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Home > Eclipses > Solar Eclipses > Solar Eclipse Conference of 2014 October 23-26

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Solar Eclipse Conference 2014 (SEC 2014)
Sacramento Peak Observatory & Cloudcroft, United States of America

A Crossroad on Physics & Eclipses of the Sun

Group in Cloudcroft, New Mexico

The Solar Eclipse Mailing List (SEML) and before the Solar Eclipse Newsletter (SENL) had been successful as a vehicle in bringing together solar eclipse enthusiasts, professionals and amateurs alike. The Solar Eclipse Conference in Antwerp (SEC 2000), October 2000, was an extension of the electronic contacts and was for sure a success. In two days over 35 lectures had been presented to 155 participants from 22 different countries. The Solar Eclipse Conference is repeated at non-central eclipse years. The international Solar Eclipse Conference of 2004 (SEC 2004) was held in August 2004 at the Open University of Milton Keynes, England. SEC 2004 had 115 delegates out of 20 different countries.
The international Solar Eclipse Conference (SEC 2007) was held at the renovated Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, USA. The program started Friday 24 August 2007 evening and ended Sunday 26 August 2007 afternoon. As icing on the cake, we had the opportunity to watch a total lunar eclipse on August 28 : visible in its entirety only from the western USA, New Zealand or eastern Australia and the Pacific Ocean.
The first three SECs were organized by Patrick & Joanne Poitevin, but at the end of SEC 2007 Patrick announced he would drop the ball.
The fourth international Solar Eclipse Conference (SEC 2011), was organized by SPACE, and held from 2011 December 15^th to 17^th in New Delhi, India.
The sixth international Solar Eclipse Conference (SEC 2018) will be held in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain from July 27 to 28^th, 2018.

SEC 2014 Sacramento Peak Observatory Group

Group in Sunspot at Sacramento Peak Observatory, New Mexico

Project Background

SEC 2007 Xavier Jubier Solar Eclipse Mapping On Off Web

3rd International Solar Eclipse Conference
at Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, USA
(25 August 2007 Xavier Jubier lecture)

SEC 2011 Xavier Jubier Mapping Planning Tools Solar Eclipses Pushing Boundaries

4th International Solar Eclipse Conference
at Rama Krishna auditorium in New Delhi, India
(16 December 2011 Xavier Jubier lecture)

Over the last few decades, there have been dramatic changes in solar eclipse traveling. Solar Eclipse specialists meet most of the time in the shadow of the Moon. Solar Eclipse meetings out of totality are rare, or are mainly focused on solar physics. The Solar Eclipse Mailing List and before the Solar Eclipse Newsletter has been successful as a vehicle in bringing together solar eclipse enthusiast, professionals and amateurs alike. Because there was no central eclipse in 2000 we had been presented with a perfect opportunity for an International Solar Eclipse Conference.

We have had this project in mind for some time, but mainly due to planning eclipse travels it has been put on hold. The aim of the conferences is to bring together professionals and amateurs, addicts, enthusiasts, and chasers, as with the mailing list and the newsletter, sharing information, knowledge, and experience. For the same reason we organized an international Solar Eclipse Conference in 2004 and 2007.

After four international Solar Eclipse Conferences (SEC 2000, SEC 2004, SEC 2007 and SEC 2011), we feel that still not all topics and subjects, related to solar eclipses have been presented and discussed. SEC 2014 will be the next opportunity to meet and discuss.

Two days of lectures, October 25^th and 26^th, were given at the Cloudcroft Lodge Resort in each of the disciplines : predictions, mathematics, solar physics, weather forecasting, eye safety, diameter measuring, edge and central, and ancient eclipse research. Of course the latest and forthcoming solar eclipses have been great topics of discussion, along with the past Venus Transit. On the 24^th evening a welcome reception took place at the New Mexico Museum of Space History.
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, is located to the northeast of El Paso, Texas, near the famous White Sands rocket development and testing area (there is also the White Sands National Monument and the Carlsbad Caverns National Park to visit), and the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot.

A two-day pre-conference option with practical presentations and sessions on solar observing and imaging, partial solar eclipse observations, and BBQ at Sacramento Peak Observatory was also organized. Due to space limitations the optional pre-conference was only available to a limited number of people.

Speakers

A number of international guest speakers were invited to give a lecture on their own specialized subject.

