Sydney Observatory

• Weather permitting, they are coming to see one of nature’s greatest sights – a total eclipse of the Sun on Thursday April 20.
• Whether staying at hotels, resorts or camping sites, many would have made travel arrangements a year or more in advance.

A fully immersive experience

• The bright disc of the Sun is entirely hidden for a short period – seconds or minutes.
• They are not only treated to the magnificent sight of the corona, but get a fully immersive experience.
• The gathered observers, whether from your own group or from distant countries, are united in the experience.

An addictive hobby

• One is that chasing them is addictive.
• Often people who have seen their first eclipse immediately want to start planning to see their second.
• Seeing the corona surrounding the dark Sun come into view was an awe-inspiring experience, heightened by the fascinating location and the elation of fellow observers.
• But if it’s your first time, it’s probably better to just watch and absorb the event, rather than try photographing it.

Plan ahead and stay mobile

• After passing through Mexico, the path of totality sweeps across the United States from Texas to Maine, before moving to parts of Canada.
• However, before picking a site, it’s important to study the “climate report” for the eclipse.
• This grants the best chance of avoiding the eclipse watcher’s greatest enemy – clouds.
• Seasoned observers try to stay mobile, so that if the weather forecast is bad for their location, they can move to another location to avoid the clouds.