier, the famous eclipse adventurer from France and a veteran of 10 eclipses. His interactive google maps and the eclipse calculator are famous and used by eclipse enthusiasts all over the world. His recent extreme adventure was viewing the Annular Solar Eclipse of 2008 February 7 from 4,897 meter high Mount Vinson, Ellsworth Land, Antarctica.

*Dr. Satyendra Bhandari, is an avid eclipse chaser, EX-SAC-ISRO Scientist. For the August 2008 eclipse he travelled to the arctic - Ny Alesund (Svalbard, Norway) to conduct his experiments.

* Dr. Krishnanand Sinha, a prominent solar astronomer, ARIES observatory Nainital.

* Prof. S.P. Bagare of Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, another eclipse chaser has shot wonderful shadow bands from his eclipse tour of the Antarctic.

* Dr. Dipankar Banerjee an eminent and dedicated astrophysicist, Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore.

The topics included in the workshop are - History of eclipses, Experiencing the rapid sequence of events during a Total Solar Eclipse, Future eclipse near India and their planning, Building instruments and resources for use, Charting weather patterns of places, Planning logistics for eclipse observation, Eclipse related software, How to predict corona and Baily’s beads, Science and Experiments during eclipse, Automated Eclipse Photography plans, Public watches and eye safety.

Apart from lectures and presentation the workshop will also have live and hands-on equipment demonstrations and usage for the maximum benefit of eclipse enthusiasts. In addition to it photographing the Sun live during the day will be the highlight of the demonstrations.

Location: Solar Eclipse Workshop will be held at Shankar Lal Concert Hall, Delhi University Campus. The campus grounds are a beautiful and prestigious fitting place to hold this workshop. The Concert Hall has a gardens all round to hold equipment demonstrations and observe the Sun. The auditorium is large enough to hold about 350 participants.

Invitation is extended to all Amateur Astronomers, Planetarium Educators and Observatory Outreach persons, Eclipse Chasers, Adventurers and Photographers. This is envisaged as a 'complete in all respects' workshop which will make you understand all aspects of eclipse planning, a successful observation and organizing a public watch. The workshop prepares you for observing both the upcoming eclipses over India.

Registration is now open at www.eclipsechasers.org/sew/index.html/ Participation is limited to a total of 300 on a first come first serve basis. Please register yourself early to avoid disappointment. The last date for registration is 31st December 2008. The fee for registration is Rs. 1500/- per participant. The registration fee for foreign participants is same, Rs 1500/- payable in INR currency. Registration fee for members and students of SPACE is Rs.1200/- (Participation fee includes Workshop materials, practical and equipment demonstrations, lunch, snacks & Tea/coffee during the hours of the workshop. The registration amount does not include lodging at Delhi.

Payment options:

1. By cash at the following places: SPACE office. WZ19, Asalatpur, A3 Block, Janak Puri, New Delhi – 110058 Phone: +91-11-25522193, +91-11-64503185

SPACE Regional Centre, Kolkata, Contact person: Ritu, 234/3A, AJC, Bose Road, FMC Fortuna, A4, 3rd Floor, Kolkata – 700020.

SPACE Regional Centre, Hyderabad, Contact Person: Brijesh, 307, 1st Floot, Defense Colony, Opposite Gayatri Tiffin Centre, Neredmet X Road, Sainik Puri, Secunderabad - 50009

2. Send DD, MO or Cheque in favour of S.P.A.C.E. (all in capitals) payable at New Delhi to: SEW, WZ19, Asalatpur, A3 Block, Janak Puri, New Delhi – 110058

3. Direct deposit or online fund transfer to S.P.A.C.E. account with Bank of Maharashtra, Sector 10 Dwarka. Account No 60018861486 account name: S.P.A.C.E. Bank code MAHB0001244. Please inform us after you deposit / transfer the participation fee. Retain your copy of pay-in slip for the confirmation at the registration desk, Delhi.

4. Online bank transfer to our above Bank of Maharashtra Account.

5. By Paypal/Credit Card on www.eclipsechasers.org/sew/index.html



For more information :

E-mail : sew@eclipsechasers.org
Web site : www.eclipsechasers.org/sew/index.html
Discussions : groups.yahoo.com/group/eclipsechasersathenaeum
Direct : Shikha Chanana +91-9212669953, +91-11-25522193, 64503185.
Snail Mail : WZ-19, Asalatpur, A-3 Block, Janak Puri, New Delhi-58, India.