I've heard of a number of people traveling to the Pacific Northwest for this.
Has anyone else made a decision on where they will, or would like, to be?
I'm thinking Shiprock would be a great foreground.
A possible opportunity for a RMNP group outing, in combination with a Bisti trip that weekend?
In Albuquerque, the sun will be 5 degrees above the horizon.
In Denver it will be 7 degrees, so I assume at Shiprock it will be 6 to 7 degrees.
So for the astronomers out there, will this be too low to include Shiprock? There are some ridges to the west.
Bill, I had thought of Shiprock for this one too, and I'm pretty sure I can say I'd been in if such a group outing happens. I stand open to correction by astronomers, but my feeling is that the angle would be okay. My experience shooting the lunar eclipse last December next to a fairly similar landscape feature was that the trick is being far enough away: at the focal lengths necessary to show off the moon/sun to advantage, you need a fair bit of distance to include a big object like Shiprock.
I'm also very curious if anyone has any insights regarding the best way to get a solar eclipse and a landscape in one shot. Seems like it's a lot harder than with the moon! I understand you can shoot fairly normally, sans filters, at full eclipse, but I haven't found much on whether the annular effect complicates matters. If anyone knows any helpful resources, or even just some good examples of successful shots in similar circumstances, I'm sure lots of us would find them helpful.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 22, 2012 at 2:46 PM
Sounds like a good plan. I wrote it on my calendar.
From what I could tell with TPE, at 19:37, the sun and moon are 7* high at 290* azimuth. From the dirt road west off the highway at a point to put the sun at that time above Shiprock, Shiprock rises 3.1* (this is what I could tell, but may be incorrect = liability disclaimer )
Posted by Phillip Noll on February 22, 2012 at 3:50 PM
I would be in on any such trip. I guess I should be coordinating any such trip since its in NM! Only problem is I've never shot Shiprock and never been to Bisti!
If there is enough interest, I'll be happy to set something up. Post here if you would be interested in a Shiprock/Bisti trip May 19/20.
Note well!
Now, this part is really important: an annular eclipse is like a partial solar eclipse; the portions of the sun that are not blocked by the moon are just as bright as always. Unless you are in a location where you're viewing the eclipse right at sunset, you cannot safely view this with the naked eye. You need a good blocking filter, or you risk blindness.
Posted by Doug Koepsel on February 22, 2012 at 5:06 PM
I was reading where a #14 welders filter works also to look through.
I just saw this on ToP and came here to post about it, but it looks like I'm slow on the uptake in comparison to y'all...
A couple of online tools to help out, if you're not using TPE (The Photographer's Ephemeris):
NASA has an online JavaScript calculator that you can enter in the Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation and it will spit out all sorts of information about the eclipse. It's at http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/JSEX/JSEX-NA.html.
If you don't immediately know the Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation of the location that you want to photograph, you can use the maps built into NOAA's weather service. Here, if I got to http://1.usa.gov/A6Xa46 to the NOAA forecast page for Springdale, Utah, I can see that the information is given at the top left section of the page: 37.18°N 113°W (Elev. 3995 ft).
If you can't tell from the Springdale reference, I'm looking at Southwestern Utah. If anyone wants to come out to Zion or the environs, let me know... Kane?
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 22, 2012 at 5:39 PM
Here's a shot from June 2006 with the sun setting in the smoky haze of an Arizona wildfire.
This was made with a 200mm lens (full frame sensor) from Hwy 491 due east of Shiprock.
The ridge on the horizon is the Chuska Mtn range.
So, the sun's angular diameter is 0.53 degrees. During the eclipse the sun is 7 degrees above the horizon.
Based on this photo, the eclipse should clear the Chuska Mtns with a good margin.
Anyone have a different conclusion ?
Posted by Bill Bean on February 22, 2012 at 6:15 PM
Like Phil, I've never been to Bisti and I've never shot Shiprock. Barring fire, flood, or other natural disaster I'm in.
Posted by Grant Collier on February 22, 2012 at 7:31 PM
Thanks for the heads up. I'm definitely interested, though I'm not certain of my plans yet.
Posted by John Mumaw on February 22, 2012 at 7:44 PM
Thanks for posting that image, Bill.
That really helps me decide on where to set up to get a large sun while keeping Shiprock within the frame.
