Tuesday, November 13, 2012

ECLIPSE 2012 IN QUEENSLAND TOMORROW! IS THIS THE END OF THE WORLD?

KEE@FSWMAG.COM
I WISH I AM IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA RIGHT NOW!
I WILL MISS THE ECLIPSE OF THE MILLENNIUM BUT WHAT TO DO, I AM IN KUALA LUMPUR WHILE 60,000 TOURISTS HAVE ALREADY REACHED QUEENSLAND TO VIEW ONE OF THE RAREST AND EERIEST NATURAL PHENOMENA!

There is even a word for it---umbraphiles, which means eclipse-chasers!

Is this the harbinger the end of the world is coming? When the entire sky darkens and the winds howl, those watching the phenomena will shudder and scream so perhaps it is just as well I am here in KL with my adopted French son Dedione.

Is this a harbinger the end of the world nigh high? Will we all die in the greatest catastrophe in our history with 7 billion humans dead? And only me and a few left to repopulate the earth? 



Queensland, Where Australia Shines

Eclipse-eve excitement as 60,000 prepare for the event of the millennium
Excitement and anticipation thick enough to cut with a knife are in the air of Queensland’s Cairns and Great Barrier Reef as an estimated 60,000 eclipse-chasers count down the hours to one of nature’s most amazing phenomena.

At 6.38am tomorrow (Queensland time) all eyes in the region, along with an estimated 20 million from around the globe, will be on the skies over the Great Barrier Reef as the moon moves across the sun for the “totality” of a full solar eclipse.

This will be the first time Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef, one of Australia’s iconic tourism destinations, has experienced a total solar eclipse in over 1300 years.

Tourism Queensland Acting CEO Leanne Coddington said scientists, astronomers and umbraphiles (eclipse chasers) were making their final preparations and shoring up their spots for the best vantage – from hot air balloons over the Atherton Tablelands, aboard cruise or dive ships moored on the Great Barrier Reef, or from the beaches of the mainland and tropical islands.

“While this won’t be the first eclipse many of the estimated 60,000 visitors have seen, it is likely to be the first in such a beautiful tourism destination as quite often the best vantage point for eclipses is in remote parts of the world far from civilisation,” Ms Coddington said.

“For the 2012 eclipse, the best viewing spots will be in the heart of one of the world’s most iconic natural tourism destinations so most eclipse-chasers are combining their passion with a holiday."

Terry Cuttle from the Queensland Astronomical Society said total solar eclipses were rare in any location (around once every 400 years) so for one to occur in a holiday destination was even rarer.

“This is such an amazing place,” he said.

“Yesterday I had a fabulous trip out to Agincourt Reef and went diving so it will be interesting to see what happens to the fish during the eclipse – do they go to sleep for example?

“We’ll have to wait and see.”

Former Queenslander, eclipse chaser and psychologist Kate Russo said it was special to see the eclipse from her home state.

“It’s now only a day away and I’m really excited,” Ms Russo said.

“My first eclipse experience was overwhelming and I couldn’t believe the impact it had as it made me feel both insignificant and connected to the universe.

“I’ve travelled all over the world to be in the path of totality for 13 years so to be able to come home to be almost in my backyard is really special.”

Meanwhile students from Smithfield State High in Cairns have been looking forward to the eclipse for over a year, making pin-hole cameras so they can view the event.

“We’ve been really excited and now it’s finally here we can’t wait,” said year nine student Candice.

Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Rob Giason said the eclipse would give Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef exposure around the world.

"Bookings are strong with tens of thousands of people expected in the region to see the event and an estimated worldwide audience of 20 million watching via our live broadcast with NASA," he said.

"The Astronomical Association of Queensland and a team of scientists will be working with TTNQ and NASA to present a live web broadcast from Palm Cove, Ellis Beach and the Great Barrier Reef.

"Nature has given us the opportunity for the eyes of the world to be upon Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef and we have embraced that by joining with broadcast partners Panasonic, Telstra, Passions of Paradise, Angsana Palm Cove Resort and Tourism Queensland to stream live footage of the eclipse and our region via www.ustream.tv/cairnseclipse2012."



The 2012 Tourism Queensland Solar Eclipse pool feeds (VNR) are owned by Tourism Queensland (and partners) and are provided free of charge to all major Australian Television Networks and via the Reuters 'World News Express' and 'Media Express' platforms to the world's media on the basis that they are used only for the purpose of the reporting of news and that the feeds are not used for any commercial purpose nor distributed to any third party without Tourism Queensland's prior written consent. Your use of the Feeds constitutes your acceptance of these conditions of use.
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