New Zealand hotels fill up two years ahead of rare celestial event
Photo: Sunrise over St Clair Beach in Dunedin, New Zealand (Getty Images)
Hotels in the New Zealand city of Dunedin are already filling up, even though the event is still two years away. The reason is the region's first total solar eclipse in more than 850 years, according to The Guardian.
The last time such an eclipse was visible here was in 1163, long before humans had even reached New Zealand. The event is set to take place on July 22, 2028, at 4:17 p.m. local time. The Moon will pass in front of the Sun, casting a shadow about 100 kilometers (62 miles) wide across southern New Zealand.
The path of totality will pass over two well-known cities:
- the tourist destination of Queenstown in the west;
- Dunedin on the east coast.
Communities within the path will experience 2 minutes and 51 seconds of daytime darkness.
Hotels already booking out
Demand has proven unexpectedly high. The Dunedin Leisure Lodge has already sold out its special "solar eclipse package," which includes complimentary eclipse viewing glasses.
Tūhura Otago Museum Director and astronomer Ian Griffin explained why the event is so remarkable.
"The last one visible from Dunedin was in 1163, which was before humans reached New Zealand," Griffin said.
According to him, today's residents will become the first people in Dunedin's history to witness a total solar eclipse from this part of the world.
How many visitors are expected
The city, which has a population of about 130,000, is preparing to welcome around 35,000 visitors.
The eclipse will be more than just a local event for Dunedin. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible anywhere in New Zealand since 1965.
"That three minutes of darkness, if it’s clear, will be absolutely memorable for anybody who sees it," Griffin added.
An astronomer who planned 15 years ahead
Griffin's personal story shows just how seriously the event is being taken. He has been preparing for the eclipse since 2013.
"I did buy my house all those years ago based on the fact that you could see the eclipse from it," Griffin said.
On Wednesday, Dunedin's museum officially launched the two-year countdown to the eclipse.
The eclipse will coincide with the Māori New Year
The event will take place in the middle of New Zealand's winter, shortly after Matariki, the Māori New Year.
Matariki is the Māori name for the Pleiades star cluster. It is visible from New Zealand for 11 months of the year, disappearing for about a month during winter before reappearing around the time of the winter solstice.
Dunedin plans to host a night sky festival beginning with Matariki and continuing through the day of the eclipse.
"It’s actually unique anywhere around the world. We’ve got the cultural holiday celebrating the night sky, and then will be following it about 10 days later with a fantastic eclipse," Griffin said.
