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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

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Ministry Tourism Aerial Transportation French Polynesia Papeete Fare Manihini
Minister of Tourism
and staff

Sunset Point Venus
Sunset at Point Venus


Private Lounge Faa’a Airport Terminal Tahiti
Fully equipped private lounge
(Tahiti-Faa’a private terminal)

Beechcraft 1900D
Private Beechcraft 1900D
ready for boarding

Tahiti Papeete Faa’a Tatakoto Tuamotu Archipelago French Polynesia Eclipse-City Flight Total Solar Eclipse 2010
Flight routes from Papeete to the Tatakoto atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia
(green for the way in, way out in orange; about 1,300 kilometers one way)

Beechcraft 1900D Cockpit
Beechcraft 1900D flying
towards the Tatakoto atoll

Anaa Atoll Tuamotu Archipelago
Anaa atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago


Marokau Atoll Tuamotu Archipelago
Marokau atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago


Marokau Atoll Tuamotu Archipelago
Marokau atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago


Landing Hao Atoll Refueling
Landing at Hao atoll
for refueling

French Navy Falcon 200 Gardian
French Navy Falcon 200 Gardian


French Navy Falcon 200 Gardian Getting Ready Takeoff
French Navy Falcon 200 Gardian
getting ready for takeoff

Tatakoto Aerial View Tumukuru Village Runway
Tatakoto aerial view
(Tumukuru village and runway)

Tatakoto Tumukuru Tahunatara Tuamotu Archipelago French Polynesia Eclipse-City Flight 4WD Boat Ride Total Solar Eclipse 2010
Flight, 4WD and boat ride to the Garue motu and then onto 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)

Group Eclipse-Chaser
Group of eclipse-chasers


Headquarters Group
Headquarters for the group


Tumukuru Main Street Town Hall Church
Tumukuru main street,
town hall and church

Tatakoto School
Tatakoto school


Tatakoto Church
Tatakoto church


Inside Tatakoto Church
Inside Tatakoto’s church


Tatakoto Main Harbour Basin
Main harbour basin
on Tatakoto

Tatakoto Copra Dryer
Copra dryer
on Tatakoto

Lets swim
Lets swim


Departure Tahunatara Motu
Departure for the Tahunatara motu


Dinner Tahunatara Motu
Dinner on the Tahunatara motu


Main group on the Tahunatara motu
Main group on the Tahunatara motu


Tatakoto Tumukuru Tahunatara Tuamotu Archipelago French Polynesia Eclipse-City Camp Rainbow
Magnificent rainbow, 12 minutes to first contact, over the Tahunatara motu on the Tatakoto atoll
(background by Geoff Sims as viewed from the Tikahana motu)

Farewell Tatakoto Atoll
Farewell on Tatakoto atoll


Return Flight Papeete
Return flight To Papeete


Tahanea Motutonga Atoll Distance
Tahanea and Motutonga atolls
in the distance

Google Corporate Aircraft N2767 Tahiti-Faa’a
Google Corporate Aircraft
at Tahiti-Faa’a

Page 1 |  Page "Bora Bora" |  This is page "Tatakoto-Tahunatara" |  Page "Eclipse" |  Page "Google Map" |  Page "Cloud Cover"

Last page update on July 13, 2010.
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