Exmouth 2023 Solar Eclipse

[Wussell]

Anyone from here heading West for the 2023 Solar Eclipse?

[Peter Ward]

Yep. Booked our accommodation several years ago. :thumbsup:

[AstroJunk]

Powered slab booked and ready. Not sure how I'll get there, the odds that I can take some serious time-out to drive there in my motorhome have reduced. Never say never!

BTW, the Ningaloo was the only site with an on-line system accepting bookings a few years in advance and a bunch of us took advantage. They shut it down and contacted us with revised (upwards) rates which were far from outrageous, so good for them for honouring the bookings - under there own terms, they could have been cancelled.

[Wussell]

I managed to get a booking in the RAC Exmouth Cape Holiday Park, right next to yours from the look of it. $550 for a powered site for six nights. Not too bad considering some of the prices I have heard about. Am totally looking forward to it. I cant say hat I envy your 58hr drive. I was pulling a face at 12hrs lol

[EpickCrom]

Hi mate. I would love to go but it's looking unlikely:(. At least we will get a partial eclipse here in Perth;)

[OzEclipse]

Yep, have campsite booked. The eclipse is just a small part of a 3 month 4wd tour of Australia, filling in a few gaps of places I either haven't seen or revisiting a few places that left me wanting more. This will be my 18th central eclipse.

Jonathan, I've booked a site at Ningaloo C&C, same park as you and Terry. I'll talk to you closer to the time see if your & Anne's Nullarbor crossing coincides with mine. I'm taking the scenic route back so I might drop in to your place for a cuppa on my way home! :lol:

Joe

[seeker372011]

I tried to book a campsite in 2019 while in Exmouth and couldn’t get anyone in Exmouth to accept a booking that far in advance.

Finally booked an eclipse cruise out of Freo

[OzEclipse]

Hi Narayan,

Campgrounds only opened for bookings last week. I booked mine last Thursday. Jonathan and Terry were smart/lucky to book theirs quite early on a glitch before the caravan parks closed off the bookings.

Joe

[Wussell]

Those glitches are great when they work in your favor. I booked mine yesterday when the RAC opened up their bookings, got a caravan spot for the parents as they decided they wanted to com, and a camp site for me. Now we are all at the mercy of the weather :rolleyes:

[Wussell]

What equipment is everyone taking?

[astro744]

Totality is only 62 sec south of Exmouth. You loose about 10 seconds at Exmouth at about 52 sec. This one is a hybrid eclipse as it’s also annular in the path. The one in the USA is longer in 2024 but no doubt any eclipse chasers know this and have likely booked. Exmouth does have very good weather probability.

[seeker372011]

How long is a piece of string?

I am going to be on a ship so not sure any imaging at all will be possible- unless I invest in a gimbal - or rent beg or borrow one.

For Cairns I took my Vixen Polarie and a Canon DSLR with kit lens and a homemade Baader filter- because I was flying up so everything had to fit in a backpack.

Some people shipped a container of equipment up north!

[OzEclipse]

|


I've observed 14 total eclipses over the past 28 years. I have eased off last few years following the untimely death of my close friend and eclipse observing partner. His passing really took the wind out of my sails. Of the 14 total eclipses I have seen, the 18s of totality observed at the end of the totality path at Cameron Corner in 2002 was the most dynamic, exciting eclipse. From that location, we were able to witness passage of the 120000km/hr shadow then liftoff from the Earth's surface. It's about so much more than duration. Most experienced eclipse chasers that I know have an end of path observation like 2002 and a very short duration totality like Exmouth on their "special case" eclipse bucket list. I am sure that my late friend would be upset with me if I missed this one on his account and I am sure he wouldn't have missed it if I was 6ft under.

My usual overseas eclipse rig is a William Optics 70mm ED refractor on either my own home made 1.9kg mini eq mount single arm fork mount (pictured) which breaks down to an almost flat pack or else a Losmandy Starlapse at around 5kg. If flying to a remote location in a small plane with only 15kg total baggage allocation inc hand luggage, I use the ultralight mount. When I have a standard international 23kg, I'll take the Losmandy. Even with the Losmandy, I have trimmed my eclipse travel bag with Starlapse down to just under 20kg to meet the internal domestic baggage limits in some countries.

