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Total
Solar Eclipse 2023 April 20
Expectations
were high, since the last total solar
eclipse to grace the Australian mainland in November 2012. This one was
very special as it was a rare hybrid eclipse that started annular
in the Indian Ocean, then
became total, and then annular at the end of the track over the Pacific
Ocean. The path of totality, which just touched the Australia
mainland on the Exmouth Peninsula, Western Australia, was only 40 km
wide and maximum duration was 63 seconds. Greatest eclipse occurred
slightly south of Timor-Leste, an island east of Indonesia, with
totality lasting 76 seconds. Duration at my location of Sal Salis
on the western side of the peninsula in the Cape Range National Park,
was 48 seconds. The entire duration of the eclipse was an unusually long
2 hours 57 minutes.
This
was the first large event post-Covid in WA and a perfect opportunity for
the tourism-based
industries of Exmouth to
show off the local attractions - "swimming with the whale-sharks",
snorkelling (and scuba diving) in the warm, clear waters of the Ningaloo Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage coral reef
just metres from the shore and exploring the canyons a short drive away.
A little to the north
of Exmouth is the North West Cape VLF radio communications base and
other military installations which were established there in the early
1960's due to their very isolated locations. Some
of the local scenery
and experiences.
High
commendations to the tourism bureaux and local businesses for
successfully managing the unprecedented influx of tourists into the
region. Exmouth’s resident population of 2,800 was swelled way beyond
the 6,000 normally accommodated at the height of the tourist season:
according to The Guardian on-line, about 20,000 Aussies and visitors
from all over the world flocked to Exmouth and surrounding areas to
stake their claim inside the narrow track. Hotel and camping ground
accommodation was booked out well in advance, so organisers provided a
large area on the outskirts of town with tents for additional
accommodation. A three-day dark sky festival was also held which
included astronomy-related activities, dark sky dining and free concerts
– perfect ways to spend time outdoors in the balmy evening air. April is a relatively dry month
in Exmouth,
though cloud cover can be significant. Average daytime temperatures were
around 30oC and 24oC in the evenings.
Despite
concerns that Cyclone Ilsa might impact (it didn't) and the moderately
cloudy skies on the 19th, eclipse day dawned clear and sunny and
remained so until after 4th contact.
The
partial phases passed uneventfully, though a distinct chill developed in the air from about half
way through, the gusty
onshore winds significantly abated and a sense of calm descended
over the land. Then, the light faded - more gradually than expected -
as the Moon's umbra arrived.
It was
stunning and I managed to observe the majority of the 48 secs of
totality with my eyes. On a rating scale of 1-10, I’d give it 11. The intensity of the inner corona and of the many
coronal streamers gave an awe-inspiring appearance of an intensely black
flower with brilliant white petals surrounded by deep blue sky. To add
to the show, there were several bright prominences around the lunar edge
with Jupiter nearby, and Venus low in the NE. Based on previous
experiences, the ambient light during totality was brighter than usual
(due to the closeness in size of the Moon and Sun in the sky) that
allowed more light from the brilliant inner corona to reach the ground,
which was then reflected upwards off the area’s sand and water.
Lunar-edge effects, such as Baily’s Beads, views of the chromosphere
and shadow bands (clearly visible on the off-white sandy ground) were
prolonged because of the closeness in size. At third contact, the
diamond ring was spectacular and a small flock of little corellas made
quite a noisy commotion as the shortest "night" they had ever
experienced came and went in almost no time at all.
Special
memories indeed, following extraordinary
once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
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