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Total Solar Eclipse, 1999

Usually, the sky lovers consider that the most beautiful heavenly phenomenon is a total solar eclipse. In August 1999, the Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy-SARM (in association with the "Total Solar Eclipse 99" Canadian firm) organized a unique astronomical-tourist-cultural-artistic event in Romania, EuRoEclipse Perseids 99, hosting 250 participants come from 4 continents (some of them famous astronomers, professors, scientists and eclipse hunters). Two of the attractions of the event were the International Showroom of Astronomical Arts, Photos and Publications (with exhibitions from 30 countries) and the International Cosmopoetry Festival. Afterwards SARM published their annual English anthology, Romanian Contemporary Astropoetry and Guests- edition 2000 (edited by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe and exhibited at the International Astronomical Union Congress 2000 in Manchester, U.K.), including an international original chapter dedicated to the 1999 total solar eclipse. Here is a selection from that chapter (containing texts composed only by participants at EuRoEclipse Perseids 99 event of SARM) with a prologue-poem by Andrei Dorian Gheorghe (exhibited before at the international workshop on solar eclipses organized in 1996 by NATO in Romania).

I. PROLOGUE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE 1 In an egocentric enthusiasm, the Moon tries to camouflage the Sun, disturbing the gift of light. 2 Under the Moon's shadow cone: "Advantageous speculations!"- thinks the astrologer. "A horror labyrinth!"- thinks the ignorant man. "A tender syncope in the Universe!"- thinks the astronomer. 3 Why is the Moon's orbit so inclined, a suspended cane to the ecliptic plane? Five degrees of astral secret. 4 Captive light, scared stars, crazy planetary passions, an illusion of the moment: the victory of the darkness for the glory of the impostor-satellite. 5 What a delusion... to hide the light in a confined territory! The infinite didn't observe anything! 6 But us, the dependants on Terra's protection? The eclipse is fright, colour and a sacred show. 7 Helius is surprised: a small sabotage in space's order. 8 Pay attention, subjects of the sovereign-star. The Solar Crown never disappears! 9 Run, Moon, run to another celestial place! Your betrayal was discovered! 10 The Father of our solar system shakes the shadows. Again and again, more and more, the explosion of cosmic love! Andrei Dorian Gheorghe, 1996		II. BEFORE THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE OF 1999 INVITATION Ride an elephant until The EuRoEclipse Hill! Danut Ionescu (SARM) END OR BEGINNING Eclipse: End or Beginning? Darkness or Light? Will the Light be victorious inside us? Will the Light drive away the darkness which overruns the world? Valentin Grigore (SARM) J.B.B. He was one of the old guard, Oxford in the 1920's, Taught chemistry at our school For nearly 50 years. His lab laden with memories Of generations of boys He had lectured, and led Through endless exams To countless careers. Each element explained, Where it was found, What it would do. And always a story, Some fascinating fact From his mind, A storehouse of science. One day he told us How the moon can shade the sun. I'll see you there, he said, In 1999. Time passed. He retired. We went on separate ways. I met him just once more. Two years ago I heard he was dead. So now, Breeze Bentley, With sun and moon I dim my eyes To say farewell. David Kenedy (U.K.) EXCERPT FROM A SPEECH AT "EUROECLIPSE PERSEIDS 99" I began in astronomy many years ago. I enjoyed travelling around the world to see eclipses. And everyone said: "You see one. Why do you go to see another?" And I replied: "If you see a pretty girl, you never want to see another?" Roger Tuthill (U.S.A.) EXCERPT FROM A SPEECH AT "EUROECLIPSE PERSEIDS 99" How many of you are going to see a total solar eclipse for their first time? Oh, boy! Ralph Chou (Canada)

III. 1999'S TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE HAIKU by Romanian authors Mrs. Eclipse, I'd like to live your glory at least for a moment! Anca Buhus * the dark Moon paints the Earth with her travelling shadow like a silent song Ionel Catalin Diaconu * You made up too much, Sun! Oh, not at all. It's just the Moon! Excuse me! Geanina Popa * cosmic union fairy apparition terrestrial moment Iulia Apetri * a captive night in the dark rings of the moon- a living eclipse Adrian Sima * Sometimes the Sun looks at us differently: through the eyes of the Moon. Vicenzio Ichim * solar eclipse rest in the light divine dark meditation Andrei Dorian Gheorghe * THE ECLIPSE LAST CONTACT An illusion threatening the gods: Stop! Repeat everything! Gelu-Claudiu Radu		IV. AFTER THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE EUROECLIPSE 99 The Moon, queen of the night, Wanted to scrutinize the light, Making night from day To increase her glory. But the Sun, a knight With a hot armour, Embraced the Moon on The provoked twilight. Marius Visinescu (SARM) * INTERVIEW ON A TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE When you see an eclipse you are out of time, something happens, you are not in reality, the light around you is you never saw before, it is difficult to see it again after, it is a unique moment, you cannot appreciate how long the eclipse is... is it a part of the second? you are not able to tell, you are in something magic... You know, after the eclipse something is gone... Eric Boineau (France) * 1999, AUGUST 11TH- THE TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE DAY -10h00m local time Ciphar said: "Eclipse, eclipse, tell me, who are you? And we shall forget who we are not." -14h15m local time (post-totality) I'd like to shut up, to let you with your hands through my soul, collecting the diamond ring and the mystery of the eclipse. -16h00m local time My friend, I don't think you know. Sometimes the Sun is not just an incident in the solar system. I pity them - those from the parallel worlds, where the eclipse could be inexistent. You know, sometimes I think: perhaps it was a dream, or we are the dream of the Full Moon. Eclipse! Once in my life I saw the New Moon with a Sacred Aura! -20h00m local time I am the friend of a dragon that eats the Sun. "Sing for me," he said, "I miss so much the mythological hero who would kill me..." -23h50m A miracle! Joy fills up my tears with some starry dew. The eclipse cannot be caught in words! Dan Mitrut (SARM)



SOME IMPRESSIONS Dear guests of EuRoEclipse 99, welcome back home! Now please let us consider that you are richer. Richer through the image of a Romanian adventure. Much richer through the image of an unbelievable event, the last total solar eclipse of the millennium, the eclipse that God gifted on August 11^th, 1999 our country, Romania. -Ovidiu Vaduvescu (SARM)- We returned exhausted, but with vivid memories of the mountains and the culture and the glimpses of the eclipse that we saw. -Daniel Mattern (U.S.A.)- I shall never forget the experience of my first eclipse- camaraderie, preparation, anticipation, emotion and climax. -Sandra Maguire (South Africa)- We could see a wonderful total solar eclipse with you. -Osamu Ohgoe (Japan)- Warm and friendly people, fascinating contrasts, great eclipse. -Bill and Janet Hammerlund (U.S.A.)- SARM was courteous and enthusiastic. The total solar eclipse was wonderful. The local people were very friendly. -Alan Yorker (U.S.A.)- The visit in the camp, music, poetry and art gave a new and unimagined dimension to the total solar eclipse. -Tom Crawford (U.S.A.)- I think that Europe is better than Africa, so it would be a good idea to arrange the next total eclipse (2001, Africa) again in Romania. -Konstantin Yakovlev (Russia)-