The topics in blue are all indoor presentations. The topics in orange are all outdoor demonstration under the pleasant winter Sun in the afternoon.

Time	Title	Speaker	Duration	Abstract	Biography	File
Pre-Conference Day 1: Thursday October 23^rd, 2014 at Sacramento Peak Observatory (optional)
08:15-08:55	Continental breakfast	–	40mn	–	–	–
08:55-09:00	Announcements/Logistics	Patrick Poitevin	5mn		biography	–
09:00-09:40	Bringing Solar Science to School Children and the General Public	Roger Kennedy	30+10mn	abstract	biography	↓
09:40-10:20	Tips and Techniques for Photographing Solar Eclipses	Fred Espenak	30+10mn	abstract	biography	–
10:20-10:50	Break with Snacks
10:50-11:30	How to Observe the Eclipse Safely with Eclipse Glasses	Ralph Chou	30+10mn	abstract	biography	↓
11:30-12:10	Solar Eclipses at Sunrise/Sunset, Special Effects	Jörg Schoppmeyer	30+10mn	abstract	biography	↓
12:10-12:45	Sacramento Peak Observatory Tour (optional)
12:30-13:30	Lunch (those on tour eat a bit later)
13:30-14:10	Solar Eclipse Observation: My Experience	Ján Sládečeck	30+10mn	abstract	biography	↓
14:10-14:40	Break with Snacks
14:40-15:30	Prepare for Partial Solar Eclipse/Solar Observing
15:30-17:50	Partial Solar Eclipse Observing (first contact at 3:34pm, maximum at 4:45pm, last contact at 5:49pm)
17:50-18:30	Break to Pack-up
18:30-21:30	BBQ Dinner
Pre-Conference Day 2: Friday October 24^th, 2014 at Sacramento Peak Observatory (optional)
Time	Title	Speaker	Duration	Abstract	Biography	File
08:15-08:55	Continental breakfast	–	40mn	–	–	–
08:55-09:00	Announcements/Logistics	Patrick Poitevin	5mn		biography	–
09:00-09:40	Landscape Eclipse Photography	Kris Delcourte	30+10mn	abstract	biography	↓
09:40-10:20	Modelling the Solar Diameter from Light Curves Taken During Solar Eclipses	Jean-Pierre Barriot	30+10mn	abstract	biography	–
10:20-11:00	The Legacy of Solar Telescope Designer George A. Carroll	John Briggs	30+10mn	abstract	biography	–
11:00-11:30	Break with Snacks
11:30-12:10	When the Eclipse Comes Home	Derryl Barr	30+10mn	abstract	biography	↓
12:10-12:45	Additional Sacramento Peak Observatory Tour (optional) - Solar observing for those not joining the tour (own telescopes)
12:45-13:45	Lunch (those on the tour eat a bit later)
13:45-15:35	Workshop TSE 2017	Jay Anderson, Fred Espenak, Shadia Habbal, Michael Zeiler	50mn
15:35-16:05	Break with Snacks (during workshop for those wanted)
16:05-16:45	Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST): Science, Design and Current Status	Stephen Keil	30+10mn	abstract	biography	↓
16:45-18:00	Travel to New Mexico Museum of Space History for Opening Reception SEC 2014
18:00-21:00	SEC 2014 Opening Reception at the New Mexico Museum of Space History – Catering kindly sponsored by TravelQuest
18:00-18:20	SEC 2014 Opening – Announcements	Patrick Poitevin	20mn		biography	–
21:00-21:30	Travel back to Cloudcroft Lodge Resort
21:30-	Star Party at the Cloudcroft Lodge Resort Golf Course (Amateur Astronomers Group Alomogordo)
Conference Day 1: Saturday October 25^th, 2014 at the Pavilion Hall outside the Cloudcroft Lodge Resort
Time	Title	Speaker	Duration	Abstract	Biography	File
07:30-08:30	Registrations	–	60mn	–	–	–
08:30-08:45	SEC 2014 Opening – Announcements	Patrick Poitevin	15mn		biography	–
08:45-09:20	Observing Solar Eclipse in Space: a Dream that Is Coming True	Hamid Djodeiri Khodashenas Soheil Malekzadeh	30+5mn	abstract	biography	–
09:20-09h55	The ISO Standard for Solar Viewers	Ralph Chou	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
