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Eclipse-eve excitement as 60,000
prepare for the event of the millennium
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Excitement
and anticipation thick enough to cut with a knife are in the
air of Queensland’s Cairns and Great Barrier Reef as an
estimated 60,000 eclipse-chasers count down the hours to one of
nature’s most amazing phenomena.
At 6.38am tomorrow (Queensland time) all eyes in the region,
along with an estimated 20 million from around the globe, will
be on the skies over the Great Barrier Reef as the moon moves
across the sun for the “totality” of a full solar eclipse.
This will be the first time Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef,
one of Australia’s iconic tourism destinations, has experienced
a total solar eclipse in over 1300 years.
Tourism Queensland Acting CEO Leanne Coddington said
scientists, astronomers and umbraphiles (eclipse chasers) were
making their final preparations and shoring up their spots for
the best vantage – from hot air balloons over the Atherton
Tablelands, aboard cruise or dive ships moored on the Great
Barrier Reef, or from the beaches of the mainland and tropical
islands.
“While this won’t be the first eclipse many of the estimated
60,000 visitors have seen, it is likely to be the first in such
a beautiful tourism destination as quite often the best vantage
point for eclipses is in remote parts of the world far from
civilisation,” Ms Coddington said.
“For the 2012 eclipse, the best viewing spots will be in the
heart of one of the world’s most iconic natural tourism
destinations so most eclipse-chasers are combining their
passion with a holiday."
Terry Cuttle from the Queensland Astronomical Society said
total solar eclipses were rare in any location (around once
every 400 years) so for one to occur in a holiday destination
was even rarer.
“This is such an amazing place,” he said.
“Yesterday I had a fabulous trip out to Agincourt Reef and went
diving so it will be interesting to see what happens to the
fish during the eclipse – do they go to sleep for example?
“We’ll have to wait and see.”
Former Queenslander, eclipse chaser and psychologist Kate Russo
said it was special to see the eclipse from her home state.
“It’s now only a day away and I’m really excited,” Ms Russo
said.
“My first eclipse experience was overwhelming and I couldn’t
believe the impact it had as it made me feel both insignificant
and connected to the universe.
“I’ve travelled all over the world to be in the path of
totality for 13 years so to be able to come home to be almost
in my backyard is really special.”
Meanwhile students from Smithfield State High in Cairns have
been looking forward to the eclipse for over a year, making
pin-hole cameras so they can view the event.
“We’ve been really excited and now it’s finally here we can’t
wait,” said year nine student Candice.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Rob
Giason said the eclipse would give Cairns and the Great Barrier
Reef exposure around the world.
"Bookings are strong with tens of thousands of people
expected in the region to see the event and an estimated
worldwide audience of 20 million watching via our live broadcast
with NASA," he said.
"The Astronomical Association of Queensland and a team of
scientists will be working with TTNQ and NASA to present a live
web broadcast from Palm Cove, Ellis Beach and the Great Barrier
Reef.
"Nature has given us the opportunity for the eyes of the
world to be upon Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef and we have
embraced that by joining with broadcast partners Panasonic,
Telstra, Passions of Paradise, Angsana Palm Cove Resort and
Tourism Queensland to stream live footage of the eclipse and
our region via www.ustream.tv/cairnseclipse2012."
The 2012 Tourism Queensland Solar Eclipse pool feeds (VNR)
are owned by Tourism Queensland (and partners) and are provided
free of charge to all major Australian Television Networks and
via the Reuters 'World News Express' and 'Media Express'
platforms to the world's media on the basis that they are used
only for the purpose of the reporting of news and that the
feeds are not used for any commercial purpose nor distributed
to any third party without Tourism Queensland's prior written
consent. Your use of the Feeds constitutes your acceptance of
these conditions of use.
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