Key takeaways:
- A rare solar eclipse plunged part of Australia’s northwest coast into brief midday darkness
- In anticipation of the event, an international crowd had been gathering for days in the remote tourist town of Exmouth
- The eclipse lasted for just over two minutes, and was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the eclipse chasers
On Thursday, a rare solar eclipse plunged part of Australia’s northwest coast into brief midday darkness. The remote tourist town of Exmouth, with fewer than 3,000 residents, was promoted as one of the best vantage points in Australia to see the eclipse, which also crossed remote parts of Indonesia and East Timor.
In anticipation of the event, an international crowd had been gathering for days, camping in tents and trailers on a red, dusty plain on the edge of town with cameras and other viewing equipment pointed skyward. Under a cloudless sky, 20,000 eclipse chasers crowded the tiny outpost to witness the phenomenon.
When the eclipse began, the sky darkened and temperatures dropped. NASA astronomer Henry Throop was among those at Exmouth cheering loudly in the darkness. “It was so sharp and it was mind-blowing,” he said.
The eclipse lasted for just over two minutes, before the sky returned to its normal brightness and the temperature rose again. The event was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the eclipse chasers, who had traveled from all over the world to witness the phenomenon.
Be First to Comment