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Total Solar Eclipse at Ceduna, South Australia

Posted by michael on from the connecticut-yankee dept.

moooooooo writes "The total Solar Eclipse on December 4 is fast approaching with Ceduna in South Australia being one of the better places to observe this rare event. Accomodation was thought to have been booked out but a new site has been set up where you can find more information on the event. Information can be found here and accomodation info is at the bottom of the page. I heard on the radio that they will be setting up a "tent city" for those of us who want to camp out." There's a very impressive eclipse page describing the orbital conditions necessary for an eclipse and listing solar and lunar eclipses coming up.

3 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Contray to popular belief.. by prelelat · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Funny then about the one I saw a few years ago (1999?) in Austria..."

    actually if you saw anything it was probably a partial eclipse where the moon is not quite covering the sun. These are alot more commen and are actually called "Annular Eclipses" these are not good for your eyes at any time. and occure when the moon is at Apogee(farthest distance from the Earth in its orbit) Its umbra shawdow winn not reach earth.

    So to what you said you saw it in 1999 that is not right because eclipses follow a designated path I have included a map of this path and as you can see it passes austria in december of 2002 and in 2013. http://www.uc.edu/geology/geologylist/worldeclipse .gif

  2. "total" eclipse in Ithaca by MacAndrew · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I was in school at Cornell several years ago (1995?) when there was a total-but-not eclipse -- and annular solar eclipse. The one I saw was not quite like that of the link, but it was a very strange event. For several minutes, it was like daylight but not quite; the light was gray and there were bizarre shadows and diffraction effectcs.

    So not all solar eclipses are alike. It interests me that the Moon and Sun are so similar is apparent (angular) size. The Moon is unique in the solar system for its enormous one-quarter size relative to its planet.

    The link has a 1992 photo and numerous tips and links re eclipses generally.

  3. Re:An answer to the "But why Ceduna?" question by Soft · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Wow! Amazing! To see the eclipse you've actually got to be somewhere where the eclipse is happening!

    Actually no, the 1999 solar eclipse was visible from the Mir space station as a huge shadow on Earth. Spectacular.