With that in mind (and using TPE), one could also park at approximately the same distance away on the e/w paved road that leads to Red Rock/Cove, AZ. (Red Rock Hwy./Rd. 13) to capture the setting sun on either side of Shiprock.
Posted by Scott Fricke on February 22, 2012 at 8:59 PM
I'd sure be interested in heading down there, sounds like it could be real interesting!
Posted by Bill Pelzmann on February 22, 2012 at 9:05 PM
Yes, John, that's where I would plan to setup also, about 4 miles down Red Rock Hwy from the 491 turnoff.
I prefer the more classic profile of Shiprock from the southeast.
TPE is so helpful with these decisions.
Posted by Karl Buiter on February 23, 2012 at 10:13 AM
Interested - yes. The timeframe is around a usual Moab trip; so if that happens I would be in the area to make a 3-hour detour to the Shiprock area. Mark, Zion sounds interesting but obviously not in the main canyon and I dont know the backcountry out there to suggest a spot.
Posted by Kane Engelbert on February 23, 2012 at 9:06 PM
I'm In! I was planning a Bisti trip in a few weeks but I would love to meet and shoot with ya'll if possible.
Discussion
14 replieshttp://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2012/27jan_annulareclipse/
I've heard of a number of people traveling to the Pacific Northwest for this.
Has anyone else made a decision on where they will, or would like, to be?
I'm thinking Shiprock would be a great foreground.
A possible opportunity for a RMNP group outing, in combination with a Bisti trip that weekend?
In Albuquerque, the sun will be 5 degrees above the horizon.
In Denver it will be 7 degrees, so I assume at Shiprock it will be 6 to 7 degrees.
So for the astronomers out there, will this be too low to include Shiprock? There are some ridges to the west.
I'm also very curious if anyone has any insights regarding the best way to get a solar eclipse and a landscape in one shot. Seems like it's a lot harder than with the moon! I understand you can shoot fairly normally, sans filters, at full eclipse, but I haven't found much on whether the annular effect complicates matters. If anyone knows any helpful resources, or even just some good examples of successful shots in similar circumstances, I'm sure lots of us would find them helpful.
From what I could tell with TPE, at 19:37, the sun and moon are 7* high at 290* azimuth. From the dirt road west off the highway at a point to put the sun at that time above Shiprock, Shiprock rises 3.1* (this is what I could tell, but may be incorrect = liability disclaimer
If there is enough interest, I'll be happy to set something up. Post here if you would be interested in a Shiprock/Bisti trip May 19/20.
Note well!
Now, this part is really important: an annular eclipse is like a partial solar eclipse; the portions of the sun that are not blocked by the moon are just as bright as always. Unless you are in a location where you're viewing the eclipse right at sunset, you cannot safely view this with the naked eye. You need a good blocking filter, or you risk blindness.
A couple of online tools to help out, if you're not using TPE (The Photographer's Ephemeris):
NASA has an online JavaScript calculator that you can enter in the Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation and it will spit out all sorts of information about the eclipse. It's at http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/JSEX/JSEX-NA.html.
If you don't immediately know the Latitude, Longitude, and Elevation of the location that you want to photograph, you can use the maps built into NOAA's weather service. Here, if I got to http://1.usa.gov/A6Xa46 to the NOAA forecast page for Springdale, Utah, I can see that the information is given at the top left section of the page: 37.18°N 113°W (Elev. 3995 ft).
If you can't tell from the Springdale reference, I'm looking at Southwestern Utah. If anyone wants to come out to Zion or the environs, let me know... Kane?
This was made with a 200mm lens (full frame sensor) from Hwy 491 due east of Shiprock.
The ridge on the horizon is the Chuska Mtn range.
So, the sun's angular diameter is 0.53 degrees. During the eclipse the sun is 7 degrees above the horizon.
Based on this photo, the eclipse should clear the Chuska Mtns with a good margin.
Anyone have a different conclusion ?
That really helps me decide on where to set up to get a large sun while keeping Shiprock within the frame.
With that in mind (and using TPE), one could also park at approximately the same distance away on the e/w paved road that leads to Red Rock/Cove, AZ. (Red Rock Hwy./Rd. 13) to capture the setting sun on either side of Shiprock.
I prefer the more classic profile of Shiprock from the southeast.
TPE is so helpful with these decisions.