Solar Eclipse

[Mike Cowham]

Dear Shadow Watchers,     Jack Aubert's message about a Solar Eclipse reminded me that I was in the South of France during the recent partial eclipse on 3 October.  I did not notice any messages on this list about it so perhaps many of you missed it.  I had forgotten that it was happening that day and it was a really dull and cloudy.  I suddenly I looked up into the sky and could see a 'New Moon' just glimmering through the clouds.  I realised immediately that it was not a new moon but an eclipse.  I had no protective glasses with me to view it but the thick cloud did the trick very nicely and I was able to take a series of photographs, which in the event show the shape quite well.  If I had remembered earlier I would probably have seen almost totality - it certainly was very dark driving through the mountains - but I thought that it was just the thick cloud!     If anyone is interested I can send a small JPEG showing the results - nothing exciting but a great 'New Moon'.   Regards, Mike Cowham Cambridge UK