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 Total Solar Eclipse of 2010 July 11
 Tatakoto, Tuamotu Archipelago (French Polynesia)

After leaving for French Polynesia in early July, I welcomed the eclipse chasers of my international group on July 7th in Papeete. While in Tahiti we stayed at the Radisson Plaza Resort Tahiti. On July 9th morning, we boarded our private charter flight to the Tatakoto atoll, located nearly 1,300 kilometers east of Papeete in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. We then stayed for the next few days in local houses in the Tumukuru village. The two days prior the eclipse were mostly dedicated to setup our viewing site on an isolated motu, to explore the atoll and its natural wonders and to observe the starry night sky. On July 10th afternoon, part of the group went by boat to the Tahunatara motu and spent the night there to be ready for the eclipse. And on July 11th morning we were greeted by 4 minutes and 28 seconds of totality in between rainstorms. Our return in Papeete occurred on July 12th early afternoon.
My "Eclipse-City" associates took care of the groups in argentinean Patagonia where they observed the black Sun from an El Calafate overlook. Our special eclipse flight over the Southern Pacific Ocean was cancelled due to technical problems, but all the passengers got to view the marvelous spectacle from El Calafate with the ground group.

You can use this solar eclipse calculator to compute the local circumstances of the eclipse, and the solar eclipse timer notifies the beginning of the various events. A time exposure calculator is there to help you choose your camera settings.


Click on thumbnails for a larger version

Page 1 |  Page "Bora Bora" |  Page "Tatakoto-Tahunatara" |  This is page "Eclipse" |  Page "Google Map" |  Page "Cloud Cover"
Viewing Sites —>  Tatakoto |  El Calafate |  Eclipse Flight

Videos —>  Tatakoto |  El Calafate
Tatakoto Tahunatara Motu Tuamotu French Polynesia Eclipse-City Total Solar Eclipse 2010
Totality from the Tahunatara motu on the Tatakoto atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia
(Mercury and Procyon can be seen on the full resolution image)

Tatakoto Tahunatara Motu Tuamotu French Polynesia Eclipse-City Rocha Family Total Solar Eclipse 2010
Totality from the Tahunatara motu on the Tatakoto atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia
(the whole Rocha family is visible on the photo)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Eclipse-City Camp Viewing Site Tahunatara Motu
View from Eclipse-City’s camp
on the Tahunatara motu

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 After First Contact
Few minutes after 1st contact
(orientation: zenith up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 In Between First Contact Totality
In between 1st contact and totality
(orientation: zenith up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Shadow Bands Before Second Contact
Shadow bands? before 2nd contact
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Baily Beads Second Contact
Baily’s beads at 2nd contact
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Prominences Lower Corona Second Contact
Prominences after 2nd contact
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Lower Solar Corona
Lower solar corona
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Inner Solar Corona
Inner solar corona
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Middle Solar Corona
Middle solar corona
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Higher Solar Corona
Higher solar corona
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Higher Solar Corona
Higher solar corona
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Extended Solar Corona
Extended solar corona
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Earthshine Star
Earthshine
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Composite
Composite
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Prominences Lower Corona Third Contact
Prominences before 3rd contact
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Prominences Lower Corona Third Contact
Prominences before 3rd contact
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Second Diamond Ring Third Contact
Second diamond ring
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Baily Beads Third Contact
Baily’s beads at 3rd contact
(orientation: solar north up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Mid-Way Fourth Contact
Mid-way to 4th contact
(orientation: zenith up)

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Fourth Contact
Few minutes before 4th contact
(orientation: zenith up)

Tatakoto Tahunatara Tuamotu French Polynesia Eclipse-City Moon Umbra Arrival Total Solar Eclipse 2010
Moon’s umbra arriving (left) on the Tahunatara motu of the Tatakoto atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia

Tatakoto Tahunatara Tuamotu French Polynesia Eclipse-City Moon Umbra Departure Total Solar Eclipse 2010
Moon’s umbra leaving (right) the Tahunatara motu on the Tatakoto atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia

Tatakoto Tahunatara Tuamotu French Polynesia Eclipse-City 4WD Boat Ride Total Solar Eclipse 2010
4WD and boat ride to the Tahunatara motu on the Tatakoto atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia
(atoll size: 14 kilometers by 4 or 9 miles by 3)

Tatakoto Town Council Deliberation Excerpt Total Solar Eclipse 2010
Tatakoto municipality town council deliberation excerpt:
you can clearly see the regular confusion made between "astronomer" and "astrologer"!
("for the 20 astrologers of the University of Hawaii")

Total Solar Eclipse 2010 Institute Astronomy University Hawaii Expedition
Tatakoto expedition of the Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii

Viewing Sites —>  Tatakoto |  El Calafate |  Eclipse Flight

Videos —>  Tatakoto |  El Calafate
Page 1 |  Page "Bora Bora" |  Page "Tatakoto-Tahunatara" |  This is page "Eclipse" |  Page "Google Map" |  Page "Cloud Cover"

Last page update on July 13, 2010.
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