TSE 2010 Tatakoto, Tuamotu Atolls, French Polynesia
For the first time in 16 years, my equipment didn't change. Though
clouded out in 2009, I was finally happy with the setup and saw
no reason to change it for this eclipse. I did have to jettison some
gear in order to make the 20kg baggage limit.
I packed the following critical equipment :
Light Equatorial Mount and drive
William Optic 70mm f6.2
Mirror flip box and 16mm Koenig eyepiece
DSLR
35mm film SLR with built in intervalometer for fish eye time lapse
Video camera
The heavy items, that I normally take, that were left behind were : -
Camera Tripod - I mounted the fish eye camera on a light ball and socket on one of the LEQ tripod legs.
some lenses
laptop computer
These three items removed 6kg from my luggage.
So if you're wondering how it the new scope and flip mirror worked :
In a word - FAAAANTAAASTIC!!! The view through the eyepiece using
the mirror
flip box was to die for. Many experienced eclipse chasers have a
computer controlling a camera at the prime focus of a refractor taking
pictures throughout the eclipse. Then they sit around and enjoy the
view naked eye or with small binoculars. My approach may not suit
everyone but it suits me. First I photographed prominences and diamond
ring at the start of totality. Then I used the camera's 5 stop
intervalometer to rattle off a full range of exposures - every shutter
speed from 1/4000s - 1s. This took about 30-40
seconds. During this time I operated the camera by feel so I looked
around naked eye enjoying the view. Then I flipped the mirror down
and enjoyed some time looking through the eyepiece examining the corona
in exquisite detail at 27x magnification. Following this I
flipped
the mirror back up sending light to the camera and set the camera
shutter speeds ready for egress
prominences and third contact. Then I enjoy the ambiance, watch the
whole sky and shoot third contact when it arrives. I've included
two large photographs below to illustrate the excellent optics in the
new refractor.
TSE 2012 Cairns, Australia
When this eclipse rolls around, ten years will have past since my last domestic eclipse. For this
eclipse, I'll shed the lightweight gear and load a nice solid EQ mount
into the car. I'll load it up with three optical tube assemblies.
1. William Optic 70mm f6.2 Wide angle corona camera (automated)
2. Saxon ED80mm refractor with 30mm 82 degree field
eyepiece. This combination yields 20 magnification and a 4 degree
field of view sharp across 90% of the field or a 9mm focal length and
an 82 deg field yielding 67 magnification and a 1.2 degree field. Still
deciding.
3. A long focal length optic (still to decide which to
use) for automated detailed capture of the prominences and chromosphere
with mirror switch box for a detailed look at the corona.
This can be accomplished with a simple intervalometer and five stop
auto-bracketing.
