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Partial Solar Eclipse Observed on Big Island
July 22, 2009
On July 22, 2209, the longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century was visible in Asia. The Japanese version of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan’s web pages shows some impressive images of this event.
Only a partial solar eclipse could be observed in Hawaii in the west sky just before 6 p.m. on July 21st. Dr. Tetsuharu Fuse, an astronomer at Subaru Telescope, commented, “Since this phase of the eclipse was smaller when it passed over Hawaii, the sky did not darken and the exterior brightness of the sun and the scene did not appear changed to the naked eye.”
 Figure1: The partial solar eclipse taken in Kailua-Kona on the west coast of Big Island (Hawai`i Island) with a 1.6" (4cm) do-it-yourself telescope and compact digital camera at 5:50pm on July 21, 2009 [Photo: Tetsuharu Fuse] |
 Figure2: The scene in Kailua-Kona during the eclipse at 5:52pm on July 21, 2009. Due to the small phase of the eclipse, the brightness does not change. [Photo: Tetsuharu Fuse] |
