Locals and tourists experience total solar eclipse in Australia

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The total solar eclipse in Australia.

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The sun, hidden behind the clouds, at the beginning of first contact.

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A boy watches the eclipse through a welder's mask.

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Eclipse watchers marvel at the sight of a partial eclipse.

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A girl stands ankle deep in water to watch the eclipse.

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The moon moves past second contact and prepares for totality.

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The moon begins to completely obscure the sun, creating a total solar eclipse.

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Julian, Amelia and Sam Hess watch their surroundings change as a total solar eclipse envelopes Cairns in darkness.

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One minute before complete totality.

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The sun's corona begins to show as the moon's shadow completely obscures the sun.

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The solar corona, seen briefly by the naked eye.

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The moon's shadow prepares to move past the sun, ending totality.

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End of totality.

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3-year-old Hendrix Graham watches a solar eclipse for the very first time.

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A girl takes video footage of the solar eclipse with her smartphone.

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A girl takes video footage of the solar eclipse with her smartphone.

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Scientists, astronomers and eclipse chasers from all over the world joined locals in Cairns, Far North Queensland to witness an amazing total solar eclipse on November 14, 2012. Totality occurred at 6:38am local time and lasted for almost 2 minutes.

These pictures were taken at a local beach, where hundreds of residents gathered with their special viewing glasses ready to witness a total solar eclipse, the most amazing astronomical event you will ever experience if you are lucky enough to be in its path.

The beach was packed and the energy was vibrant and chaotic.

The clouds parted enough times for each phase to be seen and the rain stayed away.

As darkness descended, birds flew away, people stopped chatting, and everybody looked towards the sky. As the moon completely moved over the sun and totality was reached, loud cheers and cries echoed along the beach.

These pictures were taken without any special filters and only showed the total eclipse. Other phases could not be safely captured.

Submitted by

Maria Nguyen

Clifton beach, Australia, Asia

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Thanks Richard. The path of

Submitted by Maria Nguyen on Thu, 15/11/2012 - 03:45.

Thanks Richard. The path of totality only crossed between Weipa and Cairns so you wouldn't have seen much of an eclipse down in Sydney. But you'll be able to catch the next one (if you can wait for it!) which will cross right downtown Sydney on July 22, 2028. :)