Buddhas Hand Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7vXIev8e3s&feature=player_detailpage Thousands to watch rare total eclipse in Australia AFPUpdated November 13, 2012, 8:51 am AFP © Enlarge photo SYDNEY (AFP) - Tens of thousands of people were flocking to Australia's tropical north Monday to watch a rare total solar eclipse, a phenomenon officials say has not been seen in the region in 1,300 years. The Queensland state government expects up to 60,000 visitors will witness on Wednesday the alignment of the sun, moon and earth which creates one of the most spectacular sights in nature, essentially turning day into night. Northern Australia is the only place where crowds will be able to view the eclipse, which will mainly take place over the vast South Pacific. "This one is a bit unique because we are not going to have another eclipse in Australia for years," said Journeys Worldwide managing director Dick Cijffers, who runs specialist eclipse tours. The eclipse starts at sunrise in the Northern Territory east of Darwin and passes across Australia's top eastern cape before heading out over the South Pacific towards the north of New Zealand. From sunrise on Wednesday (2035 GMT Tuesday) the moon will begin to cross in front of the sun, gradually passing over it until it is completely covered, bringing with it a shadow path. The whole process will take several hours, with the skies in the path gradually darkening and lightening again, but the maximum duration for the total eclipse on the Australian mainland will be two minutes and five seconds. The best place to view the eclipse will be between Cairns and Port Douglas, tourism hotspots close to the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree rain forest. Tourism operators say everything from camping grounds to five-star hotels have been booked up, with other eclipse watchers set to view the event from hot air balloons or boats moored on the centre line of the eclipse. "Cairns is pretty much full, it's hard to find accommodation at the moment," said a spokesman for Tourism Tropical North Queensland, adding that there had been keen interest from the United States, Japan and Germany. For those positioned outside a roughly 150-kilometre (95-mile)-wide central path but who are still partly in the moon's shadow, the eclipse is partial -- it will look as though a bite has been taken out of the sun. A partial eclipse will be visible in Papua New Guinea, the extreme eastern part of Indonesia, eastern Australia, New Zealand, Polynesia, part of Antarctica and the southern part of Chile and Argentina Down here in Melbourne it was a partial eclipse , still pretty spectacular . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigs Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 That's very cool, thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avelanch Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 any superhuman feats reported? mutations? special abilities? time travelling asians? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhas Hand Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 That's very cool, thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddhas Hand Posted November 13, 2012 Author Share Posted November 13, 2012 any superhuman feats reported? mutations? special abilities? time travelling asians? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armada Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 No , but thousands of aussies are running round like headless chickens yelling , the sky is falling Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Virt 'n Kass Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Once upon a time there was light in my life... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shift-4 Posted November 13, 2012 Share Posted November 13, 2012 Once upon a time there was light in my life... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EX_Bert_Worshipper Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I keep hearing the same song every time I see the thread title too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heretic Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 any superhuman feats reported? mutations? special abilities? time travelling asians? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EX_Bert_Worshipper Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Just PSY doing Oppa Ganam Style! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73 Percent Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 total eclipse... of the heart :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.