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On 31 July we left a clouded Shanghai and arrived after a
stop in Xi'an in sunny Jiayuguan. This was promising for the next day
eclipse. |
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After visiting Jiayguan fort and other sites, and having lunch in the nearby city of JiyQan we left via Jinta to the Gobi desert. We had special passes, and were one of the few groups that was allowed access to the central line of the eclipse. |
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The totaly eclipsed sun at 19:13. Totality at our location lasted 1 minute and 50 seconds. | ||
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The picture above shows my Canon 30D with 70-200 zoom and homemade solar
filter for taking pictures of the partial phase. I had calculated that using
the 70mm would allow me to have the sun and the planets Mercury (above the
sun) and Venus (left-top corner) on a single picture. |
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The picture on the left shows the star δ Cancri shining through the corona. This star of of magnitude 3.9, and normally only visible during clear winter skies. Note: if you move
the cursor on the picture, you will see a negative image that shows the star as
a dark dot. |
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And here, a bit further away from the sun, the star γ Cancri (Cnc) with a visual magnitude 4.7. Note: if you move the cursor on the picture, you will see a negative image that shows the star as a dark dot. |
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Fifteen
minutes after totality the sun disappeared behind a cloud. In that sense we
have been very lucky. The eclipse end a few minutes past eight p.m. At eleven we were back in Jiayuguan for late dinner and our Jiayuguan International Hotel, where the next day after breakfast we witnessed a chinese wedding with loud fireworks. |
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Picture of the group in front of the airport on 2 August. |
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Near Jiayuguan we have visited the Great Wall. This part dates from the Ming period. |
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