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Oohs, aahs, cheers and tears as
60,000 experience Queensland’s solar eclipse
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There
were oohs, aahs, cheers and even tears as an estimated 60,000
scientists, astronomers and eclipse-chasers turned their eyes
to the skies over Cairns and the Great Barrier reef to witness
this morning’s total solar eclipse.
At 6.38am (Queensland time) day became night for just under two
minutes as the moon moved across the sun for the “totality” of
a full solar eclipse, the first the region had experienced in
more than 1300 years.
Tourism Queensland Acting CEO Leanne Coddington said for the
eclipse aficionados who had travelled from the US, Asia, Europe
and the UK, and millions more who watched the event live
online, the spectacle didn’t disappoint.
“For the last 24 hours the two sentences on everyone’s lips
were ‘What will the weather do?’ and ‘Where are you watching
from?’,” Ms Coddington said.
“It rained during the night and at first light there were some
clouds on the horizon but just before 6.30am they parted and
for the thousands of people lining the beaches, on dive boats,
cruise ships, hilltops and hot air balloons nature turned on an
incredible spectacle.
“Along Port Douglas’ Four Mile Beach and Palm Cove, thousands
of eclipse viewers stood shoulder-to-shoulder in a veritable
United Nations, coming together for a single moment in time.
“We even heard there was a marriage proposal in one of the hot
air balloons over the Atherton Tablelands.”
Fenella Kwong travelled from Brisbane to see the eclipse and
will now spend four days in Palm Cove, including visiting the
Great Barrier Reef.
“This is my first eclipse and I was up at 3am this morning to
make sure I got a good spot,” she said.
Mike and Elizabeth Davies travelled from London to experience
their eighth eclipse, and will spend two-an-a-half weeks
travelling Australia.
“We love it here and the people are incredibly nice,” Mr Davies
said.
“We’ve been to Green Island and the Great Barrier Reef so using
eclipses is a great way to see the world.”
Yeung Chak Fung Dagan and Peter Hin Yan Ghaw came to Queensland
with a group of astronomy friends from Hong Kong and chose the
beach at Palm Cove as their preferred eclipse viewing spot.
“This is our second eclipse,” said Mr Yeung.
“It is very beautiful here – we love it!”
Ms Coddington said now that the eclipse was over many visitors
would holiday in the region for several days.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Rob
Giason said the eclipse had given Tropical North Queensland
priceless exposure.
“Never before have we had such an enormous audience focused on
our region,” he said.
“Many of our 60,000 visitors were here for the first time so we
have made the most of our opportunity to showcase the region
and inspire them to return."
Further information on the 2012 eclipse can be found at www.eclipse2012.org.au.
Media information:
Tourism Queensland: +61 (0)426 239 431
Lindsay McNeill, Big Planet Media (pool feed only): +61 (0)411
593919
email: eclipse@tq.com.au
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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