Solar eclipse plunges South America into darkness as 300,000 skygazers watch

[sandensea]

A rare total solar eclipse left parts of South America in stunning darkness this evening.

Thousands of tourists are estimated to have travelled to Chile and Argentina to watch the celestial event unfold.

The first skygazers to witness the eclipse were on Oeno Island, an uninhabited British Overseas Territory, at around 10.30am local time. The first mainland observers to witness the event were on the coast of Chile, near La Serena.

The eclipse made its way from west to east and reached the Argentine capital Buenos Aires at 5.44pm local time. The next solar eclipse won't take place until December 14, 2020 – and that's over South America too.

It is estimated around 300,000 people will have seen eclipse before sunset today.

According to The Times of Chile, famous "eclipse chasers" setting up camp in South America include Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, former U.S. president Bill Clinton, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and Virgin Galactic founder Richard Branson.

They're reportedly hunkered down at the Nomad Eclipse Glamp, an "elite accommodation service" where rich visitors can watch the eclipse in comfort near La Serena.

At: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/9417301/solar-eclipse-watch-live-today-uk-south-america/

Timelapse view of today's total eclipse over Buenos Aires.

[BigmanPigman]

1. Very cool!

Scientists can study parts of the sun during an eclipse that they normally are not able to do. I hope some countries share their info with us since who the Hell knows how many of the US scientists are left to do research during the dark days of tRumpism.

[Judi Lynn]

2. It's pretty nice getting to almost share a view of that eclipse with citizens in Buenos Aires.

Thanks for this video, sandensea!

[sandensea]

3. Glad you liked it Judi.

Not everyone was pleased to see eclipse though:

You'll recall that our friend Macri is quite the astrology aficionado, going so far as to try to move the inaugural up 12 hours to catch "Jupiter rising."

Astrologers have long believed eclipses bring disruptions to whatever country they pass over - and in particular, problems to whoever's in charge.

But all the more so if they're on shaky ground as it is.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Forgot Macri has a deep need to try to reach for more power from the occultists.

That really shows he's far more insecure than he wants people to know. Could be committing a lot of crimes, and expecting to commit far more, can make a man uneasy!