Royal Olympic Cruises and Ted Pedas proudly present four

Black Sea Eclipse '99 Voyages to Darkness

to observe

a spectacular eclipse at sea — the Solar Eclipse of August 11, 1999

[Voyage to Darkness graphics]

Voyages to Darkness…much more than a predictable solar phenomenon

  • Black Sea Eclipse '99 — STELLA SOLARIS

  • Black Sea Eclipse '99 — STELLA OCEANIS

  • Black Sea Eclipse '99 — OLYMPIC COUNTESS

  • Black Sea Eclipse '99 — WORLD RENAISSANCE

    • RENDEZVOUS AT SEA — OUR SOLAR ECLIPSE NUMBERS:

    Wednesday, August 11, 1999

    FIRST CONTACT: 12:49pm Eastern European Daylight Time (GMT +3)
    SECOND CONTACT: 2:13:49pm
    THIRD CONTACT: 2:16:10pm

    [Royal Olympic Fleet] On Wednesday August 11, 1999 more than 2000 Voyage to Darkness passengers intercepted a total eclipse of the sun in the waters of the Black Sea from the decks of Royal Olympic's four ships Stella Solaris, Olympic Countess, World Renaissance, and Stella Oceanis

    [Royal Olympic Fleet] At the position of totality, fourth contact occurred at 3.36 pm. The sun's altitude above the horizon was 59 °, and the sun's azimuth was approximately 210 ° (or 30 degrees west of south). The position of Royal Olympic's four ships was latitude 43 ° 6.615 minutes north,longitude 29° 43.069 minutes east, approximately 75 miles east of Varna, Bulgaria, 115 miles north of Turkey, 150 miles south of Ukraine, and 210 miles west of Russia, on the eclipse centerline in about 600 fathoms (3600 feet/1100 meters) of water.

    Eclipse duration was 2 minutes and 21 seconds.

    At totality the air temperature was 82 ° Fahrenheit/28 ° Celcius, and the sea temperature was 77 ° Fahrenheit/25 ° Celcius. The magnetic compass, variation was 4 ° 5 minutes east.

    [Royal Olympic Fleet] [Royal Olympic Fleet]

    The following eclipse photographs were taken by Voyage to Darkness astrophotographer George T. Keene , from the Stella Solaris. All photographs were taken on Kodak Ektachrome Film ISO 400, using a 4-inch f/9 lens.

    Additional eclipse photographs taken by Voyage to Darkness passengers and staff will be posted on their respective cruise aboard the Stella Solaris, the Olympic Countess, World Renaissance, and Stella Oceanis

    [1/500 second]width=108 height=108
    Exposed early in the eclipse, this view shows many red hydrogen prominences, including one floating above the solar limb.1/500 Second;
    [1/30 second]
    The solar magnetic field shapes detailed structure in the photo of the inner corona. 1/30th second;
    [1/8 second]
    Intense solar activity and sunspots cause the outer corona to appear nearly circular and very "brushy."1/8th second;
    [1/500 second]
    Exposed at third contact, this view shows the Diamond Ring effect and the solar limb decorated with many crimson prominences. 1/500 second;

    [Eclipse Flag (transparent)]

    The Pedas-Sigler eclipse flag has proudly flown from the masts
    of all Voyage to Darkness solar eclipse expeditions.

    eclipse watchers

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    E-mail:   Ted Pedas — mpedas@ix.netcom.com