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  #21  
Old 02-04-2010, 10:58 PM
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erick (Eric)
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Am sure IIS guys are scattered everywhere I am up at Mt Carbine caravan park with members from Townsville
See you there.
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  #22  
Old 03-04-2010, 07:18 AM
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See you there.
Woohoo Eric
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  #23  
Old 06-04-2010, 05:36 PM
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Anyone know if the eclipse will be visible from the Cairns Esplanade? I seem to remember a high mountain just across the inlet that could block the view?
On my trip to the eclipse path last November, I took the first attached image from the Cairns esplanade (16d 54m 55s S, 145d 46m 25s E) in the direction of the sun at eclipse time. The sun will definitely rise over the Cape and the partial phase of the eclipse will have started by the time the sun rises over the hill. At first contact (start of the partial phase) the sun will be at about one and a half degrees elevation and about 14 degrees at totality. The hills are of the order of 4 or 5 degrees depending where on the esplanade you are.
In contrast the second image is from Palm Cove beach just opposite the council caravan park (16d 44m 25s S, 145d 40m 18s E) . This image is taken at the time of first contact on 14 November (2009 not 2012 - but the sun's position will be almost exactly the same). You can see that the Cape is to the right. You need to be on the northern beaches to avoid the cape if you want to see the eclipse from first contact.
You can also see that the sky is clear except for a band of cloud just in the wrong position. This cloud was present most mornings at this time and appeared to be over the reef, I guess because of the increased moisture in the atmosphere with waves breaking over the reef. As the air warmed over the next hour it generally disappeared, but the damage at C1 would have been done!
Rgds,
Terry
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  #24  
Old 06-04-2010, 09:09 PM
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Astrobserver99 (Rob)
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Thanks for the details Terry I am booked for the northern beaches.

Liz...would'nt mind visiting Mt Carbine but I have already booked elsewhere...
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  #25  
Old 07-04-2010, 04:33 PM
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Thanks for the details Terry I am booked for the northern beaches.

Liz...would'nt mind visiting Mt Carbine but I have already booked elsewhere...
Glad ya booked in Rob, but as Gary says, wish it was June/July.
We will have to tally up the number of IISers going, later on to the event, sounds quite a few.
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  #26  
Old 07-04-2010, 06:23 PM
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Liz, I am also planning to drive south through to Townsville..Anything in particular you recommend to visit...I have been north of Cairns before, but not south.
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  #27  
Old 07-04-2010, 07:45 PM
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IIS Eclipse Tee Shirt?

To encourage all IISers to say hello.

Northern Beaches for us too.
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  #28  
Old 07-04-2010, 07:59 PM
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iceman (Mike)
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Originally Posted by Brettstar6754 View Post
IIS Eclipse Tee Shirt?

To encourage all IISers to say hello.

Northern Beaches for us too.
Nice idea!

I'll get some designs done and get the community to vote on their favourite.
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  #29  
Old 11-04-2010, 04:16 PM
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I'm in Mareeba, so its a toss up between east or west of the Great Divide ?
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  #30  
Old 12-04-2010, 08:58 PM
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Nice idea!

I'll get some designs done and get the community to vote on their favourite.
what about with customised back with our username on it??
yeah... that would be sweet
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  #31  
Old 13-04-2010, 10:11 AM
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The view west of the Divide?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cyclone View Post
I'm in Mareeba, so its a toss up between east or west of the Great Divide ?
Cyclone,

Enjoyed looking at your weather web cams.

As you look over the Divide from Mareeba early in the morning in mid November,
if the day is forecast to be fine, are your views east and south-east generally clear
or does cloud sit on the mountains in the morning until it warms up?

Any other anecdotal advice you can share on what the weather tends to do up there at
that time of the year early in the morning I know would be appreciated by readers.
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  #32  
Old 13-04-2010, 01:33 PM
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Anyone from the SunShine Coast planning to go
I haven't seen or heard much from this neck of the woods
Would you be interested in a group thing
Cheers
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  #33  
Old 19-05-2010, 08:06 AM
Captain Charlie (Gareth)
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I'm now retired and living on Cairns northern beaches, so bring it on 2012!

But I vividly recall the TSE on 23 October 1976 when a group of fellow amateur (ham) radio enthusiasts drove down from Sydney to Bombala, only to find thousands of people and total cloud cover. We made a hasty decision to drive to the coast (a long windy dirt road) and, with minutes to spare, set up observations on a high point near Pambula overlooking the sea. We had a portable television which picked up a Victorian channel and we could see the eclipse on TV just before it happened at Pambula. Then actually seeing the shadow move quickly out across the ocean was fantastic ...

