Total Eclipse 2012 - Australia Nov 13th.
 

I thought this needed it's own thread....

There is going to be a total solar eclipse on November 13th 2012. The best spot on land to view it from is Cairns Australia.

There is not much like a total solar eclipse, the sky goes dark, the stars come out, the sun's corona. The thing I remember most from the one I saw was that you could see the shadow of the moon coming at you as a wall of darkness moving at something like 600mph. Fracking amazing.

Anyone want to come along?

Doing some preliminary budgeting, airfare looks to be about $2,200 (less if you start in LA)

Rooms can be had for $100/night'ish

I'm planning a suicide run (to minimize cost and time off from work) leaving Friday Nov 9th from DC arrive in Cairns on Sunday, see the eclipse on Tuesday, hop a flight later that day and be home in DC in time to return to work on Wednesday (that time/date change stuff is freaky). You might have more sense than me and want to stay longer....

I.WISH.

Have an incredible time.

That sounds amazing. I really wish I could do it as well.

No thanks, but it sounds like a rad trip.






(I'm having trouble renewing my AP, so I'm afraid a trip Down Under is financially out of the question)

Oops... Make that "in time to return to work on Thursday". The Eclipse is on the morning of the 14th down-under not the 13th. My bad.

I do have this right I hope... The sun rises off the East coast of Cairns? Meaning all I will need is a good look out at the Ocean and I'll have a clear view of the eclipse (weather permitting of course)

Don't forget we can accommodate 6 visitors at Green Point if there is going to be a Swank Camp in Forster in adjunct......

Moonie - do yourself and favour and drop in - a flight that long deserves a few days layover...

Right now the plan looks like:

Fly DC to Sydney - Arrive 8am Sunday Nov 11th
Sydney Bridge Climb Monday Nov 12th (10am'ish)
Fly Sydney to Cairns - Tue at 9am
View eclipse Wed 6-7am
Fly Cairns back to DC - Wed at noon.

You can't take even a couple of days to enjoy the land down under or it's two most likable inhabitants?!?

Paul Hogan and Bindi Irwin?

I would seriously look at adding at least two more attractions to the list.

1) Snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef (seeing as you're in cairns)
2) Our 60'' 3DTV

In order to accommodate the latter, you could fly from Cairns down to Newcastle or Sydney, and we could pick you up from there, show you a little local hospitality, then drive you back to fly out of Sydney direct.

We might have to Skype in order to convince you. I would hate to not get the chance to meet up.