A rare total eclipse lasting over two minutes has wowed
spectators and astronomers alike in Far North Queensland, while
the surrounding wildlife also seemed dazzled by the phenomenon,
going completely quiet throughout the spectacle. Initial reports
of possible cloudy weather potentially ruining the show were
proven unfounded as the moon, sun and Earth aligned for the
second time this year. The better-than-expected weather gave
relieved spectators in the region a chance to catch a glimpse of
the celestial phenomenon. However, only Queenslanders got the
opportunity to witness the eclipse from land. A partial eclipse
was also visible from east Indonesia, the eastern half of
Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and southern parts of
Chile and Argentina. Totality – the darkness that happens at the
peak of the eclipse – lasted just over two minutes in Australia.
It sent a normally vibrant, unique and noisy wildlife into a
complete silence. Total eclipses can be seen from the same given
point on Earth's surface