July 23, 2010 at 16:07Record of flight in the shadow of the moon: 9 minutes 23 seconds
The so-called eclipse hunters set a new world record for the duration of a flight in the shadow of the moon on a passenger plane. They managed to observe a total solar eclipse on July 11 for 9 minutes 23 seconds, following the shadow at Mach 0.8.
Theoretically, the maximum duration of a total solar eclipse when observed from Earth cannot exceed 7 minutes 32 seconds. “We spun Mother Nature two minutes beyond what she can give,” said Glenn Schneider , the organizer of the “hacker” action.
A specially equipped Skytraders Antarctic Solutions aircraft was used for the flight, which is used to deliver goods and people from Australia to Antarctica.
As the plane approached the eclipse zone, the boundary of the lunar shadow was clearly visible on Earth. According to eyewitnesses, it was very surreal, like the end of the world.
The geometry of the July 11 eclipse was unique. It began in Tahiti and ended in Argentina in places suitable for take-off and landing of an airplane. According to the organizers, in the coming years it is unlikely that anyone will be able to repeat their achievement. The next total solar eclipse will take place on November 13, 2012 and will pass through the South Pole. Then, on March 20, 2015, through the North Pole. Another chance for Glenn Schneider will turn up only in 2017, when the spot passes diagonally across all of North America from Oregon to South Carolina.
The absolute record for being in the shadow of the moon is 74 minutes. It was delivered by the Concorde experimental supersonic aircraft in 1973.
Theoretically, the maximum duration of a total solar eclipse when observed from Earth cannot exceed 7 minutes 32 seconds. “We spun Mother Nature two minutes beyond what she can give,” said Glenn Schneider , the organizer of the “hacker” action.
A specially equipped Skytraders Antarctic Solutions aircraft was used for the flight, which is used to deliver goods and people from Australia to Antarctica.
As the plane approached the eclipse zone, the boundary of the lunar shadow was clearly visible on Earth. According to eyewitnesses, it was very surreal, like the end of the world.
The geometry of the July 11 eclipse was unique. It began in Tahiti and ended in Argentina in places suitable for take-off and landing of an airplane. According to the organizers, in the coming years it is unlikely that anyone will be able to repeat their achievement. The next total solar eclipse will take place on November 13, 2012 and will pass through the South Pole. Then, on March 20, 2015, through the North Pole. Another chance for Glenn Schneider will turn up only in 2017, when the spot passes diagonally across all of North America from Oregon to South Carolina.
The absolute record for being in the shadow of the moon is 74 minutes. It was delivered by the Concorde experimental supersonic aircraft in 1973.