Annular Solar Eclipse - 15th January 2010

Light Intensity measurements taken during ASE at Dhanushkodi

- Rameswaram by Jayanth.B - ABAA & Rahul Jayanth - ABAA

Contents
•Description of Experiment
•Experimental Setup
•Measurements
•Inference
•Conclusion

1
Description of the Experiment

During an eclipse, as the light from the sun gets cut off
gradually by the moon, the energy received from the sun
in the path of the eclipse will also drop. A measure of the
intensity of light during the eclipse period will give a
view of how this varies.

2
Experimental Setup

A solar cell used for charging a garden light was used to

convert light from the sun to Voltage & Current. The
Voltage & Current thus converted by the Solar cell has to
be measured at regular intervals upto the totality &
beyond. The product of Voltage & Current will give the
total power (Light) received by the solar cell at that given
moment. A Graph of Time V/S Power will give a picture
of how the energy from the sun during the eclipse period
will vary.

3
 Experimental Setup

Solar Cell used to convert Light A commercially available Multi-

to Current & Voltage Meter used to measure Current
& Voltage generated by the Solar
Cell

The setup being used to record

Current & Voltage
4
measurements
Measurements
Time V ( Volts) A (Mili Amps) Power Time V ( Volts) A (Mili Amps) Power
11.27 2.13 32 68.16 13.17 1.88 4.8 9.024
11.29 2.12 33 69.96 13.18 1.86 4.5 8.37
11.33 2.13 33 70.29 13.19 1.85 4.4 8.14
11.35 2.1 30.6 64.26 13.2 1.84 4.2 7.728
11.38 2.09 31.6 66.044 13.27 1.84 4.1 7.544
11.46 2.11 31.3 66.043 13.28 1.84 4.2 7.728
11.51 2.09 31.1 64.999 13.29 1.85 4.4 8.14
11.54 2.08 29.8 61.984 13.3 1.87 4.5 8.415
12.03 2.12 27.8 58.936 13.31 1.87 4.6 8.602
12.08 2.1 26.1 54.81 13.32 1.89 4.8 9.072
12.1 2.1 25.6 53.76 13.34 1.93 5.4 10.422
12.2 2.1 23.09 48.489 13.36 1.96 6.1 11.956
12.26 2.09 21.6 45.144 13.38 1.98 6.7 13.266
12.34 2.09 19.6 40.964 13.4 2 7.3 14.6
12.38 2.1 17.9 37.59 13.42 2.2 8.1 17.82
12.45 2.08 15.7 32.656 13.43 2.03 8.54 17.3362
12.52 2.06 13.5 27.81 13.45 2.04 9.1 18.564
12.57 2.05 12 24.6 13.46 2.04 9.5 19.38
13 2.04 10.6 21.624 13.47 2.05 9.65 19.7825
13.03 2.02 9.5 19.19 13.48 2.05 10 20.5
13.07 2 8.1 16.2 13.49 2.05 10.45 21.4225
13.09 1.98 7.4 14.652 13.5 2.05 10.7 21.935
13.11 1.97 6.7 13.199 13.51 2.06 11.02 22.7012
13.12 1.95 6.4 12.48 13.52 2.07 11.43 23.6601
13.14 1.93 5.8 11.194 13.53 2.07 11.9 24.633
13.15 1.91 5.4 10.314 13.55 2.08 12.37 25.7296
5
V = Voltage, A = Current
 Energy (Relative)

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80

0
11.27

11.31

11.35

11.39

11.43

11.47

11.51

11.55

11.59

12.03

12.07

12.11

12.15

12.19

12.23

12.27

12.31

12.35

12.39

12.43
Time

12.47

12.51
Energy Levels During ASE

12.55

12.59
5 min)

13.03
Timed Totaity

13.07
watch (An error of
Period using Wrist

13.11

13.15

13.19

13.23

13.27

13.31

13.35

13.39
6

13.43
Period as per
Actual Totality

published data
Time V/S Energy Graphical Representation

13.47

13.51

13.55
Inference
Graph indicates significant drop in Energy received from
sun during totality. Just before start of first contact,
energy level measurements were 70.29 units against 7.54
units during totality
This translates to 89.23 % drop in energy levels during
totality. Also during the annular phase, the energy levels
were more or less constant. However the values showed
erratic behavior during annularity which needs
investigation
There is a shift in Totality Timing & least energy levels.
This was attributed to difference in Wrist watch timing
used & Universal time (Difference of 5 min)

7
Conclusion
Drop in Energy levels is well correlated with totality
timings
Shift in totality as observed is due to Mean shift in
timings (+5 min)
Raise in energy levels is not as it dropped. This can be
attributed to
•Drop in sun elevation from start to end
•Atmospheric effect like Change in humidity levels
•Heating of measuring devices (Multi-Meter, Solar cell)
which will not be same during approach to totality &
after totality
8
Scope for improvement
•Use a large Solar Cell to gather higher energy as during
totality, the measurements can go erratic
•It is worthwhile to check linearity of the solar cell before
use
•Have two measuring devices - one for Voltage & one for
Current as during totality approach, one needs to take
measurements rapidly. Switching modes on one device
will hamper this
•Ensure that during totality the scale of the ammeter &
volt meter is chosen accordingly
•And the least of all - Ensure you set your time to
Universal time.
•Measure Humidity levels & Temperatures. This can be 9
used to explain non-symmetrical trends
Further Investigation
•A mock run on the previous or the next day to check the
solar intensity during the same time duration. This can be
compared with data collected during eclipse.
•Use multiple sensors with appropriate filters to measure
radiation in different frequencies
•Does the drop in intensity levels & percentage of totality
have a correlation ?
•Compare the data captured here with other published
data & draw inferences.

Jayanth.B
ABAA 10