Total Solar Eclipse of 2016 March 9
on Halmahera in Indonesia
The point of greatest eclipse (totality phase during 4 min 9 sec) was located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean east of Indonesia where about 10 million people lived inside the totality path. To observe the 2016 March 8-9 total solar eclipse, I proposed tours only in eastern Indonesia, in the Northern Maluku, where the ground weather prospects were the best and the duration the longest. However the local infrastructure was fairly limited. The Woleai atoll, belonging to Micronesia, was offering the longest land-based duration very close to its maximum but its airstrip was out of order so the logistics would have been far too complex. There were numerous viewing locations along the path, however paying close attention to the weather patterns and local terrain topography was mandatory unless you were on a cruise ship in the Pacific Ocean where the sky was usually clearer. Moreover the 2015-2016 El Niño episode did somewhat improve the weather prospects in Indonesia. Thanks to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and the various local authorities for their help.
Halmahera, the sprawling and largest island of the North Maluku archipelago, not only has the longest totality duration in Indonesia with 3 minutes and 17 seconds but also the best weather prospects for any land-based location. Moreover the island can provide access to the centerline and both the northern and southern limits of the totality path for the most demanding observers. However travel times can be very long by our Western standards, the road network being underdevelopped and the topography of the terrain difficult. Very few hotels are also inside the path or at close proximity. Nevertheless Halmahara has a lot more to offer from scuba diving to bird watching.
After multiple scouting trips in March, it was clear for me that the coast on the eastern side of the island has the clearest blue sky and the best chances to view the eclipse. Because of the local terrain topography, certain locations clearly have the edge.
Getting to Halmahera is not that easy as there are few connections by air or sea, usually you have first to go to Ternate or Manado.
The accommodation on the main island is comfortable and you can perfectly view 3 minutes and 8 seconds of totality from there.
Courtyard of the proposed accommodation
Deluxe room of the proposed accommodation
Eclipse viewing at totality time from the parking lot of the proposed accommodation
Quick and dirty night sky picture taken from the location (hover on the image to see the legend)
However to get to the best spot, more duration with 3 minutes and 17 seconds and better weather prospects, you’ll have to take a speedboat for 17 nautical miles (32 killometers) ride to a private island for which I have exclusive access.
Speedboat to transport the participants and heavy equipment boxes
Interior of the speedboat
Flat rooftop to store and secure the heavy equipment boxes
400HP engines propelling the speedboat
On to Pulau Plun, the island with many birds
Pulau Plun one hour later
The accommodation on the secondary island is more basic but perfectly acceptable. Electricity is produced by a 10 kW generator, meals will be cooked on-site. Be aware that on the island there are no cellular network and no Internet access (no landlines). Internet access in general is very slow and unreliable in the North Molucca and particularly on Halmahera. Usually a data plan with a local SIM card on a 3G-capable phone is the best option. Otherwise just bring a satellite phone. Activities on and around this island are of course limited, but you can swim in the sea or snorkel. Bringing your own beach towel is recommended. On March 8th and 9th we will try to provide complimentary scuba diving. Birding is also another possibility. On the island you can also find some endemic animals such as kepiting kenari (terrestrial hermit or coconut crabs) and maleo birds.
For the meals the plan is to provide fresh food, for example fish. Around the island there are mackerel, barracuda, grouper, and so on.
Bungalows on pilings in the vegetation
Side of a bungalow on pilings
Two rooms per bungalow
Two private bathrooms per bungalow
View in the eclipse direction from Plun island
Restaurant
Mess with the view towards the eclipse
Scuba diving with two dive boats
Solar Eclipse Flight (Contingency Plan)
To maximize the chances to see this eclipse, two new stratospheric eclipse flights are under consideration. Due to its operational capabilities, the selected aircraft will be again the Dassault Falcon 7X business jet which was previously used during the 2015 March 20 total solar eclipse. This aircraft is indeed the only one having the combination of sufficient range, cruise altitude above 48,000 feet (14,630 meters) and ability to land on a 2,000 to 3,600 feet runway (700 to 1,100 meters) while taking-off with tanks filled enough to not require any refueling.
Being inside the cockpit along the whole centerline over Indonesia at the time of the eclipse was also very instructing concerning the clouds.
38,000 feet above the Makassar Strait
Clouds over the Molucca Sea from 38,000 feet
Clouds over Borneo (Kalimantan) and Balikpapan from 38,000 feet
Clouds over Borneo (Kalimantan) from 38,000 feet
The chosen aerodrome to base the Falcon 7X doesn’t have any facility to say refill the tanks with jet fuel or perform any serious task on an aircraft. Which means the aircraft has to be autonomous and be able to land with well filled tanks.
Buli runway while landing
Buli runway while taking-off
Buli aerodrome apron
And now the baseline eclipse flight plans. The first option is a short flight, about 80 minutes round-trip, to get 3 minutes and 34 seconds of totality; the second is a much longer flight, up to 8 hours. The stratospheric eclipse flight will be expensive and limited to a happy few who will for sure see the eclipse, so another cheaper option is also in the works.
Simulation of the Dassault Falcon 7X "East" eclipse flight
Use of this simulation is strictly forbidden without my written approval. All commercial uses are subject to a fee for every planned flight.
Simulation of the Dassault Falcon 7X "West" eclipse flight
Use of this simulation is strictly forbidden without my written approval. All commercial uses are subject to a fee for every planned flight.
Those who want to venture to the northern limit of the path to get long displays of Baily’s beads can do so in either Jailolo or Kau (Kao). Two observation sites will be organized by the Regent of Jailolo, while in Kau (Kao) it’s very easy to go to the airport which is located close to the northern limit.
Article about my visit to Jailolo at the invitation of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy
(the title is saying that Jailolo will be an eclipse observation center)
One of the two viewing sites in the direction of the eclipse
Thanks to the Regent of Jailolo and his staff for his invitation and time spent.
City hall of Jailolo (the Regent is to my right)
This gives me the opportunity to speak about the Jailolo Bay Festival and its 7th iteration that will be held from May 11 to 16, 2015.
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