The Losmandy seems to have around 20-30 arc sec PE, just a rough estimate, no easy way to measure it because it has no guiding input. My little mount is about 120 arc sec PE from its 30mm diameter worm drive. :rofl: But PE or even drive error is irrelevant for photographing a solar eclipse so you can easily get away with the moderate precision of something like the Losmandy or the horrid precision of my ultralight. The job of the drive is keeping the image centred. Maximum exposure at f5.6 -f8 is only a few seconds for outer corona even at ISO 100. Accurate polar alignment helps so that you are not continually re-centering the image. Also, if you do some HDR stacking, good polar alignment prevents image rotation which makes the coronal registration and alignment easier.

However, because I am driving over, I may bring a (taller) EQ mount for my own viewing comfort of the high altitude eclipse and more focal length than the 430mm of the 70ED to get some inner chromosphere/coronal detail.

On this occasion with the eclipse so high in the sky (>50 deg) and the shadow cone axis so erect, photographs of wide angle landscapes or umbral passages while not impossible, are less favoured. With the eclipse magnitude so close to unity(1.003), a full ring of chromospheric emission is a very distinct possibility. I may even forego the 8s of totality and stay in Exmouth so that one side of the solar limb exhibits a circumnavigating flash around chromosphere at the expense of the other. Plenty of time to decide. The farther off centre line you go, the faster more dynamic the flash around.

Recommendations

1. If this is your first eclipse or even if you have seen a small number, just sit back and enjoy the show.

2. Don't make the equipment too complicated. Keep it simple and don't be trying to operate multiple cameras manually. If you can't automate the sequence stick to one camera. Learn to adjust it by feel so you can watch naked eye while operating the camera by touch.

3. Make sure that if you are using a standard tripod to support a small scope or camera and telephoto, that you can point it up to 54 deg and view comfortably with the scope stable on the tripod.

4. Don't use glass or polymer filters. They are both thick enough to change focus when removed. Baader Astrosolar film is only 10 microns thick. Focus doesn't change on removal so you can focus on the thin crescent before totality. Important not to waste time refocussing (visual or photographic) when you only have 50-60s of totality.

5. A solar filter for a total eclipse needs to be both secure so that it cannot blow off AND quick and easy to remove without applying force to the tube. There is a description for a home made solar filter on my web site that people have been referring and linking for many years. I've used this design at 11 total eclipses and it has worked flawlessly every time.
https://joe-cali.com/eclipses/EQUIPMENT/solarfilters.html

6. Never get so tied up with the photography that you forget to watch the eclipse. Something goes wrong, forget the photos and watch.

Joe

[AstroJunk]

My equipment:

And a side note: the Learmonth Solar observatory is actually in the path of totality - wonder what they will be doing on the day?
https://gong2.nso.edu/products/scaleView/view.php?configFile=configs/hAlpha.cfg&productIndex=0

[N1]

Have booked a site at Carnarvon for the 19th and will just meander up on the 20th.

Getting mildly excited and hoping for various borders to stay open. 4th outback event for me after 2002, 2012 and 2013.

Taking the FS60, a couple of cameras and my eyes.

[Craig_]

I've booked a hotel in Carnarvon for the night of the 19th and will drive up to Exmouth (early) the following morning. SFA available otherwise but if anyone knows anywhere with accomm or camping available in Exmouth on the 19th let me know!

[astroron]

Anyone driving from the east coast to the eclipse?
I am hoping to meet up with someone as a
convoy tag along.
Time is flexible as I am retired.
Cheers:thumbsup:

[Peter Ward]

While I have not been quite as avid as Joe in my umbraphile travels ( just seven for me) I can certainly echo Joes's excellent advice.

My eclipse rig for Exmouth is likely to be an AP92 Stowaway on my trusty Losmandy Starlapse ( fitted with a one piece worm block, so its PE is around 6 arc sec) possibly I'll go the whole enchilada and pack an AP130GTX and Mach2 mount. We are also looking at the proverbial " around Oz " road trip, hence how much can be packed into the car after scope/mount/tripod are packed will be measured based the following advice: happy wife, happy life....

Camera(s) will be an EOS Ra and maybe a new EOS R5..not sure whether I'll automate the exposures...but given the minute or less of totality, automation on one camera might be a good strategy.

