solar eclipse

[kingkong01]

hi all i am still new to astronomy(so please bare with me) . i live in the cairns region and have just discoved that thare will be a toatal solar eclipse on November 13th-14th, 2012 that comes right over far north queensland as this is something that does not happen often:eyepop: for this part of the world will any one becomeing up north to see this. i just thought that it would be nice to share this news with every one

[Saturnine]

G'day James

Most aussie amateur astronomers that have been in the hobby for more than a year or two would be aware of the 2012 total solar eclipse visible from Cairns and you can be certain that more than a few will be in town to witness the event , so you wont be alone. At a rough guess there'll be several thousands of eclipse chasers up north for the event, accomodation is already hard to get, oh , and welcome to the world of amateur astronomy, enjoy the ride.

Jeff

[Liz]

Hi James :hi: Yep, big news for us in Australia, and many have booked accommodation already.
There is a thread here all about it :)
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=57113

[astro744]

Even if you live in the region you must be precisely positioned to witness totality. See http://www.eclipsecairns.com/ for details or search the web and you will find plenty of other info.

On the coast Cairns in near the centre line, Innisfail is on the southern edge and Cooktown misses on the north. To see totality with the unaided eye safely you must be in the shadow of the Moon. The longest time of eclipse will be on the centreline.

[Blue Skies]

Just as a complete bit of trivia - I found out today that this 2012 eclipse is in the same saros, 133, as the eclipse in which Helium was discovered in a spectrum of a solar flare, and the eclipse of 2066 which will cross the south coast of WA. Totally trivial, but hey!