The last Solar Eclipse of the Millennium almost never happened! A wild combination of site choice, bad weather and the Austria Alps made for one of the most exciting Solar Eclipse's ever.

A year of planning and preparation by eight Southern Ontario stargazers brought them to the Salzburg region of Austria to see this historic Eclipse on August 11,1999.

The Niagara RASC was represented by John and Wendy Fishleigh, Dennis Maheu, Carol Legate and John Nemy. Steve and Karen Barnes and 4 year old Julia of Sky Optics, Burlington also made the trek.

John, Wendy, and Dennis choose to watch the eclipse from Schafberg (Goat) Mountain. The Schafberg offers spectacular views of the Alps and premiere observing conditions from it's 1800 metre summit. Unfortunately the astronomers were teased by good and bad weather during their 2 day stay prior to E-Day.

The 5 remaining Eclipse chasers located themselves at Mondsee (Moon Lake) Austria. We had 4 star accommodations, a beautiful view of the Alps and easy access to the Auto Bahn in case a quick get away was necessary. We also had a perfect view of Goat Mountain and it's stubborn bad weather. The weather was the big worry. All of Europe was in cloud the day before the Eclipse.
 
 

Eclipse Day / Wednesday, August 11,1999 / Totality starts at 12:40 pm local time.

6:00 am Knock on the room door, it's Steve Barnes. The entire sky is cloud.

6:15 am Internet satellite image shows all may be lost!

6:30 am We decide not to drive to Hungary.

7:00 am A call from Goat Mountain. John F. & company are comin' down the mountain.

7:30 am Weather still bad, mostly cloudy.

8:30 am Everyone trying not to look freaked out.

9:30 am I decide to set up my telescope and pray for the best.

10:00 am A few other scopes and people show up from Italy, Germany, Slovakia etc.

10:30 am John F. & company show up and a patch of blue sky.

11:20 am The moon makes first contact with the solar disc, sky still 70% clouds.

12:35 am The last puffy cloud covers a thin solar crescent. The sky has cleared!

12:39 pm The western sky turns a sinister black. The lunar shadow approaches.

12:40 pm Join us at Stonechurch Vineyards or the next RASC Niagara meeting for the rest of the story.
 

Story by John Nemy
 

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