The expression, “Being in the right place, at the right time”, certainly applies to your chances of viewing a total eclipse of the sun.

The one which occurred over parts of Devon and Cornwall on August, 11, 1999 was hugely anticipated.

Unfortunately the great British weather conspired to largely obscure that event.

I was fortunate enough to be on safari in Southern Africa during the eclipse on December, 4, this year and it was a sight I will never forget.

First Contact

We had pulled into a campsite near Maun in Botswana the previous night.

The diamond ring silhouettes the African Bush. Courtesy of Renu Arya.

Although many campsites in the area had been very quiet, this one was full with groups eagerly awaiting the events of the following day.

We left Maun at 5am on the 4th and drove for about 200km to ensure we were well within the path of totality.

Weather conditions were perfect; good visibility
with only a few wisps of cirrus cloud in the sky.

First contact, when the moon began to pass over the disc of the sun, occurred at about 7am with the Sun at about an elevation of 20 degrees in the sky.

This was our cue to pull off the road and prepare a slap-up fried breakfast.

Bailey's Beads

At about 7:50, with breakfast having been quickly devoured, we began to settle down to view the eclipse using the appropriate viewing glasses.

At this stage there was already a perceptible change in the light - difficult to describe, being neither dawn nor dusk.

At about 8:10am things seemed to happen very quickly.

Did I notice Bailey’s Beads or the diamond ring effect? It is difficult to say. I simply did not know where to look next.

I did notice the stars appearing in the sky but where was the shadow of the moon which was supposed to be rushing towards me from the west?

Certainly the cacophony of animal and bird noise that is ever present in the African bush had died down.

Totality

I do seem to recall seeing the diamond ring effect before the Second Contact was made and the eclipse became total.

The blackness of the disc of the moon highlighted the Sun’s corona although I did not notice the reddish glow associated with the chromosphere.

Totality lasted for around two minutes, followed by Third Contact when the diamond ring again became visible.

Richard Angwin - Wiltshire weather is his expertise.

As the light began to return I did notice one unusual feature.

Our temporary campsite had been inundated with bees whilst we were cooking breakfast. Now they had become very still and there were many moths around the vehicle.

As the light continued to increase the moths disappeared and the bees resumed their activity.

There had been no major change in temperature during the eclipse and there had been no gustiness or shadow.

This may well be due to the relatively low angle of the sun.

Fourth Contact

The Fourth Contact did not occur for at least another hour, by which time we were bowling along the main road on our way to Zambia.

Everyone in our party, and none of them had more that a passing interest in things astronomical, agreed that it had been a remarkable sight, one which none of us will ever forget.