We present the Indian Tutulemma – The culmination of a yearlong effort.
Analemma of the Sun & Indian Solstice Annular Eclipse Chilla Sahib Gurudwara, Sirsa, India
This special annual project started on 10 February 2020. All the Sun images were shot from home at Gurugram, Haryana, India. The camera was kept facing the same direction (south) and at the same altitude above horizon (45°) for each shot. The Sun was imaged each day the sky was clear of clouds. A solar filter was applied for shooting all the Sun images. A fisheye lens of 15mm focal length, in landscape orientation was used for all images
The image of the Annular eclipse was clicked at Sirsa at the time of middle of annularity. The effect of the difference between the longitudes of Gurugram and Sirsa was compensated by clicking the Gurugram images earlier than the middle of the annular eclipse time so that the position in the sky remains the same.
The background image is of Chilla Sahib Gurudwara at Sirsa, using exact same direction (south) and altitude above horizon 43.8°, since Sirsa is 1.2° North of Gurugram..
The image depicts the motion of the Sun in the sky at the same time over several months, an ‘ANALEMMA’. The north-south component of the analemma results from the change in Sun’s declination due to the tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation. The east-west component results from the non-uniform rate of change of the Sun’s right ascension, governed by combined effects of Earth’s axial tilt and orbital eccentricity.
But this particular analemma is special, with an annular eclipse right on top of the figure of 8. The solstice eclipse of 21 June in India. It’s a Tutulemma! A one-of-a-kind image, ever.
Recently ASAP connect recorded my interview on the uniqueness of astrophotography. You can view the interview at this url: https://asapconnect.in/post/256/singlestories/false
This is NOT a single photo. This image is a composite of many images shot over one year. The image depicts the motion of the Sun in the sky at the same time each day over a year. The north-south component of the analemma results from the change in Sun’s declination due to the tilt of Earth’s axis of rotation. The east-west component results from the non-uniform rate of change of the Sun’s right ascension, governed by combined effects of Earth’s axial tilt and orbital eccentricity.
