The Solar Eclipse

Last Wednesday Norfolk Island witnessed a partial (98.5%) solar eclipse. If you had wanted to see a total eclipse, then Cairns (Queensland) was to place to be, although astronomers predicted Norfolk Island to be the next best spot thanks to dry and clear skies, less atmosphere (the sun here had higher elevation in the sky because of our time difference with Oz) and less horizon hugging cloud. And boy were the conditions perfect. We woke on Wednesday morning to a bright clear sky - not a cloud to be seen!

It's funny how when you are told you shouldn't look at something, how much you feel compelled to do so.  I felt like a naughty kid all morning! I kept telling myself "don't look at the sun, don't look at the sun!", oh yeah, like it's something I do all the time in the non-eclipse time. Lucky we had access to the right types of viewing apparatus; special glasses, pin hole camera's, telescopes and live computer images direct from Cairns.

All round, the eclipse atmosphere was very exciting plus (to be honest) a little bit eerie. As the light faded, the planet Venus came into clear view. As the moon slipped further into position, all the birds stopped singing and the temperature dropped (quite notably I have to say). We didn't experience a night time blackout, but it was dark enough to confuse all the animals here. Maybe they were expecting aliens! Either that, or they couldn't figure out why some weird kids were peering into shoe boxes and others were donning Men in Black style glasses!!!!!!!!

Don't you just love Till's "WHOA, that is SO COOL" face.  Harry and Till found this eclipse business pretty fascinating. How could they not. The pin hole shoe box preparations were made well ahead of time. They were trialled and tested the day before. Hmmm...I probably shouldn't mention the malfunction Harry's box had halfway through the eclipse (diagnosis: stretched out of shape foil holes). Yes, it resulted in a few tears and some recovery deep breathing. Oh my poor little highly strung-out astronomer-in-training - I felt his pain! Till's box seemed to have a glitch or two (ie it wasn't working at all), but luckily she didn't seem perturbed! Personally, I liked watching the images that were projected onto paper from the telescopes our local science buffs set up.  And more than that, I thought it was just a hoot observing everyone, well, "observing"; kids and adults standing around with their faces looking up in one direction, waiting, watching, oohing and aaahing! And where was Ben throughout all this skylarking, I mean watching? Somewhere out at sea in a fishing boat of course. I think he may have had the best viewing spot of all! I can only imagine how peaceful it must have been.

Can you believe we have more astronomy adventures to look forward to this week?  As luck would have it, an astronomer from the Maidenwell Astronomical Observatory traveled to Norfolk to observe last Wednesdays eclipse.  Over four evenings this week, James Barclay is treating locals to some guided tours of the night sky, using a laser pointer and powerful telescopes. Norfolk is perfect for star gazing because we don't have any light pollution. Looking up at the night sky here, you see stars stretching from one side of the horizon to the other. It's beautiful!

NB. When there isn't a moon to guide us through the blackness, our night is incredibly dark. Honestly, you can't see your hand in front of your face! It's practically a Norfolk "law" that one should carry a torch when they head out at night.

: : This blog post is dedicated to Dexter (Harry's little 'Astronomer-in-training' cousin) : :