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World to witness solar eclipse, FIFA final on July 11
by Jamie Anderson - July 11, 2010 - comments
The July 11 eclipse is a total solar eclipse, therefore some parts of the Earth will plunge into darkness during daytime as well. The Moon’s diameter would be larger than that of the Sun thereby blocking all the sunlight.
Two remarkable events are lined up for July 11, 2010. One of them is purely an act of Mother Nature while the other is a battle amongst the mortals.
As the world braces to watch Holland and Spain battle it out to shed their ‘underachievers’ tag in World Cup 2010 Final, the total solar eclipse also promises to treat the world with a fantabulous view.
Overlapping events
What’s more, the two events coincidentally overlap. The eclipse starts 15 minutes before the FIFA final kicks off and lifts 37 minutes after the world cup winner emerges.
The eclipse will begin at 2:15 p.m. ET north of New Zealand near the Cook Islands; continue past Easter Island and ends in Chile at 4:52 p.m. ET. The showdown in South Africa meanwhile starts exactly at 2:30 pm ET.
Solar eclipse occurs when Moon passes between Earth and Sun, thereby obscuring Earth’s view of the Sun.
If large crowds are expected to inundate the stadium for the finals, the Cook Islands also has had its fair share of tourists poring in to view the rare astronomical event.
"The large crowds that have gathered in the Cook Islands, Tahiti and Easter Island for the event will only be distracted away from the World Cup match for a brief moment. They can return to it right after," said Tata Crocombe, chairman of Cook Islands Tourism Corp.
As of now, there are 400 visitors in Mangaia, the southernmost of the Cook Islands. The number, equivalent to the Island's population, is more than the number of tourists that come to Cook Islands for the whole year.
Arrangements in place
Solar eclipses have been known to draw crowds and attention since time immemorial. This time around as well, people with daypacks and telescopes, have poured in to the island from across the globe.
There are Japanese and Americans contingents as well who intend to treat their eyes with the magnificent site.
"The first tour group contacted us about 18 months ago. We are now working with specialized eclipse tour companies, and have made arrangements to ship additional bedding and logistical equipment to the Islands," said Ewan Smith, managing director of Air Rarotonga.
"We even have eclipse observation flights, where tourists rendezvous down the path of the eclipse at a high altitude, enjoying about three minutes and 45 seconds of total eclipse," Smith added.
The eclipse will last the longest for 5 minutes 20 seconds over open Pacific waters at 3:33 p.m. ET. This is the best chance for people around the world to see the site.