The Indian Air Force (IAF) and astrophysicists successfully conducted total solar eclipse experiments by taking photos of this natural phenomenon from a fighter jet and a transport aircraft. Besides documenting the movement of the moon making contact, the photographers easily captured the diamond ring phenomenon of the solar eclipse in film.
Details of the experiment is enumerated in an article posted by The Hindu. See full report here. IAF, Astrophysicists ready to conduct Solar eclipse experiment.
The IAF is the air arm of the armed forces of India. Its primary mission is to secure Indian air space and conduct aerial warfare during a conflict. In peacetime, the IAF assists India Department of Science and Technology in their quest for greater understanding of solar eclipses since 1995. (See Note) They are the aerial eclipse chasers, armed with photography equipment both video and digital.
At higher elevations weather is not a limiting factor for the experiments as the aircraft fly above the clouds. The date of the total solar eclipse, July 22, 2009, received weather forecasts of 60% chance of thunderstorm. To everyone's delight, the day turned cloudy in some parts of India and clearer in other areas during the solar eclipse. Yet, everyone in the path of the eclipse was able to experience the totality.
The coastal city of Surat, India (pop. ~4 million) experienced a 3 min 14 sec total eclipse. Indore's 1.8 million inhabitants plunged into totality for 3 min 5 sec. Bhopal (pop. 1.5 million) received 3 min 9 s of the total phase. Other cities experienced similarly if they were in proximity of the eclipse'spath, otherwise they woud have witnessed partial solar eclipse instead.
IAF aircraft captures the special moments of the total solar eclipse from 41,000 feet above ground. Broadcast is in Hindi, spoken by 41% of people in India, primarily in the Northen and Central parts. (Courtesy of Starnews)
IAF aircraft captures solar eclipse diamond ring mid-air. Broadcast is in Hindi. (Courtesy of Starnews)
Note: IAF role in study of solar eclipse has been on since 1995
Eclipse maps and data courtesy of Fred Espenak and Jay Anderson, "Total Solar Eclipse of 2009 July 22" (NASA/TP-2008-214169)
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By Gina Alzate, World Tours and Cruises
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