Shadow bands observed during the total solar eclipse of 4 December 2002, by high-resolution imaging

This paper presents results of a comparison between the characteristics of shadow bands recorded during the total solar eclipse of 4 December 2002 in Botswana, and the theory of Codona (Codona, 1986, Astronomy and Astrophysics 164, 415–427). For the first time the analysis was based on images of the phenomenon and not photometric data. Thanks to this, use was made of high spatial resolution and detailed plots of power spectra were obtained. The plots’ shapes are in excellent agreement with those predicted by theory. From them, the height of the scattering layer producing shadow bands was inferred.