I'll almost certainly use a Camranger to control the other camera....previewing images on an ipad screen makes focusing a breeze and worked brilliantly on my previous eclipse expeditions.

[Paul Haese]

This will be our 4 eclipse and at present we have two plans. Primary is being booked on a cruise ship for the eclipse. Second is using our camper trailer and making the trek that way with a few stops up the coast further to round out the trip and see that part of Australia properly. My preference is for the later but the Mrs likes the idea of sitting on a boat and us have time to talk to each other. :help:

For equipment I am planning on capturing the wider field of view this time. So it is likely I'll use a very stable tripod and take wide field shots to capture all the shadow, horizon and activities on the ship in the foreground. That may change though if I get the road trip option.

[Phil Hart]

For anyone interested, campsites in the Cape Range National Park open for bookings on Tuesday 1st November at 10am (presumably WA time). It will be a hectic lottery to get a booking.

https://exploreparks.dbca.wa.gov.au/park/cape-range-national-park

I have a campsite booked in Exmouth but would be interested in collaborating on photography with someone in Cape Range to increase chances of success if there is a cloud over Exmouth. I have some gear I can share etc. If you know of an astrophotographer who gets a booking let me know ;).

Phil

[bojan]

I am trying to organize that with a friend who has a friend in Exmouth.. who knows a good place to setup equipment.
But for such a small area and the whole world trying to get there.. I have my doubts... :shrug:

[OzEclipse]

There are camp sites available for booking in Exmouth right now. Like the National Park sites, they have no facilities and so you must be fully self contained.

Received from WA Tourism 23/10/2022
Book a campsite for the Total Solar Eclipse
The Shire of Exmouth of have released 500 fully self-contained campsites sites in the area to specifically accommodate Ningaloo Eclipse Viewers.
Conveniently located within the town of Exmouth for bookings from 7 - 29 April 2023 with a minimum stay of 4 nights. The unpowered sites are perfect for camper trailers, motorhomes, and campervans and will accommodate travellers with pets (dogs must be controlled on a leash at all times).

https://bookingsau.newbook.cloud/exmouth/index.php (https://bookingsau.newbook.cloud/exmouth/index.php)

About
The Welch Street Overflow is a Fully Self-Contained Campsite located in the Shire of Exmouth. The facility is in a convenient location close to the town Centre and an ideal accommodation option to view the 2023 Total Solar Eclipse.

These Unpowered Sites are perfect for camper trailers, motorhomes, and campervans. Vehicles must meet the requirements of "Fully self-contained" including toilet and shower. All sites have a natural ground surface. We recommend that you bring along some heavy-duty pegs as well as shade to protect you from the sun. Drinking water is not supplied, please bring your own. Dogs must be controlled on a leash at all times. Generators are permitted within restricted hours.

We strongly recommend that you take out appropriate travel insurance to cover your travel arrangements. Your insurance protection should include cover for cancellation, medical and repatriation expenses, personal injury and accident, death and loss of personal baggage and money and personal liability insurance.

[rustigsmed]

thanks Joe, radio silence on property registration front for quite some time making it nearly impossible to plan for.

[Phil Hart]

As I understand it, the Cape Range NP campsites from Yardie Creek north at least have pit toilets, while the campsites south of Yardie Creek only have dump points for caravan chemical toilets. The temporary camping facilities at Welch St (at least those offered in first batch) do not even offer that much, but on the flipside you have all of Exmouth (and its crowds) on your doorstep, which may or may not be a good thing.

See you there Joe!

[joachimong]

Hi all, my buddy and I are coming down from Singapore and planning to do the same, with our hotel in Carnarvon as "base camp" and then parking ourselves somewhere in Cape Range National Park for the eclipse. Wondering if anyone would like to make the drive up together; we might leave the night before, just to be safe, and do some stargazing somewhere. This will be our first total eclipse so we're pretty excited.

[OzEclipse]

Damage to the Great Northern Highway is extensive. Anybody who was thinking of getting to Exmouth from the north, or anyone thinking of heading north to the Kimberley after the eclipse should rethink. The highway from Perth to Exmouth and north to Broome is open.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/576455290548543/?s=single_unit

[CecileD]

Has anyone booked one of the cruises advertised to view the eclipse?

