Observers marvel at stunning solar eclipse in Australia
Blokes and Sheilas from all walks of life, including professional astronomers and hobbyist star buffs, made their way to a remote part of Western Australia today to get front-row seats to a gripping celestial event – a total solar eclipse lasting a full 58 seconds.
Exmouth, located on the country’s northwest edge, saw caravans lined up, telescopes out in force and folks donning their sunnies in anticipation of the moon’s gradual journey across the sun’s surface, leading up to the awe-inspiring moment of totality, Bangkok Post reported.
John Lattanzio of the Astronomical Society of Australia, said…
“Many fellas become completely smitten by that minute or so of hair-raising strangeness. They turn into ‘eclipse chasers’ and have a bit of a wander all over the globe for another dose of that experience.”
The moment when everything went dark and a sense of surreal serenity fell upon the scene occurred at precisely 11.29 local time, witnesses reported.
In the blink of an eye, well actually, about a minute later, the dusty terrain was once again illuminated by daylight.
Though it might seem like just a bit of excitement for the onlookers, the eclipse also provided a valuable window for scientists to observe the sun’s corona – its outer atmosphere, which is typically obscured by the sun’s dazzling rays.
It’s worth noting that witnessing a similar eclipse led Albert Einstein to develop his theory about light bending.
And we’re not the only ones getting in on this cosmic event – Timor Leste and West Papua will also have the chance to see the eclipse reach totality.
Meanwhile, a fair dinkum in Sydney could only observe a partial eclipse, with the moon covering less than 20% of the sun.
But don’t worry, Sydney-siders can take heart.
Come July 22, 2028, the city’s five million residents will get their own front-row tickets to nature’s spectacle – a total solar eclipse, with a further four set to occur over Australia in the next 15 years.
So mark your calendars and grab your sunnies, folks, because the cosmos is putting on an unmissable show!