09:55-10:30	Outcomes of TSE 2012 in Australia and Thoughts for 2017	Terry Cuttle	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
10:30-11:00	Break
11:00-11:35	Techniques Used and Results of High Resolution Video Obtained at the 2010 and 2012 TSEs	Nick James	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
11:35-12:10	Eclipse Observations of the Solar Edge and Iradiance Variations	Serge Koutchmy	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
12:10-13:40	Lunch
13:40-14:15	Saros Maths	Ray Brooks	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
14:15-14:50	Lunar Eclipse Dust Accumulations	Tom Murphy	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
14:50-15:25	Unique Science with Total Solar Eclipses	Shadia R. Habbal	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
15:25-15:55	Break
15:55-16:30	White-Light Observations and Polarimetric Analysis of the Solar Corona During TSE 2008	Victor G. Fainshtein	30+5mn	abstract	biography	–
16:30-17:05	UMBRAPHILLIC ESOTERICA: A Retrospective Beyond Science and Technology	Glenn Schneider	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
17:05-17:40	The Ultimate Chase Into the Stratosphere	Xavier M. Jubier	30+5mn	abstract	biography	–
17:50	End of first day proceedings
19:00-23:30	SEC 2014 Dinner at the Cloudcroft Lodge Resort
23:30-	Star Party at the Cloudcroft Lodge Resort Golf Course (Amateur Astronomers Group Alomogordo)
Conference Day 2: Sunday October 26^th, 2014 at the Pavilion Hall outside the Cloudcroft Lodge Resort
Time	Title	Speaker	Duration	Abstract	Biography	File
07:30-08:30	Registrations	–	60mn	–	–	–
08:30-08:45	SEC 2014 Opening Day 2 – Announcements	Patrick Poitevin	15mn		biography	–
08:45-09:20	Plans of the International Occultation Timing Association (IOTA) for 2017 and Other "Eclipse" Opportunities	David Dunham	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
09:20-09:55	Science at Recent Annular and Total Solar Eclipses	Jay M. Pasachoff	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
09:55-10:30	Do We Need Scientific Observations of the Solar Corona During Eclipses?	Vojtech Rušin	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
10:30-11:00	Break
11:00-11:35	Automation of Eclipse Contact Timing Modifications Using Digital Lunar Profiles	Bill Kramer	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
11:35-12:05	SEC 2014 Group Photo
11:35-12:05	The Old and the New: Thomas Jefferson’s Solar Eclipse, Photographing Eclipses through a Pinhole and Eclipse-Induced Waves in the Ozone Layer	Forrest M. Mims III	30mn	abstract	biography	↓
12:05-13:05	Lunch
13:05-14:35	Chasing Shadows	Nelson Quan	25+5mn	abstract	biography	–
13:35-14:10	More Morsels	John Tilley	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
14:10-14:45	Developing STEM lesson plans integrating Common Core standards in conjunction with the 2017 total solar eclipse	Charles Fulco	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
14:45-15:20	New Frontiers in Eclipse Cartography	Michael Zeiler	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
15:20-15:50	Break
15:50-16:25	Three Years of Eclipses: Where to Go?	Jay Anderson	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
16:25-17:00	TSE 2017 MegaMovie Project	Scott McIntosh -> James McAteer	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
17:00-17:35	Two New Eclipse Canons and an Eclipse Website	Fred Espenak	30+5mn	abstract	biography	↓
17:35	End of second day proceedings and SEC 2014

