Frenchman
Bay (Albany), Australia
General: Time 06h53m, Alt. 4 degrees, Saros 125,
55.1 % (Max 89.8 %)
The partial solar eclipses at sunrise of 28
September 1791 and 2 September 1997 in Albany, Western Australia
"In the morning of the 28 th, we found our progress had been very slow along the coast ... we had again the opportunity of observing the sun eclipsed, but were not so fortunate as to notice its commencement, or its greatest obscuration ... The land considered on Tuesday night as the east most part of the main now appeared to be an island, beyond which were seen a high rocky bluff point, and a high mountain forming the eastern most land in sight ... the land appearing like an island N16W to N24W was now seen to comprehend a cluster of rocky barren isles ... Many whales were playing about the ship this morning. He went on the name the barren rocky cluster of isles, by the name of Eclipse Islands." Wednesday, 28 September 1791, Captain George Vancouver
This year 1997, we were blessed with 2 solar eclipses. A total on 9 March, and you could read the reports, and one on 1-2 September. This last one was a partial solar eclipse, and as per astronomical books, visible in Australia, New Zealand and the Antarctic. You can make a partial solar eclipse as interesting as possible. Why not observing at sunrise? My proposal was Australia.
I got even more exited when I learned about the name Eclipse Island on the geographical map. An island south of West Australia, under the town Albany. As per The Times Atlas of the World with coordinates S35°10’ and E117°50’. The origin of the island made me curious. No guide or book referred to the island. Would it be possible to observe the eclipse from this island? And where came the name from?
With the calculations of Jean Meeus had the island not un-important solar eclipses in a short period:
Date Time Alt Magn Local time
1791 Sept. 27 23h39m 09 0.936
06h39m (Sept. 28)
1793 March 12 06h26m 46 0.994
14h26m
1795 July 16 09h11 00 0.958 17h11m
This means local time (GMT +8), a large partial solar eclipse at sunrise, a large partial solar eclipse during the day and a large partial solar eclipse at sunset. And this every odd year. This could be the origin of the name of the island? But the migrations in Albany were in the beginning of the 19th century, and not in 1791. I had to look for my answers locally in Australia.
The first answers on my questions I found at arrival in the library of Perth. The name Eclipse Island was given by Captain George Vancouver (1757 - 1798) of the Discovery:
"Eclipse Island, named by Captain George Vancouver R.N. 1791 off Albany. An eclipse of the sun occurred at date of discovery. A barren rocks cluster of islands." as per description.
But unfortunately, the island did not have any habitants. There were only rocks. From 1926 to 1976, there was a lighthouse active. Since then it was automated and only two artists visited the island in the early '80s with a helicopter and for a few weeks. It would have been very expensive settling myself for the partial eclipse on Eclipse Island.
For the partial solar eclipse of 2 September 1997, I selected a place at Frenchman Bay. The sun would rise partial eclipsed between the peninsula and the island Breaksea Island. The sunrise was at 6h25m local time. Maximum of the eclipse was magnitude 0.551 at 6h53m with an altitude of 4 degrees. The end was at 8h04m at an altitude of 18 degrees.
The morning before, it was a beautiful sky. It was like a dream. The sky was clear and the sun did rise out of the water as a big red ball. That was promising for the day after. But the morning of the eclipse it was a catastrophe. It was storm, cold, wind, hail. The sun appeared only now and then at 7h25m and 7h35m. The eclipse was progressed to the end when it was visible, but it remained visible for the rest since 7h50m. A real eclipse sunrise I missed. But it was nice to know, that more then 200 years ago Captain Vancouver, nearly from the same location, a partial solar eclipse observed as well. Sun, Moon, Earth and PP will meet again 26 February 1998.
Picture from postcard bought in Albany by Patrick Poitevin
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