May 19-21, 2012 ALP Xiamen Annular Solar Eclipse Report - Day 3
by James Kevin Ty
 

Day 2 (May 20) - Inspection of Observing Site and Xiamen Science and Technology Center

ALPers all wake up a little late this morning due to tiredness.  At around 8:00am, they went to have their breakfast at the hotel and meet up with their hired driver, Xiao Yeh, who was hired to give the ALP eclipse team easier access around the city to inspect the observing site near the eastern coastline.

They then went to the the Xiamen Business Center area where there is a clear out horizon facing the sea.  But unfortunately, as they inspect the site, they got to find out that the 72 degree azimuth is blocked  by some building infrastructure!  With the Sun rising northernly staring this month,  James was not surprised that the lady yesterday at the mall suggested to this area.  He figured she might have visited this area maybe between September to April wherein the Sunrise is a bit southernly so is indeed rising in the sea instead on the infrastructure.

So they proceeded to another area at the back of the infrastructure and come across another beach park which has no obstruction  on the 72 degree azimuth.  They check their GPS and compass to double check where is the best area for them to setup tomorrow morning.  With the Sun nowhere to be seen that morning, they also use another Iphone software Sun Seeker to double check where the Sun will rise next day.  Indeed a very nice application to check where the Sun is located anytime of the day :)

Afterwards, they went to the city to buy barbell weights for Jett's use on his Takahashi SpaceBoy.  They also buy some more necessary things at the local supermarket to complete the needed things for their use tomorrow.  They then proceeded to another coastal area where they had their late lunch which include seafoods which is Xiamen's popular dishes.  This is similar to our local seafood market style wherein one get to select what type of seafoods he or she wanted to eat and then let the chef cook it to the style you wanted.  They ordered some seashells for their soup, then shrimps and a large fish which was very delicious and fresh! Yummy!

After lunch, they then get some rest as well as stroll the coastal area for a while.  Jett and James then got to discover that Mark is an avid sea shell collector and he had a great time collecting many sea shells on the sand :)

Our final chosen eclipse observing site's GPS position.

ALPer Mark Vornhusen is an avid seashell collector and didn't waste time scouring the beach sand for seashells :)

Some of Mark's collected seashells at the beach sand.

A nice suspended water faucet is one of the good illusionary display at the center.

ALPer Mark looks like a giant in the slanted room :)

Hey!  It's 2D of ALPer James :)

ALPer Mark playing with the electric static balls

ALPer Jett standing in front of the large solar system orrery.

ALPer Jett walking through the time machine hallway :)

ALPer Mark is the Big Air Head Man :)

ALPer Jett lying down on a nice flat bed......

of NAILS !!! :) LOL

Front Entrance to the Xiamen Science and Technology Center.

Einstein Theory of Relativity formula can be seen on the outer wall of the Xiamen Science and Technology Center.

Lastly, they visited one of the few Xiamen's science oriented museum or center in Xiamen Science and Technological Center,  It was like our local Science Centrum or Mind Museum but very much high tech in its facilities.  It was a nice place for then unwind a little and enjoy some science oriented projects that one can explore in the center.  Some of the nice features in the center is an earthquake simulator room, electricity room, solar system orrery, etc.  As they finish touring the center, they were happy to see the Sun shining through the clouds and they were able to get some short test of their cameras and videos before the Sun completely gets covered again by the clouds.  But with the local weather prediction as well as our team assessment of the weather satellite images with the help of Mark, we were confident that tomorrow will have a good chance for the annular solar eclipse.

They then went back to the hotel to get some needed rest for tomorrow big event.  Jett used that evening's time to do a dry run of his setup equipment in his room while Mark continue to  finish his modified webcam for use on his Coronado PST as well as make his solar filter for his 1000mm f/10 mirror lens, small National Geographic 60mm refractor.  James, on the other hand, opted to just relax and surf the internet to further check on the weather satellite map as well as make the 2 days summary report prior to E-Day.

ALP MAY 21, 2012 ANNULAR / PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE PHOTO GALLERY

May 21, 2012 ALP Annular Solar Eclipse Expedition to Xiamen, China Main Page

 

 

 

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