Total Solar Eclipse of 2020 December 14
in Argentina or Chile
The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown in disarray all the preparations for this eclipse and most participants or tour companies decided to cancel their trips over the past few months. As of November 23rd Chile will begin to reopen its borders to foreigners, yet still with numerous restrictions, and on December 7th the mandatory quarantine on arrival will be lifted. Argentina should start its reopening on December 4th, yet traveling to the eclipse path may not be easy. As often being patient and taking some risks are being rewarded. After weighting in also my options I had to settle down on the Chile one near Pucón where the weather prospects are often not the best but viewing the eclipse from the slopes of the Villarrica volcano are certainly enticing on a clear day. However the second lockdown in France comes with travel restrictions which forbid us to leave Europe unless we have an exemption and/or an imperious motive. An international scientific study with the endorsement of the chilean authorities will suffice…
Following the decison by the chilean authorities to open their borders to foreigners we started working on a new plan to observe the eclipse from the Refugio de Sky on the slopes of the Villarrica volcano. Weather-wise Argentina is better, same for the mobility, yet because of the Covid-19 restrictions being mobile is likely difficult at best. This is why getting a special permit from the Pucón municipality is of importance.
Eclipse circumstances from the Sky refuge on the slopes of the Villarrica volcano using the standard IAU solar radius
Sun at maximum eclipse:
P = 10.14°
B0 = -0.90°
L0 = 147.80°
Carr # = 2238
Ø = 0.5416° (Moon = 0.5538°)
Magnitude at maximum eclipse = 1.01100
Obscuration at maximum eclipse = 100.00%
Centerline length = 14868.3 km (9238.7 mi)
Shadow bands orientation in azimuth at C2 = 28°
Shadow bands orientation in azimuth at C3 = 13°
Late during the night we have to enjoy the Geminids meteor shower. Lets hope that the light pollution of Pucón will not spoil the view from the Refugio de Sky. Plus lets not forget an additional guest, the comet Erasmus C/2020 S3, which will show up during the eclipse; there is a small chance it will be visible naked eye during totality.
Geminids meteor shower radiant at 3am local on 2020 December 14th
From this vantage point the Baily’s beads will also be quite nice particularly at second contact. The best would be to have a sea of clouds below our observing location, as it would block the light pollution and allow viewing the umbral shadow arrival. Yet lets not dream too much, seeing the eclipse will already be a blessing!
Baily’s beads at second and third contacts from the Refugio de Sky (Chile)
Surveillance of the weather conditions during the three days leading to the eclipse will be paramount.
No doubt Argentina has the clearest sky. One thing to notice is the cloud buildup, caused by the heat, occuring in Argentina, but with the eclipse cooling those clouds will dissipate.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 19th at 10:30am (one hour before first contact)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 19th at 10:30am (one hour before first contact)
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 19th at 4pm (two hours after the eclipse)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 19th at 4pm (two hours after the eclipse)
The next day we see that the chilean side is completely cloudy while the sky in Argentina is mostly clear. This pattern is identical to my December 2018 experience when for three consecutive days the same happened.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 20th at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 20th at 1pm (time of totality)
The day after the next one we see that the chilean side is still completely cloudy but also that the sky in Argentina near the Andes and in las Grutas is problematic. This pattern is similar to my December 2018 experience when for three consecutive days we had a similar configuration.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 21st at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 21st at 1pm (time of totality)
For the third consecutive day the chilean side is still completely cloudy while it’s mostly clear in Argentina. This pattern is similar to my December 2018 experience when for three consecutive days we had a similar configuration.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 22st at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 22st at 1pm (time of totality)
Indeed it doesn’t look good on the Villarrica volcano!
Surveillance cameras for the Villarrica volcano on 2020 November 22st at 1pm (time of totality)
For the fourth consecutive day the chilean side is still mostly cloudy while it’s mostly clear in Argentina. This pattern is similar to my December 2018 experience when for three consecutive days we had a similar configuration.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 23rd at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 23rd at 1pm (time of totality)
Indeed it doesn’t look good on the Villarrica volcano!
Surveillance cameras for the Villarrica volcano on 2020 November 23rd at 1pm (time of totality)
For the fifth consecutive day the chilean side is still mostly cloudy while it’s mostly clear in Argentina. This pattern is absolutely similar to my December 2018 experience when for three consecutive days we had a similar configuration.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 24th at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 24th at 1pm (time of totality)
Indeed it doesn’t look good on the Villarrica volcano!
Surveillance cameras for the Villarrica volcano on 2020 November 24th at 1pm (time of totality)
For the sixth consecutive day the chilean side is still mostly cloudy, but along the Pacific coast, while it’s mostly clear in Argentina with thunderstorms closing in on Las Grutas.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 25th at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 25th at 1pm (time of totality)
Indeed it doesn’t look good on the Villarrica volcano!
Surveillance cameras for the Villarrica volcano on 2020 November 25th at 1pm (time of totality)
As expected on the seventh day the chilean side is completely clear and with little wind, a perfect eclipse day, and for the seventh consecutive day it’s mostly clear in Argentina albeit with some strong winds. In Chile the fresh snow left by the many storms on the volcanoes is clearly visible and would be great to view the umbral shadow.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 26th at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 26th at 1pm (time of totality)
The Villarrica volcano in all its beauty!
Surveillance cameras for the Villarrica volcano on 2020 November 26th at 1pm (time of totality)
On the eigth day the chilean side is partially cloudy, while in Argentina it’s still good everywhere.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 27th at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 27th at 1pm (time of totality)
On the ninth day the chilean side is again completely cloudy, Argentina has its worse day and yet the eclipse could still be seen in most places.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 28th at 1pm (time of totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 28th at 1pm (time of totality)
The Villarrica volcano is back into the clouds!
Surveillance cameras for the Villarrica volcano on 2020 November 28th at 1pm (time of totality)
On the tenth both Chile and Argentina are clear.
Synthetic view of the radar imagery on 2020 November 29th at 1:30pm (30 minutes after totality)
Close-up view on Pucón, Chile, on 2020 November 29th at 1:30pm (30 minutes after totality)
Should the weather conditions be bad we could still view the eclipse airborne above the Southern Pacific Ocean.
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