For 2012, my advice would be to get yourself up high where you can see the sea and the shadow, e.g. the roadside lookout about halfway up the highway to Kuranda. There are plenty of other high places with a view to the east.

I'm concerned about cloud cover though - after all, this is the tropics and it will be November. I plan to be in a light plane up around 9,500 feet, so even if there is lower level cloud, the shadow will be visible on the cloud. And it'll probably have to be planned as a night flight!
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Last edited by Captain Charlie; 19-05-2010 at 08:19 AM.
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  #34  
Old 19-05-2010, 09:40 AM
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Captain Charlie wrote:
"... For 2012, my advice would be to get yourself up high where you can see the sea and the shadow, e.g. the roadside lookout about halfway up the highway to Kuranda."

A note of caution about the lookouts on the roads up the coastal range. There are not many, most have their view to where the sun will be low down at eclipse time obscured by trees and parking for only a very small number of cars. So if you want to do that choose wisely (e.g. check out the suns position the day before) and get there early to reserve your spot. IMO a view of the receeding shadow is definitely worth seeking out.

I had a similar experience in 1976 - a drive down the same dirt road to see the eclipse from near Wyndham on the road to Pambula. I was surprised at how so many people decided to stay put and missed the show.
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  #35  
Old 28-05-2010, 01:45 PM
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I definitely want to come up from melb, haven't ever been to cairns or seen an eclipse.. planning to book flights and accommodation soon, will have 2 years to fill in the details.

Planning to make up some solar caps for my binocs. Maybe hire a scooter while there so i can zoom around if need be.
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  #36  
Old 15-07-2010, 05:55 AM
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Greetings from Ukraine!

Many thanks to Terry (AstroTourist) for his photos - now it is clearly visible what it would be looking like in 2012.
I was monitoring different sources of satellite imagery of eclipse path, and I see that outback areas almost completely guarantee fine weather in November, and in many cases even Cairns city would be enough good.
So I'm delighted with the circumstances and will do my best to get there from Europe! (not only eclipse, this might be the only chance for me to see the southern sky and to meet australian astronomers).

But as a beginner in solar eclipse chasing (no totals, 3 partials), I have many reasons to be afraid of unsuccessful trip. First of all, I have much doubt on whether there be any available accomodation in the area? Can you guys please tell me what reasonable time should be kept in advance for booking accomodation? Is it possible if one can experience absolutely no places if booking within 3-4 months before the event? Maybe you have something to recommend?

Best regards,
Roman
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  #37  
Old 15-07-2010, 12:07 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RWhite View Post
Greetings from Ukraine!

I was monitoring different sources of satellite imagery of eclipse path, and I see that outback areas almost completely guarantee fine weather in November, and in many cases even Cairns city would be enough good.
Hi Roman,

Thanks for the post and greetings to you there in the Ukraine.
Unfortunately with regards the possibility of the weather being fine in that
part of the world in November, unfortunately the opposite is true.

Cairns sits between the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn and it
experiences tropical weather patterns. The period of November to May
sees high rainfall, high temperatures and high chance of cloud coverage.
The hinterlands and to the north of Cairns are tropical rainforests or what
were tropical rainforests and have subsequently been cleared for farming.

Tropical cyclones (hurricanes) at that time of the year are also not uncommon.
Though the interior tends to be drier, the weather systems are sometimes vast and
extend across the entire Cape. To give you some idea, here is the track
of Tropical Cyclone Larry that made its way across in March 2006.
See http://www.bom.gov.au/qld/cyclone/tc_larry/
It was a Category 4 cyclone with winds up to 240 km/h and caused half a billion
dollars worth of damage.

Even when the weather is generally sunny, it is not uncommon to encounter local
small showers over reef atolls or up in the Atherton Tablelands or in the
rainforests of Cape Tribulation and Daintree.

The interior can be drier (it is not desert without reason) but there are very few
interior locations where the roads (some of which are just rough 4WD
dirt tracks) run north-south that intercept the eclipse path and one of them is
subject to a long running dispute by the land owners that would be best avoided.

In fact, should there be rain, some of the roads in the far interior which are
just dirt tracks turn to mud and become impassable even in a 4WD.
The roads in and around Cairns itself are sealed and passable in all but the
most severe weather conditions.

