The total solar eclipse on August 11^th, 1999 has had great impact on the news media. In the western parts and in the very eastern parts of the path along the Austrian territory, visibility was quite good and reminded very much to Adalbert Stifter's eclipse description wellknown in German literature. Only in 2081 a similar event can be observed from the western parts of Austria. All those who became interested in eclipse chasing have to follow the path of totality during the next years abroad.

Eclipse observations have a long standing tradition in Austria:
Already in the 15th century George of Peuerbach and his pupil Regiomontanus published a series of precalculated solar and lunar eclipses and printed their data in public calendar.
In 1871 Th.Oppolzer published his huge standard reference work: Kanon der Finsternisse (Canon of eclipses) at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Starting from 10.XI.1208 B.C. until 17.XI.2161 A.D. 8000 solar and 5200 lunar eclipses are contained in this publication
Continuing in this tradition H.Mucke and J.Meeus have created a new Canon based on modern eclipse theory which comprises solar and lunar eclipses from 21.VI.1207 B.C. up to 12.X.2163 A.D.

The Austrian capital Vienna was situated marginally outside the path of totality. In the southern parts of the city the sun was obscured 99% by the moon, while in the northern parts of Vienna only 98% of the sun was eclipsed. The solar corona and the atmospheric phenomenon of Shadow bands only could be observed along the path of totality. However a light dimming effect could be visualized by most observers in all Austria.

Institute for Astronomy University Vienna

Austrian Academy of Sciences

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