Solar Eclipse Cairns 14 Nov 2012 trip - Page 3

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #41 31-12-2009, 02:44 PM

The timing is UTC 13 November. Is that +10hrs in QLD or what?

glenc (Glen) · #42 31-12-2009, 03:34 PM

The total phase starts in Cairns at 20:38 UT on 13/11, that is 6:38 am on 14/11 Qld time.

Paul Haese · #43 31-12-2009, 04:33 PM

I would just like to make a few points here. Being a veteran of two total eclipses these are things newbies should be aware of:

Buy good solar shades, don't buy cheap ones.

Use a hat and sun block.

If you have never seen a total before, don't bother using a camera until the end of the eclipse and try for the diamond ring.

Do not look at the sun after 2 seconds of the diamond ring at the end of totality. You will be causing damage lookng longer.

Be prepared for cloud. It is a good chance that cloud will be about on that morning. If it is clouded over don't be too disappointed. There are other eclipses to chase.

Enjoy the big show.

As for accommodation I will be staying with friends up there. Best of luck with bookings.

Shep · #44 31-12-2009, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Haese

I would just like to make a few points here. Being a veteran of two total eclipses these are things newbies should be aware of:

Buy good solar shades, don't buy cheap ones.

Use a hat and sun block.

If you have never seen a total before, don't bother using a camera until the end of the eclipse and try for the diamond ring.

Do not look at the sun after 2 seconds of the diamond ring at the end of totality. You will be causing damage lookng longer.

Be prepared for cloud. It is a good chance that cloud will be about on that morning. If it is clouded over don't be too disappointed. There are other eclipses to chase.

Enjoy the big show.

As for accommodation I will be staying with friends up there. Best of luck with bookings.

It is also cyclone season so fingers crossed in that regard as well! When you say don't look at the sun after 2sec of the diamond ring you mean without special glasses right? With the glasses is it safe to look at it still?

And just to clarify the only difference between watching from my house or from the centreline would be that ir lasts 4 seconds more at the centreline but otherwise looks exactly the same?

Another question...whats the difference between a total eclipse and an annular one, the best I can make out from reading on the net is that an annular you still get a ring around it but don't you still get those with a total as well? I'm confused...

glenc (Glen) · #45 01-01-2010, 05:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shep

It is also cyclone season so fingers crossed in that regard as well! When you say don't look at the sun after 2sec of the diamond ring you mean without special glasses right? With the glasses is it safe to look at it still?

And just to clarify the only difference between watching from my house or from the centreline would be that it lasts 4 seconds more at the centreline but otherwise looks exactly the same?

Another question...whats the difference between a total eclipse and an annular one, the best I can make out from reading on the net is that an annular you still get a ring around it but don't you still get those with a total as well? I'm confused...

It is safe after the total phase with proper solar filters.
There might be more cloud in Cairns and at other places near the coast.
A total eclipse is better because the Moon blocks the Sun fully.
When the Moon is further from us it does not cover the Sun fully and you get an annular eclipse.

Paul Haese · #46 02-01-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shep

It is also cyclone season so fingers crossed in that regard as well! When you say don't look at the sun after 2sec of the diamond ring you mean without special glasses right? With the glasses is it safe to look at it still?

And just to clarify the only difference between watching from my house or from the centreline would be that ir lasts 4 seconds more at the centreline but otherwise looks exactly the same?

Another question...whats the difference between a total eclipse and an annular one, the best I can make out from reading on the net is that an annular you still get a ring around it but don't you still get those with a total as well? I'm confused...

Yes you can look with solar shades (correctly filtered solar shades).

It will look the same so long as you are in the track of totality it should just be 4 seconds shorter.

As stated annular is where the geometry of the Sun/moon/Earth is such that the moon does not cover the face of the sun and leaves an annulus. This is not safe to look at naked eye. Only a total eclipse is safe to view naked eye.

