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04 june 2010,
"Total Solar eclipse of July 11 2010 -
first total solar eclipse over the giant Moai statues on Easter Island"
Alexander Krivenyshev, World Time Zone
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"Recent radiocarbon analysis indicate that human habitation of Easter Island actually began around 700-1100 years ago and the giant Moai idols were carved from rock between the years 1100 and 1500, then the eclipse of July 11, 2010 will be the first total solar eclipse that the giant Moai statues and inhabitants of Rapa Nui have ever seen."
According to calculations, the last total solar eclipse on Easter Island was on March 30, 591.
Over the past 1,419 years, the island has experienced 7 annular solar eclipses (613, 772, 1095, 1433, 1568, 1706, 1788)
It has been more than 1,419 years, when day turned into night on Easter Island and it is quite possible that in light of recent archaeological findings, the giant statues Moai have never experienced a total solar eclipse.
Based on recent data the giant idols Moai were carved from rock on between the years 1100 and 1500.
Adhering to the older theory that the first settlers on Easter Island arrived some 300-400 years ago (same as on the Hawaii chain), then the inhabitants of Easter Island together with the older Moai, (smaller tikis similar to statues on Marquesas Islands) have only witnessed 2 total solar eclipses:
March 16, 424 (totality 59 seconds) and March 30, 591 (totality 2 min 36 seconds) making the upcoming total solar eclipse of July 11, 2010 the third occurrence of this heavenly phenomenon for the inhabitants of the island.
Recent radiocarbon analysis and theory indicate that that human habitation of Easter Island actually began around 700-1100 years ago and the giant Moai idols were carved from rock between the years 1100 and 1500.
If one considers these facts and overlays the calculated, historical data of total solar eclipses occurring many centuries ago (Xavier M. Jubier, Espenak and Anderson, NASA), it turns out that the July 11, 2010 eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse that the giant Moai statues and inhabitants of Rapa Nui have ever seen.
The next total solar eclipse (after July 11, 2010) on Easter Island will be observed in 314 years on February 25, 2324 with a totality of 2 min. 29 sec.
Considering all above, the upcoming eclipse of July 11, 2010, with totality 4 min 41 sec will be the longest total solar eclipse on Easter island in over 2000 years (424-2531) and the first total solar eclipse over the giant Moai idols.
Details of the Total Solar Eclipse on July 11, 2010:
It will begin at 18:15 UTC (07:15 local time, UTC-11), 670 km south-east of the Kingdom of Tonga or 720 km east of the volcanic island of Raoul (Kermadec), New Zealand.
Unfortunately, most of the track of the Moon's umbral shadow (over 11,000 km long) will pass over vast uninhabited expanses of the South Pacific Ocean.
However, there are some pleasant exceptions, where one can observe a Total Solar Eclipse in remote, exotic locations in the South Pacific:
- Atoll Mangaia (Cook Islands);
- 15 atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago, 8 of which are uninhabited coral atolls;
- Easter Island (Rapa Nui);
- Southern Chilean fjordlands and the Southern Andes mountain chain between Chile and Argentina
4 minutes after the start of the full phase of the total solar eclipse at 18:19 UTC (08:19 local time, UTC-10) the Moon's umbral shadow will be only 13 nautical miles from the island of Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands.
At 18:21 UTC (08:21 local time) total solar eclipse will project its shadow over the first piece of land on the Cook Islands atoll Mangaia. The duration of totality is estimated to be 3 minutes 18 seconds.
Unfortunately for visitors and residents of the island of Tahiti (Papeete), the main island of French Polynesia, the track of the total solar eclipse will pass just 11 miles from the island at 18:28 UTC (08:28 local time) but this small distance certainly will not prevent yachts or pleasure boats from sailing into the awesome umbral shadow. And if the edge of the total eclipse will pass just 11 miles from the coastline, the center line of the eclipse will pass about 60-70 miles from Tahiti, where it will be possible to observe a totality of over exciting 4 minutes.
Between 18:34 to 18:48 UTC (08:34-08:48 local time) the track of total solar eclipse will pass over 15 atolls of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Most of these atolls however are uninhabitable: Tahanea (or atoll Chichagova (rus)), Motutunga, Haraiki, Reitoru, Ravahere, Marutea, Tekokota, Tauere.
There are 7 atolls that have a small population, where it will be possible to observe a total solar eclipse: Anaa, Hikueru, Marokau, Nihiru, Amanu, Tatakoto, Hao. As a special point of interest, Hao or Haorangi atoll was the first atoll in the Tuamotu chain to be visited by the famous Russian explorer Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen on ships Vostok and Mirny in 1820.
The closest to the center line of the eclipse will be 2 Atolls: Nikueru atoll, where totality will last 4 min 20 sec (starting at 18:37 UTC) and Tatakoto atoll, where totality will last 4 minutes 35 seconds (starting at 18:45 UTC).
For the next 1 hour 23 minutes the track of the Moon's umbral shadow will race across the South Pacific, with a maximum duration of totality is 5 min 20 sec at 19:33 UTC (11:33 ship time=local standard time, UTC-08) at coordinates 19° 45 'S and 121° 53' W .
As mentioned above, at 20:11 UTC (14:11 local time, UTC-6) the total solar eclipse will occurring over Easter Island (Rapa Nui, Isla de Pascua), with a totality of 4 min. 41 sec. and will be the longest total solar eclipse on Easter islands for over 2000 years (424-2531) and the first total solar eclipse.
After the Easter Island, track of the Moon's umbral shadow will cover 3700 km in 38 minutes reaching the rugged fjord land of southern Chile at 20:49 UTC (16:49 local time in Chile, UTC-04). As an example, it would take an airliner 4:40 to 5:40 hours to fly the same distance similar to distance from Santiago to Easter Island.
Unfortunately, when the Moon's shadow reaches the southern part of South America, the height of the sun will be only 5 degrees above the horizon. And if you are lucky with the local orographic conditions, then one can observe a beautiful picture of the total solar eclipse at sunset over fjords of Chile (16:49 local time in Chile) and over the Andes border Chile - Argentina.
At 20:49 UTC (17:49 local times in Argentina, UTC-03), the sun will be just 1 degree above the horizon near the tourist village of El Calafate, Argentina. The total solar eclipse will end at 20:52 UTC (17:52 local time in Argentina) -
130 km south-east of El Calafate, Argentina.
The total solar eclipse on July 11, 2010 will last for 2 hours and 37 minutes and will track across 9 time zones
(from UTC-11 to UTC-3).
The next total solar eclipse will take place in 2 years and 5 months - on November 13, 2012 and will be visible on northern Australia and the southern Pacific Ocean.
Alexander Krivenyshev, World Time Zone
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Total solar eclipse in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) on July 11, 2010
Ahu Tongariki- has since been restored by Chilean archaeologists with financial and technical assistance from Japan (1955-1996) and re-restored in 1960 after the devastating tsunami.
(Photo by Alexander Krivenyshev, 2002, Easter Island)
Map presentation to Zac Sunderland- youngest person to sail solo around the World.
Zac Sunderland draws his route around the World sail on World Time Zone map.
Map introduction to Tony Wheeler- co-founder of the World largest travel guide book Lonely Planet.
Tony Wheeler with World Time Zone kanga.
Before interview to "Marshall Islands Journal" newspaper, Marshall Islands, Micronesia.
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