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            Observers group from Krosno joined in Krosno branch of Polish Amateur Astronomers Society, planned this trip from longer time. In
April 1999 r we made the decision, that our  observations would be placed in the region of Mako, nearby border with Romania. When we took the decision we noted the length of duration of total phase, foreseen weather circumstances and development of situation in former Yugoslavia. Author undertook the task of coordination observation during eclipses. We worked out programme of observation and of measurements during eclipse. Part of observation did not become happen because of course of events at the place of observation. We planned to make following measurements and observations:
1. Measurement of temperatures in sunlight and in shadow,
2. Measurement of pressures and of state of cloudiness,
3. Observations of environment and natures,
4. Photography of eclipse,
5. Photography of environment at similar- identical time of exposition and diaphragms,
6. Observations of flying shadows and colours.
Before the trip we stuck on cartoon 5  large belts of colour: red, black, green, blue and yellow, to see how  these colours will look in different phases of eclipse. Co-ordination of observation relied on drawing on paper squared time of eclipse and inscriptions in its course of moments, when anyone observes has to note one's own result, or else to execute photos. We took astronomical equipment such as telescope "Mizar" 110/805 and a telescope Maksutov 100/1000.
            We left Krosno on 9 August in the Ford  Transit van. Our driver was Stanisław Parysz, owner of the transport company, who saved observation in critical moment.We left Krosno several minutes after hour 9. 00 in the morning. After driving over 36 km we stuck on 1, 5 hours in queue of cars on terminal passage in Barwinek. After that it went better and better. We arrived to Mako in the evening.We began research of camping on night's lodging. According to guide, we bought earlier, there is  two camping sites in Mako. We chose the nearest one, situated over river Marusza. After travelling over 620 km we were in the place. On camping we met Lukasz Perec former member of SOPIZ.  Meeting a fellow countryman in a strange country, and a  not well-known place of night's lodging, was reassuring. Lukasz fameliarized us on the do's and don't of camping, except for one thing. He did not warn us before calamity... of gnats!!! Whilst setting up the tents thas was a real invasion from nearby flood waters and rivers. I had possibility to recognize gnats on north of Russia, but these quantities was really shocking! It lasted  about 2 of hours after sunset, and after that invasion slowly retired. One of our members  became so bitten, that we had to to put him in the tent and to give lime.
            The day previous to the eclipse we went sighseeing Mako (where famous journalist Pulitzer was born , bathing in basins and researching place for observation.
From skies there flowed sunstroke ( 36 Centigrades in shadow), there was no clouds and no wind. We found ourselves our observation place on a plain, several kilometres behind Mako, far from roads  We marked the coordinates of the place of observation using GPS.
            On the 11th of August about one hour after midnight , when we we went to sleep, in the west appeared lightning, after that the thunder reached us and 20 of minutes later started pouring rain. Lightnings almost all time lighted up night sky, giving strange impression. In which moods we went to sleep you can oneself only  assume. When I got up in day of eclipse about 6. 30 hour, clear skies and Sun greeted me . Unfortunately, after half an hour it came clouds and it began to rain.  We ate breakfast in blue moods, especially, that television showed live report from lake Balaton, where Sun was shining!  About  10. 00 hour it stopped rain, and in the west appeared belt of blue. We decided to go on place of observation. On 15 minutes before first contact we were with equipment on plain near Mako. We began measurements and observations.
            During first contact Sun hid behind the clouds. After that, Sun was visible on the part of clear sky in the great gap between sandbanks of clouds. According to growth of eclipse phase temperature came down, and air pressure hesitated. About 20 minutes before II contact large quantities of birds gathered in herds and settled on ground.  From nearby coppice gnats became  attacking observers. Gradually became bright, that we will not see eclipse, because our day's star entered in sandbank of clouds, which occupied south half of skies in direction on west. Dimming more and more north-west horizon was clean. Observers began to resound voices, to try "run for the Sun", because belt of clear skies appeared to be comparatively near. About 10 minutes before total phase our driver, feeling, like us, a kind of "pre-eclipse tension", exclaimed: �Hey people, yet is still chance, let us go to pursue clear sky ". The group boiled. It was clear that we wouldl not have time  to get equipment wit us. Beside all time lasted scientific measurements. I undertook decision: "Go, I stay". My invaluable wife resolved to stay also. On "useless" observational position stayed also Lukasz Perec. The rest of groupn ran up to car, taking only Maksutov telescope. In darkness car moved with hight velocity to the north, resting mists of dust  In nature was complete silence, intermittent only with signals of time from DCF-radio. About 1 minute before II
contact, in the high between clouds appeared on moment thin line of the sun. In moment of II  contact I started stop-watch, to have notion of how much time I have on admiring, unfortunately, only environments.It inflamed beautiful ecliptical aurora. Cool wind snapped, temperature
came down to +18, 6 Centigrades. Box with coloured belts of paper  was... grey! After 2 minutes and 23 sek. total eclipse ended
And here, what happened  in car, according to report of Wieslaw Slotwinski:
"We have been running in the dropping darknesses north with speed over 110km/h. In the run we passed small groups of people placed on the hard shoulder, besides street was empty. All time we observed  Sun among clouds in clean navy blue belt on the skies . In certain moment, after traveling about 10 km, I noticed as Sun emerged from behind clouds . I shouted to drivers, so that stopped. Car with squeak of tyres stood up crosswise ways . I peeped on watch � somewhat less than minute!!!. I caught Maksutov telescope with  photocamera and I fell out from car. The rest did it  probably also. I nervously  placed device on Sun. I began to make photos. In view-finder I saw  sun, which became more and more thinner and smaller. After about 0, 5 minutes II contact began. It sunk wonderful darknesses. Then somewhere in the distance and in group extensive  shouts. This  was real spectacle. Splendid crown solar and protuberations. Environment unreal, unreal aroused some strange trouble, and also would want oneself, so that this moment lasted  eternally. All was oddly grey. On Northern horizon had been visible yellow-red ecliptical dawn. And in this strange moment on way appeared going with large speed on long lights car. I began desperately to wave with hands, showing simultaneously on Sun. Bur driver did not look on us.  I was shocked such attitude and nervous also, that took us these several of precious seconds( after that part from reflected us, whether Hungarian did not want to catch up running shadow of moon). Time quickly escaped, every from wanted us to stop running quickly seconds. I had time yet to catch on plate beginning  of III  contact ... and then already was end of the eclipse. World again began to come back to life colours, first pale, after that more and more  intensive.  I thanked God, that He permited to see us this miracle  of nature in so dramatic circumstances. Harm, that not all from us!!!".
            After return, on becoming empty camping we met group of young people from Italy. They did not see nothing, because of not having  centre of
transportation. Next day we visited Budapest. From there we went to beautiful Egeru. On Saturday  late evening, about 22. 30, after night's lodging and to touring cities, we came back to Krosno.

PHOTO GALERY