Total Solar Eclipse Australia 2012 - Total Solar Eclipse Australia 2011 - The Adventure Company Astronomy Tours 2012/3

Total Solar Eclipse Australia 2012 Timings of the eclipse The precise timings of the eclipse are determined by the viewing location, which will depend on weather conditions at the time. Exact timings will be given during the eclipse briefing but as a guide, the following timings apply to Cairns and are local time: First Contact: 05:45 Second Contact: 06:38:33 Third Contact: 06:40:33 Fourth Contact: 07:40 Duration: 2m 00s Sun's Elevation at totality: 14� Eclipse Track On the morning of 14 November 2012, the track of the moon's shadow will first touch the surface of the Earth at sunrise in Australia's Northern Territory, before moving east across northern Queensland and out into the Pacific Ocean. After leaving Australia the track does not make landfall as it moves across the Pacific to the north of New Zealand. Standing on the centre line as the eclipse crosses the Cape York Peninsula, the duration of totality will be a little over two minutes. Queensland is the only place where the eclipse can be viewed on land and is the best destination for least cloud cover. The Region We will be based in Palm Cove, renowned for its lush rainforests, sugary fine beaches and a warm, tropical climate. A short drive into the interior brings you to the Great Dividing Range, a verdant system of forest-covered mountains and beyond this lies classic Australian outback scenery, dry and arid with cattle stations along the way. Wherever we choose to observe the eclipse, this region offers a truly Australian experience. Eclipse Statistics Saros series 133 Maximum duration: 4 min 2s in the South Pacific. Shadow Width at Maximum: 179.0 km Eclipse magnitude: 1.0500 Our Observation Point / Weather Prospects The most important criteria when choosing a location to view the eclipse is the weather prospects. November is the start of the wet season in north Queensland, when east to south easterly onshore winds produce cloud against the coastal mountain ranges. Our plan is to travel out to the drier west of the ranges. As the day of the eclipse approaches we will keep a close eye on the weather before we make a final decision on the viewing location. Whilst there is never any guarantee that we will have clear conditions, by studying historic data and assessing conditions as the day approaches, we will be able to maximise our chances of success. 22 Call one of our helpful Travel Consultants on 0845 287 6121 for further assistance

Total Solar Eclipse Australia 2011 (10 pages)… Total Solar Eclipse Australia 2012