[time-nuts] Eclipse alert - Call for VCO traces

[iovane at inwind.it]

Time-nuts,

many of you are routinely recording - or may easily do it - the 
trace 
of the control voltage of non-free-running crystal oscillators 

(disciplined by atomic resonance or GPS).

Once again I'm here asking you to 
keep an open eye during a solar 
eclipse, which will occur on January 15. 

My 
current opinion is that the eclipse couldn't affect atomic 
resonances at a 
measurable level for the state of the art, but could 
affect massive (as 
compared to atoms) pieces of vibrating matter. 

The control voltage trace 
tells us whether a crystal deviated, even in 
front of a constant rate of the 
whole clock. 

I recall (already mentioned in this list) that previous tests 
(Max 
Plank Institute) showed no deviations of atomic resonances, but we 
don't 
have info about control voltages, and that S.W.Zhou instead 
claimed to have 
observed deviations that indeed I believe were 
deviations of crystals not 
promptly steered.

During this eclipse a numerous team of researchers will be 
conducting 
sophisticated pendulum tests at the Maldives (latitude near to 
zero, 
no Foucault effect), and a number of US institutions, located in the 

anti-eclipse path, will provide gravimeter data. Elsewhere, Russia and 
Florida 
at least, torsion balance tests will be conducted. Just to mention 
what I'm 
aware of.

As far as I know, nobody will provide clock (I would say 
oscillator)  
data. Hence I' m asking this list to give a contribution. 

What 
I ask is to send me your control voltage data, possibly for the 
days 14-15-16 
January, and from preferred locations -but not only- in 
the eclipse or anti-
eclipse path, even penumbra or anti-penumbra. 

Googling "fred espenak" you 
will immediately find the data for the 
incoming eclipse. 

Thanks in advance.


Antonio I8IOV