On Januar 4, 2011, the Moon will hide most of the Sun, causing a large solar eclipse. Around 09.35 local time 85 % of the Sun is covered by the Moon, while hanging low above the horizon. The eclipse will be visible from Southern Norway and parts of Nordland. This is espected to become an unusually beautiful and impressive eclipse in Norway.

Maximum eclipse in Oslo, Norway on January 4, 2011
Illustration: Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard

LOCAL CONDITIONS IN NORWAY (In Norwegian)

ECLIPSE SHADES FOR THE EVENTS (in Norwegian)

On the mainland in Norway this will be the largest eclipse since May 31, 2003 and one of the largest eclipses since the total eclipse in 1954. Due to the cicumstances this eclipse is espected to become exceptionally beautiful.

ADVICES FOR OBSERVATIONS

The eclipse takes place in the morning and has started long before Sun rise. It is necessary to find a location with a free view towards the SSE. Otherwise the best parts of the eclipse will be hidden. If necessary it is strongly recommended to move to an area with good observing conditions.

In Norway the Sun is quite low in the sky in January. You should observe the sun rise the days before the eclipse and find locations where the Sun becomes visible as early as possible. Maximum eclipse takes place between 09.28 (Stavanger) and 09.35 (Oslo and further North).

On July 31, 2000 the Sun eclipsed Sun was hanging low above the horizon in Northern Sweden. This time the eclipse will more than twice as big.
Photo: Oddleiv Skilbrei

PHENOMENA TO LOOK FOR

This will be the second largest solar eclipse in Norway taking place after 1954. At sunrise and a period thereafter the Sun will “smile” to us and look like a shining banana. During the eclipse the light will become silvery, darker and “mysteriously” colorless. Due to the sunrise these effects of the eclipse will mix with the beautiful colors of the sunrise. Since the ground is covered by white snow, the nature has made the mixture for one of the most impressive eclipses ever in Norway!

NB! If you take pictures of the eclipse and want to show these to the public, please send them to knutjo@astro.uio.no med informasjon and add information about the time and location where you made it, as well as your name. A large number of images will be published on www.astroevents.no.

Animation showing the eclipse from space.
Animation: Fred Espenak, NASA

Solar eclipse observed from Oslo Duration 51 sec, 12 MB, Quicktime format. The Sun is rising during the eclipse. Animation: Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard

The eclipse as it will be in Oslo when viewed with eclipse shades. Duration 51 sec, 3 MB, Quicktime format. The Sun is rising during the eclipse. Animation: Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard

The eclipse observed from Trondheim Duration 32 sec, 7 MB, Quicktime format. Animation: Knut Jørgen Røed Ødegaard

As shown here the eclipse has its global maximum in Scandinavia. Click on
Illustration: Fred Espenak, NASA

MORE INFORMATION (in Norewegian)

Totale solformørkelser i Norge på 1900-tallet

Fotografering av Solen og partielle solformørkelser

Hvordan oppstår formørkelser?

Fenomener under solformørkelser