SA: Eclipse viewers go home after stunning eclipse

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SA: Eclipse viewers go home after stunning eclipse

By Lauren Ahwan

CEDUNA, SA, Dec 5 AAP - Thousands of euphoric eclipse chasers were packing up todayafter watching a stunning total eclipse at Ceduna.

Heavy clouds which threatened to ruin the phenomenon cleared just minutes before thesun was totally obscured at 7.40pm (CST) yesterday.

"It's like it's teasing us," said a boy among the 15,000-strong crowd that lined theCeduna foreshore.

"There's a little bit of it and then it's gone."

The first glimpse of the eclipse came about three minutes after the moon started toobscure the sun at 6.40pm (CST), but the clouds came back just as quickly as they disappeared.

"Here we go again" was the common catchcry throughout the event, followed by "oohs"

and "aahs" and an occasional "I can't see anything".

Then the moment they had all waited for - the 32-second period of totality - occurred.

Darkness descended on the area as onlookers snuggled into their sleeping bags and rugs,while the clouds parted to show a halo-like outline of the sun.

"It's kept us in suspense all day," Londoner Alex Scutt told AAP.

"But it's great, absolutely superb - just superb stuff.

"I've never seen anything like it. You got just enough to let it sink in."

Fellow UK traveller Mike Smith was also amazed, but less impressed with the brief display.

"It's just like sex - too damn short," he said.

Ceduna and Lyndhurst, in South Australia, were the only two populated places in theworld to witness the total eclipse, although partial eclipses could be seen elsewhere.

The CSIRO broadcast the event live on its website, although educator Darren Osborneadmitted it was nothing like watching the real thing.

"I'm converted, I'm addicted," Mr Osborne told reporters immediately after viewingthe eclipse from Ceduna.

AAP la/las/de

KEYWORD: ECLIPSE DAYLEAD