We have been reading the book 'Totality' about every aspect of eclipses. It is an amazing read, there is so much to know. For example, the beading of light that occurs just before totality is due to light from the sun being let through valleys of the uneven, cratered surface of the moon. The longest possible eclipse can last for 7.5 mins when viewed directly overhead.
We are planning to go to Cairns to see Australia's only total eclipse for around 20 years. The environment of tropical Queensland should be a great setting to observe the erratic behavior of animal life around us as the sun dims shortly after sunrise. The path of this eclipse starts to the west and travels over Cairns. The majority of the path is over the Pacific ocean, visible to very few people, finishing close to sunset over Chile.
The Ivanic family viewed the 1999 eclipse in Austria on the drive home after visiting family in Slovakia. This was very 'experiential' and dramatic. We witnessed flocking birds, darkening to a starry sky. As we were lucky not to have clouds, we saw a beautiful warping corona and it lasted long enough to get the panicked feeling that the sun might not return. The cloudy sky of cumulus clouds had its convection subdued by the half-sun, and that 'burned' a streak along the eclipse path across central Europe. Who knows what weather we will get for Nov 14th in Cairns. We will certainly try to get some good photos if we can see it, and if not there will be tales to tell of puzzled Koalas I'm sure.
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