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| Total Solar Eclipse on 14 November 2012 |
We live just outside the track for solar eclipse totality that occurred this past week. Neither of us had ever seen a total solar eclipse. We decided that we couldn't let the chance of a lifetime slip past. In the weeks leading up to the eclipse, we kept our eyes out for a possible viewing spot within the track of totality and also within reasonable driving distance from our home. We spotted a farmer's paddock on the other side of the Atherton Tablelands. There was a bit of room between the highway and the paddock suitable for parking and providing a clear view to the southeast. Totality for the location would occur around 6:40 a.m.
As the day of the eclipse grew nearer, a gloomy weatherman
began predicting cloudy days and warned that our region
might miss out on seeing the eclipse. Warnings in the media about
traffic congestion and delays increased as massive numbers of visitors began arriving in the region. More people began to consider driving further inland where clear skies were more assured. But
inland roads and facilities are very limited.
We heard that one
station owner got a phone call asking if he would be willing
to accommodate some Japanese tourists who were arriving in Australia
for the event and leaving the day after. The property owner liked the
idea of earning some easy money and said, sure, how many? “3000.”
Oh, said the property owner, well, I do have five tents....
We rose before dawn on the day of the
eclipse. It was cloudy. We drove toward our selected spot as the day
began to get light. We encountered light sprinkles of rain which
increased by the time we reached the halfway point in our journey.
Traffic also increased. We got delayed by roadworks. In spite of
growing uncertainty, we pressed on.
Fortune favoured us. The clouds cleared by the time we
reached the farmer's paddock where another four or five cars were
already parked, including one belonging to a friend. People stood
wearing special glasses as they gazed toward the sun.
We hadn't found any of the special
glasses to buy at local stores. To protect our eyes, Jerry had
prepared a pinhole projector for viewing the eclipse. He cut a hole
in large piece of cardboard and taped aluminium foil across the hole.
Using a needle, he punched a small, smooth hole in the aluminium
foil. The image of the growing eclipse was projected and focused onto a sheet of
white paper fastened to a clipboard leaning against the wheel of the
car. Not exactly elegant, but it worked perfectly.
He was arranging the set-up when another car pulled in beside us and a young woman's three sons hopped out as she tended to extracting an infant. They didn't have special
eclipse glasses either. The boys clustered about Jerry as he pointed
out the projected eclipse image and explained the set-up. Science in
action. The five year old grew excited and said he had a piece of
white paper and a clipboard in the car. He ran to get it. When he
returned, Jerry solemnly put the boy's paper and clipboard in
position in front of ours. The boys crouched beside the clipboard and
watched the image of the slowly changing eclipse. Ownership does give
learning an edge.
As soon as the eclipse was total, we
all turned around and looked at the eclipsed sun. Words fail. I felt completely gob-smacked. I felt joyous, like I was witnessing a birth. What a privilege to witness such an
event.
The twin grandsons, now two years old
and living on the coast, likewise got a terrific view of the
totality. When it ended, they demanded, “More!”
From the mouths of babes....
Post by M in JaM
Photo by J in JaM
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