There will be five eclipses during the year 2001. But only the January 9 total lunar eclipse will be visible from our part of the globe. We will not see the two solar eclipses (one total on June 21 from south Atlantic ocean and southern Africa, and the other one annular on December 14 mostly in the Pacific ocean), nor shall we see the other two lunar eclipses (One partial on July 5, the other one penumbral anyway on December 30).

The Total Eclipse of the Moon of January 9/ 2001
L'Astronomie à la portée de tous

  The first eclipse of the new century (and of the new millennium!) is around the corner. It will grace the nights of the habitants of most of Asia, Europe, and Africa. It will be seen just after sunset from the West European and African skies which should make it an enjoyable watch at a convenient time. It will come too earlier for the Americas which will thus be deprived of this magnificent spectacle.

The main phases are as follows:

19h42: Beginning of the partial phase 20h 50: Beginning of the total phase 21h 52: End of the partial phase 22h 59: End of the total phase

Useful Links

 The Eclipse's Preparation-I
This year we have "networked" a bit. We are indeed a registered observation site (The only Algerian one) along with some two hundreds clubs and associations from France (mostly), Italy, and Belgium involved with the AFA and Ciel & Espace magazine network.

A media campaign is going on full swing these days. Press communiqués has been sent to various press agencies and major newspapers. A pre-eclipse Thursday gathering is scheduled at the Ahmed Saadi Youth Complex to inform the public about the phenomenon, and how best to observe it. It includes a lecture, an astronomical exposition, a video shows, Internet connection to eclipse sites...

Click here for a look of part of their front page

It is noteworthy to mention that the weekly Al-Basair-new version, of the Jamiat-al Oulema-al Muslimin , has devoted their front page to the event. Their lead article contains all kind of useful and accurate information on the various phases of the eclipse as well as the ways to observe it. This is an all-time first in the Algerian press and we wish to congratulate them for this initiative.

The Eclipse's Preparation-II

 A successful pre-eclipse information gathering took place at Ahmed Saadi Youth Complex on Thursday January 4. Some fifty people of all ages and walks of life were in the attendance. Was explained at length the various things to observe during the eclipse through a multifaceted multimedia exposition, and a lecture with slides.

The ENTV team (National TV) covered the event, which was later aired on Sunday 8 January on the National TV as part of the regional bulletin (One day before the eclipse!). Members of SIRIUS animated a one hour radio show on the regional CIRTA-FM Station on Friday 5. Furthermore our lenghty communiqué on the phenomenon with the various details of the phases timing was read several times at that radio station during the week preceding the eclipse.

Many national newspapers picked up the press release sent to the APS (The national press agency), and several of them whose reporters attended the Thursday gathering wrote articles on this gathering.

The Two Things to Watch For

• The various hues and colors appearing on the Moon's face and especially at the edge during the various phases of the eclipse.
   
• The darkness degree at the middle stage of the totality. This is estimated using the Danjon scale of Eclipse darkness.

DANJON's Scale

The Eclipse's Observation
  Like for last year's eclipse, all the Sirius members were mobilized for this campaign of observation. In coordination with the Hayat group of SMA (Scout Musulmans Algerians) organisation from the city of Khroub next to Constantine, an observation site was set there, with refractors, binoculars available. Some fifty people observed from there and during the eclipse, detailed explanations of the phenomena were provided by members of the Association. The national TV covered our gathering. In addition, SIRIUS members scattered throughout Constantine city watched individually the event.

The heavy clouds which covered most of the Algerian skies during the early part of the week have dissipated by Monday night like by enchantment, leaving a cloudless crystal clear winter night.

The eclipse was a rather bright one. The various observations of the members (22 reports) were gathered at the weekly meeting which took place on the Thursday after the eclipse, and this after a rather lengthy discussion on the Danjon scale and the various hues appearing at the various stages. Due account was also taken of the fact that due to the moving of the Moon in the Earth shadow in an off center way, the upper limb of the Moon even at the maximum of the eclipse was brighter than the lower part, which implied some averaging in order to get correct Danjon degree of darkness.

The 22 observations, all giving results between degrees 2 and 3, were then averaged and gave 2.46. So the verdict is out for this memorable January 9, 2001 Lunar eclipse, and it stands at:

Of course, we are well aware that Danjon scale is a mere attempt to "quantify the qualitative", and we shouldn't attach a too great significance at the exact value. Furthermore, as mentioned above, it ends up to be the average of an average for this year's eclipse... Not unlike the way that the eclipse's light in the words of C.Flammarion is "a reflection of a reflection" ("C'est la clarté d'une clarté")!

New Moons for the Year 2001 (Universal time )

New Moons for the Year 2002 (Universal time )

Eclipses Home page