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50,000 eclipse chasers to hit Cairns

50,000 eclipse chasers to hit Cairns connector 300x150More than 50,000 visitors are expected to “chase the sun” to Cairns next month to see the rare solar eclipse.   

Cairns’ last solar eclipse was in 710 AD, with the next not expected for another 225 years.

The local tourism and hospitality industry is experiencing a surge in occupancy to around 80 per cent, with some accommodation booked almost three years ago.

Astronomers and ‘eclipse chasers’ are among those making the trip from Asia, Europe, the Americas and around Australia, for this rarely-seen natural phenomenon.

Four chartered aircraft will arrive from Japan, cruise liners offering eclipse viewing will be stationed off the coast from Port Douglas, reef vessels will make an early start to give passengers a view from the water, and some will take to the skies in hot air balloons for the ultimate bird’s-eye view.

A total eclipse of the sun occurs every 18 months or so, however the best viewing locations are often in remote or sparsely populated regions of the earth.

Beginning at 5:45am on November 14 in Darwin, the solar eclipse shadow will sweep across the Gulf of Carpenteria and Cape York, before the central line crosses directly over Oak Beach at Port Douglas, the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea at 7:40am. As the moon moves across the face of the sun temperatures will fall, and in a path around 200 kilometres wide, the darkness of night will briefly return with totality occurring between 6:37am and 6:39am.

For more information about Solar Eclipse 2012, go to eclipse2012.org.au

By Alex Harmon  ·  October 11th, 2012 at 9:53 am

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Comments


  1. Tui Eruera
    11 Oct 12
    10:12 am

    2. I’ve just returned from Cairns, and I was in shock of how many shop fronts where up for lease and overall how the dynamics of the city has changed. I was shocked at the state of the city! It is especially disappointing that the majority of the resources mined are from Central – North Queensland and how these urban cities are receiving little to no assistance from government.

    The eclipse could not have come at a better time for Cairns, and I noticed the industry is buzzing with anticipation. I hope the week of events are successful and inject much needed capital into the city. Good Luck!

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