WAITING
FOR THE SHADOW
SOLAR AND LUNAR
ECLIPSE OBSERVING
FUTURE EXPEDITION & EVENT PLANNING - Total Solar Eclipse Visible from Cairns at sunrise on 14th November, 2012
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WAITING
FOR THE SHADOW FUTURE EXPEDITION & EVENT PLANNING - Total Solar Eclipse Visible from Cairns at sunrise on 14th November, 2012 |
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Northern Territory Observers, reminiscing the spectacular "coffee filter" or "tunnel" total eclipse in 2002 might be tempted to head for the area north east of Kakadu where the shadow touches down on the Earth. Observers hoping to see an encore of the 2002 all-sky show will probably be disappointed. The umbra in 2012 at 143km diameter will be seven times wider than the 2002. Following our observations in 2002, I postulate that the visibility of the tunnel is dependent on much more than the observer's proximity to the end of path. The shadow width determines how far away the tunnel edge is and its altitude. This coupled with air mass and particulate content determines how sharp or distinct the tunnel appears. I am pretty sure that the 2012 tunnel will not appear at all as distinctly as it did in 2002. I would guess it will be more distinct that the apparition in the Gobi Desert in 2008. The shadow edges will have a little more altitude than at TSE2008. If anyone does succeed in getting out there, please contact me. I'd be very interested to hear about your observations. With such a wide path, the edges of the tunnel or coffee filter will be a long way off, wide and therefore low to the horizon. Definitely an interesting sight to behold but observers need to understand what they might or might not see and weigh this against overcoming the difficulties & risks involved in getting to the area. Ubirr rock is located in the north east corner of Kakadu National Park on the border to Arnhem Land. Spectacular panoramic views such as this http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/11534888.jpg can be seen from the top of the rock while rock art can be found around its base. The location isn't geographically ideal being well off the centreline. The rock is situated near the southern limit at the sunrise line. Ubirr rock is probably the most easily accessible spectacular landscape in the path on high ground in this region.
Arnhem Land (Getting
to the centre line for a sunrise totality) It is easy to obtain a permit to go to Oenpilli. You can get a permit on the spot at the Northern Land Council office in the shopping centre in Jabiru. Oenpilli is in the zone of totality about halfway to the southern limit. However obtaining permission to go into the lands beyond Oenpilli to "do your own thing" will probably prove to be more difficult. The usual deal with permits is that you don't stop or leave the road and drive directly to an agreed place - usually the next town. In the region of the shadow touch down north of Oenpilli, roads are not all-weather surfaced. Permits to travel in the indigenous lands are usually issued only to visit the Gunbalanya Aboriginal Art Centre in Oenpilli. I haven't personally visited this area but I can't find any web references to people obtaining permission for camping stopping or travelling around these lands. All roads in Arnhem Land are subject to similar restrictions. Basically travel in this
area beyond Oenpilli, though not impossible will involve a lot
of paperwork beforehand requesting, justifying and obtaining
permits and significant risks of getting stranded should rain
fall. Oenpilli & Arnhem
Land Links
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