Solar Eclipses And The Ionosphere A Nato Advanced Studies Institute

It is a 10ng-standing tradition in this country for any event re1ated to solar activity to enjoy special importance. Because we enjoy the advantage of pro10nged sunny periods, we consider the incidence of some thirty c10udy days each year as a personal af front. I cannot say that we have the facu1ty to produce solar ec1ipses in order to justify an Institute on this subject to be held in Athens, but I can say that the occurrence of a solar ec1ipse over Greece wou1d present, for optica1 and solar astronomers, the highest possibi1ity of exce11ent conditions for observation. We had this opportunity during the May 20, 1966 annu1ar solar ec1ipse over North Africa and southern Europe. At that time we had the p1easure to co11aborate with a 1arge number of research groups of various nationa1ities, who insta11ed optica1 and radio instru ments near or in Lagonissi, which 1ay a10ng the centra1 path, in order to fo110w the ec1ipse. A first meeting was then organized in order to discuss methods of data handling and avai1abi1ity of resu1ts. After a pre1iminary discussion it was suggested that a 1ater meeting shou1d be organized when final resu1ts were avai1ab1e.

The aim of this Advanced Study Institute was to give an account on the most recent results obtained in solar research. Bucharest was chosen to host it, because the capital city of Romania was located right in the middle of the totality path of the last eclipse of the millennium, on 11th August 1999; furthermore the phenomenon was close to reach there its longest duration: 2m 23s. Such a total eclipse is not only a very spectacular event which draws the crowds: to astronomers, solar eclipses still offer the best conditions for observing the lower part of the corona. The Sun plays a crucial role in our very existence. It was responsible for the formation of the Earth, and rendered this planet fit to host living beings, providing the right amount of heat, and this for a long enough span of time. Quite understandably, it has always been a prime target of human curiosity, and more recently one of scientific investigation. During the last century, it was realized that the Sun is a star like billions of others; we learned since that it draws its energy from the nuclear fusion of hydrogen, and we are now able to estimate its age and life expectancy.