Location

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The Sacramento Peak Observatory is located 10 miles southeast of Alamogordo, New Mexico. The National Solar Observatory is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation, for the benefit of the astronomical community.

Mailing Address :
NSO/Sacramento Peak
3010 Coronal Loop
Sunspot, NM 88349 USA

Contact numbers :
Offices +1 (575) 434-7000
Lat = 32° 47′ 14.6″ N; Long = 105° 49′ 04.4″ W
Elevation = 9,203 ft or 2,805 m

The Cloudcroft Lodge Resort provides accommodation at a discounted rate for speakers and delegates. Discount Code (35% off): 2786IV

Address :
601 Corona Place
Cloudcroft, NM 88317 USA

Contact numbers :
Offices +1 (800) 395-6343

	Outside the Pavilion Hall	Outside the Pavilion Hall
	Inside the Pavilion Hall (conference room)	Layout of the Pavilion Hall
Cloudcroft Lodge Resort reception	Cloudcroft Lodge Resort tower view	Cloudcroft Lodge Resort restaurant
Sacramento Peak Observatory entrance	Sacramento Peak Observatory visitor center	Sacramento Peak Observatory sunwatcher
Sacramento Peak Observatory Sunspot solar system model	Sacramento Peak Observatory Littrow spectrograph	Sacramento Peak Observatory Richard B. Dunn solar telescope schematic
Sacramento Peak Observatory Richard B. Dunn solar telescope with Moon	Sacramento Peak Observatory inside the Richard B. Dunn solar telescope	Sacramento Peak Observatory R. B. Dunn solar telescope rotating table underside
Apache Point Observatory entrance	Apache Point Observatory Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5-meter	Apache Point Observatory Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5-meter

Among the other attractions related to astronomy in the area, we can mention the following:
- the Sloan Digital Sky Survey at the Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico,
- the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA) in New Mexico,
- the Chaco Canyon NHP in New Mexico.
Then for the scenic landscape one should visit the White Sands National Monument, the Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and the Spaceport America (by 2014, the Spaceport will be operating suborbital flights by Virgin Galactic). They are all within a 3-hour drive.

The city of Alamogordo, home to the New Mexico Museum of Space History, is adjacent to White Sands Missile Range which can be considered to be the birthplace of the U.S. rocket technology. After WWII, the U.S. brought Werner von Braun and captured german rocket engineers to White Sands from where they launched a series of V-2 rockets. The museum has many artifacts from the U.S. space program and an IMAX theater with a planetarium. The area around Alamogordo is a desert, but the mountains overlooking the city and where the observatories are located are cooler and covered with forest. The New Mexico Space Trail will show you 52 historic sites.
The SEC 2014 Opening Reception will be held at the Museum. Self-serve and a few tables and chairs are on the first floor. The museum is an excellent venue for an evening reception and the view is spectacular! Everyone can mingle and walk through the museum.

Alamogordo can offer a wide range of accommodations and the Lodge at Cloudcroft is about a 30-minute drive up the mountain for those who desire a unique setting on the mountain ridge top. The area around Cloudcroft has dark skies and the sky is often clear. Several well-known amateur astronomers live in the Cloudcroft area and operate private observatories.

The closest major airports are at Albuquerque, about a three-hour drive and El Paso, Texas, about 90 minutes away.

A wee bit further away one can visit a few other solar observatories:
- the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona,
- the Big Bear Solar Observatory in California,
- the Mt. Wilson Observatory in California (where we had our opening session for SEC 2007).

And lets not forget all the national parks that are much less crowded at this time of the year.

Registration

Want to join us? Then sign up now!

Sponsoring

Be a Diamond, Gold, Silver or Bronze Sponsor. If you wish to sponsor the conference, please contact us.

Diamond Sponsor (over USD 10,000)	Gold Sponsor (from USD 2,000 to 10,000)	Silver Sponsor (from USD 400 to 2,000)	Bronze Sponsor (under USD 400)
	TravelQuest	American Astronomical Society (AAS) via Rick Fienberg Jay Anderson British Astronomical Association (BAA) via Sheridan Williams Michael Gill Hamid Khodashenas Rainbow Symphony via Mark Margolis	Ricardo Alcoser Bengt Alfredsson Amateur Astronomical Group (Alamogordo) Audie Barnette Derryl Barr John Beattie Stephen Bedingfield Fred Bruenjes Jens Buus Greg Buchwald Keiko Chaki Ralph Chou Terry Cuttle Kris Delcourte Jackie Diehl David Dunham Joan Dunham Letitia Ferrer Lloyd Franklin Jay Friedland Thomas Goodey Joel Harris Jan Hellemans Steve Keil David Larson Mark Littmann Robert Lucas Robert Minor Joel Moskowitz Richard Nugent Derald Nye Jay Pasachoff Luca Quaglia Robert Ray Torsten Rothenwaldt Eckehard Schmidt Larry Stevens John Tilley Nick Turner Jen Winter Michael Zeiler

Partial Solar Eclipse

On October 23^rd a partial solar eclipse was visible from the Western USA and Sacramento Peak Observatory. The weather was gorgeous as it is usually at that time of the year.
October Mean Afternoon Cloud Cover