The following is a repetition of a message I sent to the sundial mailing list a couple years ago. However, the upcoming 11 August total eclipse warrants this reminder:
There's a marvelous photograph on page 299 of the November, 1974, issue of _Sky and Telescope_, which shows a pinhole-projected image of the Sun crossing Cassini's noon mark on the floor of the Church of San Petronio, Bologna, Italy. And what is especially interesting about the picture is that the Sun has a small "bite" taken out of it, evidence of a partial eclipse occurring at that moment. There will be a similar photo opportunity during next month's eclipse. Only this time, the Sun will appear as no more than a thin crescent while it transits over Bologna! Camera-equipped dialists in the Bologna area -- or near any of the several pinhole-type noon marks found in central Europe -- might want to make plans to capture this phenomenon on film or video. Good luck! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Mark Gingrich [EMAIL PROTECTED] San Leandro, California
