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Published: November 16th 2012
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Solar Eclipse 2012
Courtesy of Anthony Capogreco November 14th we had the last total eclipse of the sun of this year, right here in Port Douglas. The only other time I've seen a total solar eclipse was when I was in 7th grade, in 1994, in my home town. I actually it saw while I was in the school premises.
Port Douglas went nuts with this phenomenon and thousands of people flew to Cairns, Palm Cove and Port Douglas to see it. There were several activities in Port Douglas, such as a night market in Anzac Park. It was held for 3 consecutive nights and it included street performers, live music (mostly local bands), stalls with different types of merchandise and souvenirs, food, etc. There were also astronomical talks the previous days leading up to the eclipse and the eclipse was narrated while it was happening by an astronomer through a local radio station broadcast. The morning of the eclipse, there was even a marathon. It was estimated that about 60.000 people saw it.
There was a special souvenir edition of the "Gazette", the local newspaper. They interviewed people that had traveled especially for the event, including scientists, groups of "solar eclipse
chasers", etc.
I read about people that had been preparing for this event for two years, getting in contact with locals to have them look at different spots between Cairns and Port Douglas to get the best view of the eclipse.
Most people saw it from the coastline, but others booked to go out in boats from the different dive companies, people rented yachts, etc. (all were fully booked) and there are some that even went on one of the 40 hot air ballons that launched that morning.
The eclipse was at 6:38am and I had to be at work at 7:15, so that gave me enough time to see it at 4 Mile Beach (located a few hundred meters from where I live) and then ride my bike to the Marina. The beach was crowded with people as far as the eye could see, everyone expectant of this magnificent event.
November is the month in which the wet season begins and it's normal for days to be very cloudy and even be raining in the morning, so a lot of people were expectant of the weather. The minutes leading
Total solar eclipse
Image taken from another website to the eclipse were pretty nerve wrecking due to a cloud that threteaned to overcast the whole thing, but at the last minute, the sky cleared just enough for everyone to get a good look at the eclipse. Maybe the passing cloud made for a more dramatic spectacle. At the exact moment of darkness at 6:39am 4 Mile Beach was filled with sounds of awe and excitement and when the sun began to make its appearance once again, clapping could be heard all along the beach.
It was a spectacular sight and I feel very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time.
Short note: I have used a few images I found in 2 different websites and also a photo courtesy of a friend of mine, Anthony Capogreco, photographer of the "Gazette".
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