2027 August 2 Total Solar Eclipse

Map by Xavier Jubier, http://xjubier.free.fr

The August 2, 2027 total solar eclipse path of totality sweeps across Morocco, Spain, the United Kingdom (Gibraltar), Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Somalia. This is a long total solar eclipse with the maximum duration of  6 minutes and 23 seconds occurring in Egypt. While a single site will see totality for an average minutes,  the total network of DEB Observers will see a combined totality of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 2 seconds.

DEB is currently looking for volunteer team leaders to form science observation teams that will collect telescopic solar data during the 2 August 2027 Total Solar Eclipse in the path of totality in Africa.   DEB will consider adding additional teams outside of the path of totality for partial eclipse observations.

Required Equipment

A limited number of observation setups are available for donation to team leaders. Teams retain their observation equipment after observations and are encouraged to continue participating in ongoing solar flare observations and outreach events. 

The current DEB setup is consists of the following: 

  • Mount: iOptron Skyhunter Eq/AZ 
  • Telescope: Askar FMA 180 Pro
  • Camera: Neptune-M Player 1 Camera
  • Solar Filter: 60mm Solar Filter, Rainbow Symphony, Black Polymer
  • Adapter: ZWO M42 to M48 Extender (61.5mm), ZWO T2-M48-16.5
  • Extension Tube Kit: SVVONY, SKU: F9190A
  • Laptop: Dell Inspiron 15 3520, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
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DEB Teams using their own equipment need to meet these requirements:  

(1) a telescope and camera combination with a field-of-view of at least 1.6 x 1.6 degrees, preferably closer to 2.6 x 2.6 degrees.

(2) a telescope aperture of at least 30mm, preferably 40mm or larger

(3)  a camera with at least 2000 x 2000 pixels (or larger) and 12-bit digitization (or more)

(4) a tracking mount with at least sidereal tracking, or ideally solar motion tracking

For the DEB Initiative volunteer data capture:

(1) ability to cycle through a sequence of 7 exposures from 0.1 msec to 400 msec

(2) ability to rapidly store images with exposure and time of image information in the header, ideally as FITS files

(3) ability to calibrate the time of image clock to about +/- 1 sec accuracy (likely computer clock calibrated with internet time signal)

(4) ability to capture dark calibration frames at all exposures, and ideally flat and bias frames as well.

 

Criteria for volunteer team leaders

 

  • Be located in or willing to travel with your team to the path of totality
  • Complete online training and participate in practice sessions prior to the eclipse.
  • Recruit your own observation team with a minimum of two people, including yourself.
  • Carry out eclipse day observations from your predetermined location regardless of viewing conditions.

     

If you are interested in joining the DEB team, please email deb.initiative@gmail.com.