On the Centreline in Scoresby Sund

If you’re lucky enough to be joining a voyage to Greenland, chances are you will be sailing into Scoresby Sund for the eclipse. This huge fjord system on the east coast offers relative shelter to visiting ships, plus proximity to the spectacular coastal mountains of Greenland. Most importantly, it provides access to the centreline of the eclipse path, where totality approaches its greatest duration.

Otherwise, there’s nothing especially unique about the eclipse view here, despite the exotic location. As shown in the “ wireframe ” simulator view below, the lunar limb on the centreline tends not to coincide with the most variable lunar terrain. That means that at second contact (C2), totality begins right on schedule as predicted by the classical “ smooth moon ” model developed by Friedrich Bessel.

On the other hand, the position angle of third contact (C3), which lies ~180° opposite, coincides with a wide depression in the lunar limb. This has the effect of shortening the duration of totality by around two seconds.

You can check out this location in detail using TPE.

What Am I Looking At?

The eclipse simulator above is in so-called wireframe mode. Instead of showing a photo-realistic simulation of the eclipse, it primarily shows outline geometry of the Sun and Moon, allowing you to see the positional and size relationship of the two bodies.

Additionally, the simulator is lunar-limb aware: the blue sphere represents the classical “ smooth-limbed ” moon approximation (which most eclipse sites use), whereas the orange line shows a vertically exaggerated lunar-limb profile. The profile of the moon varies by time and location: that’s why Baily’s Beads at one location or during one eclipse are not the same at a different place or during another event.

In a total eclipse, the lunar valleys correspond to where Baily’s Beads can occur – but they’re only possible in the areas near the C2 and C3 contact positions, indicated by the yellow arcs.

You can play back the eclipse via the simulator and see how Baily’s Beads evolve over time. The times just before C2 and just after C3 are the most interesting. Note how the lunar limb depression that corresponds with the position of C3 results in a slightly shorter totality in this location.

Read more about TPE’s eclipse simulator in Advanced Solar Eclipse Planning. You can use the eclipse simulator to understand how things will play out at your location in TPE Web with a PRO subscription.