Waiting for the sun to rise (L-R): Val, Matthias, Michael and Craig
After leaving the Novotel in Cayenne at 4am, we arrived
on site (Pointe des Rochers, Kourou) at 5am and set up camp
adjacent to some fellow eclipse chasers - Matthias Graner, Michael Gill and
Craig Small
Waiting for the sun to rise (L-R): Val, Matthias,
Michael and Craig
At around 6.19 the sun peeped above the horizon and
gradually rose through the low cloud creating
a fantastic effect with the sea horizon (known variously as Etruscan Vase, Omega
Effect or Inferior Mirage)
There was a large local gathering for the eclipse, most
clutching solar filters (which were given out
free at some of the village health centres).
The crowd gathers in front of the Dreyfus
Monument
At last the main event - an annular eclipse. Quite a big annulus so very little light variation in the lead up.
|
|
|
...and between all that the birds flew around and across the sun (as seen in these video stills)...
 |
 |
Afterwards - not as many folks hang around for 4th contact...
...but there was a dedicated few who did...
|
|
|
We took our usual temperature measurements, though the results
don't show much (graph).
We also took humidity measurements which mostly recorded "HI" - i.e.
greater then 90%.
After the eclipse, it was a mad dash to the Kourou space centre for our guided tour.
|
|
|
Return to Andrew's Travel home page