Shep · #47 02-01-2010, 03:30 PM

I meant to post this up for any other newbies who have had trouble understanding exactly what the difference is between a total and annular. I didn't do myself any favours for sounding smart (

) asking what the difference was between them when they both looked to have rings around them (in the pictures I saw anyway). BUT I read something that explained it great for me and I get it now - an annular takes place when the moon is at its furthest point on it's orbit making its apparent diameter appear smaller than the sun and causing an annulus around the moon.

southerncross (Jeff) · #48 02-01-2010, 04:21 PM

Hey Guys/Girls have you checked out Kewarra beach resort on Cairns northern beaches http://www.kewarra.com/. I live right next door. Two bedroom bungalow for four people $626 a night and still plenty of spaces for that time period.

glenc (Glen) · #49 03-01-2010, 06:32 AM

This page is good for planning. http://rses.anu.edu.au/~jcali/eclipses/PLANNING/TSE2012p/TSE2012p.html
also http://www.aaq.org.au/cms/index.php/...factsheet.html

SteveInNZ · #50 05-01-2010, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southerncross

Hey Guys/Girls have you checked out Kewarra beach resort on Cairns northern beaches http://www.kewarra.com/. I live right next door. Two bedroom bungalow for four people $626 a night and still plenty of spaces for that time period.

Might be a bit rich for me, but would you like some visitors one morning in November, 2012 ?

Steve.

erick (Eric) · #51 05-01-2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenc

I think the shadow will come overland from the west.

Yes, shadow "touchdown" is somewhere northwest of Kakadu.

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogl...13Tgoogle.html

erick (Eric) · #52 05-01-2010, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenc

We have booked at the Mt Carbine caravan park. http://www.mtcarbine.com/
We had a look along the 2012 center line last year.

See you there Glen. Based on reports of your earlier scouting, we booked in there some months ago. No cameras for me - my first total, so I'm just going to look.

glenc (Glen) · #53 06-01-2010, 04:09 AM

This will be my 5th eclipse. My first was Port Moresby, PNG 1983, then Kona, Hawaii 1991, Woomera, SA 2002 and Side, Turkey 2006.
Kona was cloudy, the rest were clear.

Liz · #54 06-01-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erick

See you there Glen. Based on reports of your earlier scouting, we booked in there some months ago. No cameras for me - my first total, so I'm just going to look.

... what the ..... no cameras

I saw an eclipse in Victoria many moons ago when I was at school, but dont remembr too much of it, so this will be great. But, I will definitely have my camera.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glenc

This will be my 5th eclipse. My first was Port Moresby, PNG 1983, then Kona, Hawaii 1991, Woomera, SA 2002 and Side, Turkey 2006.
Kona was cloudy, the rest were clear.

Wow, thats wonderful Glen!! Which was the best one?
You can console us when we dont see the Sun due to the cloudcover that will possibly be there

glenc (Glen) · #55 06-01-2010, 02:38 PM

The first one (PNG) was the best. The electric pink prominences were fantastic through my K-Mart 4.5" reflector.
Woomera was too short, the Sun was low in the sky, and the prominences were greenish. I used 20x80s at Side so didn't see it as well as PNG.
I'll take my 10" Dob to Qld.

JethroB76 (Jeff) · #56 19-01-2010, 07:35 PM

So would a beach spot be best for the actual eclipse or some higher ground?

glenc (Glen) · #57 20-01-2010, 06:14 AM

I am going inland because there is a road running parallel to the eclipse, if it is cloudy in one place I can drive east or west to try and find clear sky.
You can also drive north or south along the coast to find clear skies but that might make the eclipse shorter.

Paul Haese · #58 20-01-2010, 12:32 PM

The beach will give an unobstructed view for sure and steadier seeing. Being North Queensland and at the start of the wet season it is likely to be cloudy all the way inland too on the day. It is just a pot luck event.

seeker372011 (Narayan) · #59 20-01-2010, 01:14 PM

I am wondering if Green Island would be worse or better than coastal sites

Paul Haese · #60 20-01-2010, 01:20 PM

Is there over night stays there now. When I lived in Cairns it was a morning trip. It would certainly be better due to cloud reduction near the coast, but the island might well be packed to the brim.