An Eclipse Chasing Time-Lapse Journal

[jiahao1986]

An annular solar eclipse swiped across Australia on May 10, 2013. Together with 4 other fellow Malaysian astronomy hobbyists, we embarked on a road trip in Western Australia to chase the eclipse at it's best - a sunrise "ring of fire".

16 days, 4000km+ of road travel, the trip covered some of the most deserted and most beautiful places of Western Australia. Despite the unstable weather, we were blessed with an unforgettably jaw-dropping "ring of fire", mesmerisingly colourful moments when the sun dipped to the vast, flat Indian Ocean, and joyful nights when the milky way shined at its full glory far away from city lights.

This 5-minute-long video documents the entire trip in the form of time-lapse, including mostly my humble and amateurish attempts on day-to-night holy-grail transitions. Dolly movements and HDR techniques were used in certain footages. Few daytime footages were taken due to time constraints.

Special thanks to a Malaysian friend of mine for kindly lending his Canon 16-35 lens to me.

Overall the footages can't really do justice to the real scenes we saw, and some truly amazing photo-opporutunities were ruined by wet weather. Anyways one needs to be physically there to enjoy the best of a solar eclipse, and, this beautiful state of Australia.

Please watch in HD and full screen to enjoy best quality ：）

https://vimeo.com/68951197

[jiahao1986]

The Eclipse:

- Ring of Fire Sequence



- "Double Dawn"



- Anti-crepuscular Rays before Annularity

[jiahao1986]

Exmouth:

- Southern Cross and its surrounds over the Vlamingh Head Lighthouse




Coral Bay:

- Venus & Jupiter over the Indian Ocean



- Serenity

[jiahao1986]

Quobba Blowhole:

- Blowhole under moonlight



- LMC & SMC over the coast




Hamelin Pool:

- Long viewing deck at sunset



- Stromatolites (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stromatolite) in moonlight




Pinnacles:

- Pinnacles in moonlight

[jiahao1986]

Comet Lemmon:




OK, that's all. Hope you enjoy the videos and photos : )

[Airconvent]

Nice captures Jiaohao. I am especially fascinated by the upside down Crux. So South is upwards in Austrialia ?
And of course, always fascinated to see the LMC and SMC. Have not seen them before. Went to Australia many years ago but that was before I piced up Astronomy, so was not looking up then!
Saw any disconnection event on Comet Lemmon during your night there ?
Regards

[Gary]

World Class!

[JY]

Superb!

[Astrosiao]

Spectacular jiahao! What a trip it must have been.

[Clifford60]

These beautiful journeys you spent in all your trips, the enjoyment and achievement you get from it is millions times better than most peoples in this world. Jiahao, thank you very much for sharing these beautiful journeys.