[mccann73]

Made this trip into a family holiday, taken a month off and driving from Melbourne with the camper trailer, taking it easy across the Nullarbor and working our way up the WA coast, booked a place at Bullara station just south of Exmouth for a week. Still working out where I will view it, there is a hosted event (https://megatix.com.au/events/ningaloo-eclipse-ga) that looks pretty good and will pick us up from Bullara, otherwise we will drive up and find a place somewhere along the coast..

[CecileD]

The link you have included looks good for a viewing venue. Unfortunately a road trip would be out of the question for me.

[seeker372011]

Yes, many moons ago.

[Paul Haese]

Yes we booked in 18 months ago and the ship we booked on was nearly booked out then.

I am not sure you would find a cabin now though.

[Peter Ward]

Getting closer now.

I've tested two cameras and with a little automation should be able to snap 400 odd frames during the 60 or soseconds of totality

I've already test-packed the car with 'scopes mount etc. all good.

As for whether there is any room for socks and undies...bah..a minor detail :lol:

[CecileD]

Yes, sadly it seems I have literally "missed the boat"

I look forward to seeing photos and hearing of those lucky people's experiences

[Hans Tucker]

Don't worry .. there is another one on 22 July 2028.

https://macastro.org.au/solar-eclipse-2028/

[bojan]

This is the one I am waiting for.. If I'll be still alive and kicking ;)

[CecileD]

Thank you for that information. Maybe I will be able to make it. What is the location?

[rustigsmed]

Hi all,

Unfortunately, I am going to have to cancel my accommodation in Exmouth (holiday unit 1x week). If you were looking for somewhere send me a pm and if it works out I can connect you to the booking agent when I cancel (rather it going to a random person).

Cheers

Russell

[Warrie]

How many of your wives will be saying as you drive up to Exmouth - there's another bloke with a grey beard going to the eclipse? LOL Meanwhile TC Herman caused cloud and rain on the Cape and GFS and ACCESS have some others progged. Could be back to hot easterlies for TSE.
https://www.weatherzone.com.au/models/charts/gfs/aus?chartCode=prmsl_thk_apcp24&timeStep=384

[Warrie]

:360 hours out looks nightmarish. But at noon on day before eclipse 378 hours ahead, hot and dry. Marvellous those computers.:) Adding GFS charts to see how it pans out. At 234hrs NW Cape is clear but now it's Cape Yorks turn.

[Stefan Buda]

My two grownup sons and I will be driving off from Melbourne on the morning of the 8th.
We have no booking in the area of the eclipse so we will have to be creative and try to drive in on the morning of the event.
We are also making a detour to Maralinga where we booked a one-day tour for the 11th. There are a few places left, I believe, if anyone is interested.

[Shasta55]

Having spent a good portion of my working life up that way and knowing that accommodation is limited in this instance, I decided to "Tivago" for the appropriate dates. I'd guess you'll probably need to get creative right now or sleep in the car. No openings in either Exmouth or Coral Bay far as I can see. Just Carnarvon or Onslow - and not much there. Both are about a 4 hour drive.

[Peter Ward]

My preparations have been a little over the top, but as an after-thought I figured we needed a T-Shirt for the eclipse.

I looked on online and was not impressed with the drab offerings.

Having been on the whale shark dive at Ningaloo, I came with a design which I thought was quite fitting....

[Shasta55]

Well I don't know if design is your thin But if not, that's a very good first effort. If they were on offer in Exmouth I think they'd sell out in no time at all. :thumbsup:

[Peter Ward]

Ta.

I actually managed to get a fabric printing business to get some samples done
and will be curious to see while wearing them around Exmouth whether anyone asks me "Where'd you get your T-Shirt?" :)

[N1]

FYI, I got an email from the place I've booked at Coral Bay saying that Main Roads WA are planning to set up check points between 17 and 21 April along highway locations to Coral Bay and Exmouth, suggesting that you might need to produce evidence of a booking to stay the night(s) in order to proceed. If true that would be absolutely disgusting. I should be free to drive up from Geraldton or wherever, see the eclipse, stargaze the night and drive back the next day if I damn well please.

The email also stated that Coral Bay would be one of the best places to view the event from. Technically that might be true (remembering it's way better than London, for example), but I'll still try to get to the path of Totality thank you very much.

