Solar Eclipse of 11 July 2010

[callumstuart]

Hi all,
I'm travelling to the Cook Islands in July to see the total solar eclipse. The main island of Rarotonga is set to receive a 99.4% eclipse, while the island of Mangaia will get a total for about 3.5 minutes.

Having never seen an eclipse I'm not sure if it is worth paying an extra $600 or so to get to Mangaia to observe the total eclipse for longer. So I have a couple of questions..

Is a 99.4% eclipse 'as good' as a total? I know it won't last for as long, but will things get dark as if it was total, even just briefly? Will the sun still appear covered with corona visible (briefly)?
Also, the eclipse occurs when the sun is 15 degrees above the horizon. Will the fact that it is not higher in the sky make any difference to the spectacle?

Cheers

[Rob_K]

I think you'd better get to Mangaia! A 99.4% eclipse might give you a little darkening & cooling, but you won't get darkness, corona, 'diamond ring' or any of the other effects associated with totality. The sun will still be bright in the sky throughout, too bright to look at. Think of a 0.6% illuminated lunar crescent - very thin, but you can still see it. That size 'crescent' on the sun would represent a lot of light.

Mind you, I'm no eclipse expert - with a bit of luck, the July 2010 eclipse will be my first 'total', but I'll be a bit east of you. Good luck with it! :thumbsup: :)

Cheers -

[seeker372011]

worth paying extra to see totality.

[ngcles]

Hi Callumstuart & All,

Anything other than 100% is a bit like "kissing your sister" -- sure it a girl but it's just ... not the same.

You only get the effects of totallity when it's total unfortunately. You'll be battling now to get any accomodation on Mangaia. There's only one or two hotels there and the total (regular) tourist accomodation amounts to about 20 beds I believe (and I'm subject to correction). It isn't a "resort" island. I was considering it but went to China last year instead.

They might have put some more accomodation on specially -- you should check I guess but all the die-hard eclipse chasers generally plan several years ahead and it books-up reasonably quickly.

Best of luck with it. The Powerhouse Museum in conjunction with Sydney Observatory are doing a tour to Easter Island to see the same eclipse:

http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/what/eclipse_tour_2010.asp

pretty (very, actually) pricey though ...

... and I work there!!


Best,

Les D

[callumstuart]

I must admit, I have never kissed my sister...

Thanks for the replies all, I will try to do what I can to see the total eclipse.

[Rob_K]

If you can still book seats on a flight, Air Rarotonga fly there "most days" so you might be able to fly over one day, return the next. It's internal travel within the Cook Islands so there's no issue about where you will be staying - don't worry about accommodation, just camp on the beach overnight (or join an eclipse party!). You might have to observe correct procedures regarding customary land though (ie get permission of locals) but this is normally easy. Anything to get to see totality! :)



Pricey, but what a trip Les! I'll be doing it a fair bit cheaper, on a ship south east of Tahiti. Roll on July!!!

Cheers -

[Analog6]

It's all gone. I booked accommodation 3 years ago - then when I went to book my inter island flights, on the date Air Raratonga advertised on their website they would be available, the spots had all been sold to tourism operators. I would have had to stay on Mangaia for over 2 weeks, and I just could not afford all that time off work.

So I have very reluctantly relinquished my long held dream of my first total eclipse of a good duration. I was very bitter about this and wrote a really nasty (but polite, I didn't swear at them!) letter to Air Raratonga, to which I never received a reply.

So no, you will not be able to get accommodation or inter island flights at this late stage unless you are very, very lucky.

And others will now realise why I am trying to get a group together book ahead nice and early for Cairns 2012. But even now some resorts and places of good location are booked out by far sighted tourism operators. DO NOT leave it to the last minute!

[Rob_K]

Interesting Odille, thanks for the info! Hmmm, bet the locals won't be too happy with their airline flights 'hi-jacked' by sharp tour operators & eclipse oglers! Daresay Air Raro will have had a lot of complaints!

Cheers -