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2009 july 22nd : Solar eclipse cruise in Japan
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The 2009 july 22nd
solar eclipse which lasts 6m39s is the longest of the century. We couldn’t
miss this one. The only problem is it occurs in India, Shanghai and south
Japan just in the monsoon season. |
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The best chances of
observing this eclipse are offshore Japan, where monsoon effects are weakened
by the Pacific ocean. We then decided to book a 12 days cruise organized by
an American travel agency on board Costa Classica. |
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We leave on july 17th
from Tianjin Beijing port. It is raining. We are around 900 passengers, 95%
American people, few germans, japaneses, iraniens and three Canadians from
Quebec and three Frenchies, all eclipse chasers. |
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We spend the july
18th at sea. The weather
is rainy and sultry and the China sea is quite rough. Anyway, we don’t bother
ourselves. Besides the Costa team animations, we can assist a great number of
conferences everyday. I will also be a speaker and tell about my solar
eclipse stamps collection on july 27th. |
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On july 19th,
we have our first stop on Jeju island in South Korea. The weather is still
moist, hot and overcast. |
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On july 20th,
we reach Kagoshima, south Kyushu in Japan. Sakurajima volcano, facing the
city is still active but harmless for the citizens. We won’t see it as it is
hidden by the clouds. The whole city is eagerly prepared for this eclipse. |
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We spend the full day of
july 21st at sea, heading south east sailing 20 kts speed. The
Pacific Ocean is really “pacific” and the weather is fine. We have a general
rehearsal of the tomorrow eclipse on the decks, setting and fixing our
instruments and timing. |
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It is the D day. We
sail along Iwo Jima island. American veterans are living a great emotion. It is
also moving hearing the story of this terrible battle. |
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No fear regarding the
weather. Just for the fun, we will be sailing reverse, then we’ll have 96
hundredth second extra totality. |
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Everybody is fixing
the last details. |
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The crew joins us on the
decks. |
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12h03m06s. First contact.
We are ready to enjoy 6m40s of happiness |
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The sky is turning
darker. The colours are metallic. |
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12h26m40s.
Totality. It is so magnificent, and it lasts, lasts, lasts ... |
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The corona is superb.
Binoculars reveal wonderful coronal jets. As usual, the emotion is great. |
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13h33m20s. It is
over. We are still affected by the magic of this eclipse. The crew is very
excited, most of them never saw an eclipse before. |
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We are not the only ones cruising along the
totality path. Asuka II Japanese cruise ship meets us. Both cruise ships have
long foghorn calls while crossing. |
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We spend the july
23rd at sea. Many eclipse chasers are showing their pictures and
movies in the conference hall. |
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July 24th. We arrive at Kobe. We
will stay two full days. I am particularly touched when visiting the
earthquake museum. Kobe was totally destroyed by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake
on 1995 january 17th at5.46 AM. The city is entirely rebuilt. |
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It is time to
return to China. We spend july 26th and 27th at sea,
and China sea is still rough. We return into monsoon, and it is raining when
we berth at Tianjin port on july 28th. |
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We spend one more night aboard and
definitely leave the ship on july 29th. We’ll spend some more days
in Beijing before returning to Paris and plan our next eclipse trip. |
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© 2001 Martine TLOUZEAU et Jean-Paul GODARD. Tous droits réservés
ème
visiteur de l'Uranoscope.
ème
visiteur de MsEclipse.