[Warrie]

Just put down phone from chat with WA Main Rds in Carnarvon. No mention of checks on dates above. Only road closure is Maidstone Cres in town of Exmouth for the eclipse party. All other roads on the peninsula are open but expect congestion. BTW 5 cloudy days in a row for the town and nearby Learmonth has 6.5 such for the month. Better to get them out of the way early:lol:

[Stefan Buda]

We will try to get as close as possible and drive into Exmouth early on eclipse day and drive out straight after. Congestion is a possible problem.

[lazjen]

Congestion is guaranteed. Expect it and plan for it.

[Shasta55]

Well I suppose folks who are driving long distances want to see absolute totality and have planned and booked.

For those planning to wing it - you've likely checked this as well; but anyway here are some options if you only manage to get close.


Carnarvon........94.8% eclipse
Coral Bay.........99.1%
Onslow............99.4%
Dampier...........97.7%
Karratha..........97.7%


So Onslow is in fact a slightly better option than Coral Bay.

[N1]

Eclipse magnitudes of 99% or greater will allow photographs of at least some parts the solar corona, chromosphere and prominences. However, visual unfiltered observing is out of the question for anything less than 100%. The potential eye damage is not worth it.

I still remember the post-eclipse traffic jam on the Roxby Road in December 2002. Arriving and setting up had been a very relaxed affair.
By contrast, the Mulligan Hwy had very little traffic pre and post-totality in 2012, even though it had the best locations.
Anything could happen and nothing is guaranteed.

[joachimong]

Just came across this page on WA Main Roads site, it seems there could really be checks in place.
https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/about-main-roads/news-media/total-solar-eclipse/
I've booked tickets for the official viewing site at ningalooeclipse.com but I'm wondering how that would work out. Would I still be able to drive in on the day of the eclipse?

[Shasta55]

I suppose that will depend on a few things. Like where you drive in from; how many others decide to wing it & where they are driving from.

The biggie from that notice is......

*You will be asked about your food and fuel situation and, if you have not arranged accommodation, you could be turned-around."

.....and that could maybe be effected by how widespread and heavy is the rain depression that will likely follow Cyclone Ilsa and which path it takes after crossing (probably tonight or tomorrow).

So the take-away from that is; if you don't have bookings make sure you can show adequate food, water & fuel supplies. Good luck to all.

[N1]

Currently looking at the weather maps (as one does). The satellite imagery of the cyclone is chilling. Hoping for those in its path to make it through safely.

[CecileD]

Bon Voyage to all the cruisers on the way to the Solar Eclipse.
Best wishes for smooth seas and clear skies.

[joachimong]

Yes indeed I clarified with Main Roads too and it seems the checkpoints will be there more for safety and emergencies. Wishing all a safe trip and a great time! I'll be making my way up and down with my self-built 10 inch dob so if you do see me at night please come by to say hi :)

[Hans Tucker]

:D Pirated from the ASV FB page

[alan meehan]

Have a great time guys is there broadcasting of the eclipse somewhere.
that's live.

[gregbradley]

9news.com.au is doing a live feed starting at 1pm AEST.

Greg.

[Hans Tucker]

For future Eclipse chasers.

[gregbradley]

There are 2 I have found. One is Australian Geographic live feed and the other is NASA. Both on you tube.

The first one starts in less than 20 minutes from now.

Greg.

[gary]

Live feed also by ABC :-

https://youtu.be/Zb664TCFYfQ

[oska]

Arguably better feed :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhD3mZPi_fE

Bah! they've made it private.

[gregbradley]

I was watching a few live feeds. One was good right up to the business end and it went wayward. Nasa's was not much better. Basically poor live feeds.

Greg.

[Crater101]

I watched a live feed as well. They had a couple of minor technical issues, but overall not a bad effort.
I'm not someone who is generally into watching an eclipse, but I do have to admit that this was pretty spectacular to see.

[N1]

Watched it from the ground just NW of Learmonth a few km shy of the centre line. No cloud and great transparency and decent seeing. Absurdly spectacular. As expected there were zero issues getting there. I will continue to NOT book stuff years out from such events, especially in Aussie.

[alpal]

Nice pics on APOD:


https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap230421.html