Like all eclipses, the general mindset is that if we get lucky with the weather,
we might see it, but if you asked me might we have a cyclone on the day,
I would not bet against it.

One of the disappointing things about Cairns at that time of the year is that it
can be very hot, very humid and there is this beautiful Pacific Ocean to swim in,
but even that is not recommended as there is a chance of being stung by
a deadly marine stinger at that time of the year.

So please come on down, we would love to see you down here. We will be there!
But if we see the eclipse, we are all considering it as a bonus.

Quote:
But as a beginner in solar eclipse chasing (no totals, 3 partials), I have many reasons to be afraid of unsuccessful trip. First of all, I have much doubt on whether there be any available accomodation in the area? Can you guys please tell me what reasonable time should be kept in advance for booking accomodation? Is it possible if one can experience absolutely no places if booking within 3-4 months before the event? Maybe you have something to recommend?
Cairns itself has an abundance of accommodation ranging from parks where
you can pitch a tent, to budget hostels for backpackers to motel accommodation
to luxury multi-star resort hotels. Depending upon your budget, you should have
little difficulty finding somewhere to stay. Cairns is first and foremost
a tourist destination and is a major setting off point to the Great Barrier Reef.
Normally, November would be regarded as "off-season" because the weather can
be bad, and you can't go for a swim in the ocean. I would be surprised if you
still could not find somewhere 3 to 4 months out as it is a big place with
a lot of rooms.

Google "Cairns northern beaches accommodation" for something more comfortable.
Google "Cairns backpacker accommodation" for budget rooms, some of which
might smell like a wet dog and have a party going on all night in the next room
but that can be cheap. However, read the reviews as some of them are quite good
and offer reasonable value and are a good opportunity to meet other travelers.

Best Regards

Gary
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  #38  
Old 15-07-2010, 10:30 PM
RWhite (Roman)
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Thank you Gary for the detailed answer!

After a study of weather I have an opinion that it is very similar to what we have here in Ukraine in July. Well, without active tropical cyclons, maybe sometimes hotter, sometimes more/less cloudy, but in general it is similar. And to your knowledge, July-August is astronomical hi-season here, so I won't be disappointed any way if would visit Queensland in November.

The weather isn't actually the biggest problem. For me, the top 3 things to be careful about are: 1) have no problems acquiring visa; 2) have no problems with booking accomodation; 3) be in time for each of 3 consequtive airflights!
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  #39  
Old 20-07-2010, 03:41 PM
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Gary paints a pretty grim picture for the weather prospects for the eclipse in North Queensland in 2012. Personally I would not be quite so pessamistic.
In the Cairns region, November is generally thought of as being the buildup to the wet season rather than full on wet. And tropical cyclones are very rare as early in the season as November. And it certainly is more cloud free (on average) the further west behind the ranges you go. With the winds being predominently from the south east moisture is dumped on the coastal ranges and Great Dividing range so that the air to the west is typically drier. But as Gary says, sometimes the weather system are so large as to be inescapable.
A good guide to the climatology can be found on Jay Anderson's eclipse weather site:
http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~jander/...tse12intro.htm
The cloud statistics chart puts the average November daytime cloud at between 40% and 50%. But bear in mind that these figures are daily averages and the eclipse is at about 6:30 AM when the sky is consistently clearer so a lower percent is appropriate.
As one example, when I was in the eclipse path for the week either side of 14 November last year, the eclipse would have been visible at 6:30 AM on 8 out of the 10 days that I was observing.
But bear in mind that these are average circumstances and what happens on the day can be different. As they say - climate is what you expect - weather is what you get.
There is benefit in being flexible to relocate further inland if the coast weather looks dodgy, but movement significantly west is restricted without a suitable vehicle.
Regards,
Terry
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  #40  
Old 10-08-2010, 11:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gary View Post
Cyclone,

Enjoyed looking at your weather web cams.

As you look over the Divide from Mareeba early in the morning in mid November,
if the day is forecast to be fine, are your views east and south-east generally clear
or does cloud sit on the mountains in the morning until it warms up?

Any other anecdotal advice you can share on what the weather tends to do up there at
that time of the year early in the morning I know would be appreciated by readers.
Its going to be one of those things that will be decided from midnight that day, for me stay in Mareeba or travel north on the inland road.
If anyone requires any information, let me know.
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