Looking ahead to the 2023 Deep South Star Gaze

bsimon615
Owner

Posts: 577

Looking ahead to the 2023 Deep South Star Gaze Oct 17, 2021 20:57:12 GMT -6

Quote

Post by bsimon615 on Oct 17, 2021 20:57:12 GMT -6

Wait, what about 2022? That is still going to happen but I have to mention something about 2023 first.

On October 14th, 2023 we will have an Annular Solar Eclipse. All may know that we will have a total solar eclipse on April 8th of 2024 and that should be a great one with a long duration. More about the total eclipse in another post at another time, but now I am going to talk about the October 14th Annular Eclipse.

What is an Annular Eclipse? An Annular Eclipse is one where the Moon is relatively further from Earth so that it's image (angular size) is smaller, smaller to the point that it is not large enough to completely cover the disc of the Sun as it moves in front of it. So at mid-eclipse we still see a ring of sunlight as the Moon passes in front of the Sun. This ring is called an annulus, hence, an Annular Eclipse.

As most know the Deep South Star Gaze is always held typically centered (or close to it) on the new Moon in either October or November. Were there no eclipse our choices would be either October 10th to October 15th 2023 or November 7th to the 12th, 2023. Normally I would opt for the November dates but as we will have about a 75% blockage of the Sun's disc on Saturday, October 14th, I think the October dates would be the logical choice. (We will discuss this at the upcoming DSSG, maybe I am wrong about the interest in this, we will see.)

Note - the path of the annular eclipse takes it over San Antonio, TX but before that it looks like it passes over or very close to where the El Dorado Star Party takes place in Texas. That may be an option, but as many may be returning to Texas just 6 months later for the total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024 the earlier annular eclipse may not be part of travel plans for many of us.

What can we expect for the annular eclipse? Look at the image above. At best we will see a blockage of the Sun about half way between the 3rd image in the top row and the 1st image in the second row.

More about both eclipses at the upcoming DSSG.

Barry

Last Edit: Oct 17, 2021 22:51:35 GMT -6 by bsimon615

bsimon615
Owner

Posts: 577

Looking ahead to the 2023 Deep South Star Gaze Oct 18, 2021 13:40:04 GMT -6

Quote

Post by bsimon615 on Oct 18, 2021 13:40:04 GMT -6

The more I think about it (and discuss with a few other people so far) doing the 2023 DSSG to coincide with the annular eclipse on 10-14 is probably not a good idea. (Dates if we do it then would be Tuesday, October 10th to Sunday, October 15th, 2023). The basic reason is it is typically still too warm and we are still pretty much imbedded in hurricane season. Those dates would be the 2nd earliest the DSSG has ever started. See attached spreadsheet showing our dates thru the years.

Additionally, anyone truly interested can watch the Sun, which will be up to about 70% blocked by the Moon, from the comfort of their own yard, from home. We also would not be competing with the 2023 El Dorado Star Party which will have a total annular eclipse from their site near Sonora, TX.

Barry

Attachments:

Deep South Star Gaze Date History.xlsx (17.56 KB)

Last Edit: Oct 18, 2021 13:47:00 GMT -6 by bsimon615

jmorris
New moon

Posts: 18

Looking ahead to the 2023 Deep South Star Gaze Oct 19, 2021 20:37:05 GMT -6

Quote

Post by jmorris on Oct 19, 2021 20:37:05 GMT -6

I agree with all of the above.

Also, you have one shot at the eclipse at WH the day of. Rain or clouds could wash out viewing or photography. So we could have an "early" star party for the chance at the eclipse, but along with that comes a greater chance of hot and humid weather, or even a tropical rain event. Also with warmer weather comes mosquitoes and creepy crawly things in rural Mississippi, which I experienced before I left this year's Spring Scrimmage (large snake).

Of course, you may have trees blocking the Sun in your yard. But if you are like me, you have less of them now post-Ida.