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Moon Covers Parts of the Sun Around the World in First Solar Eclipse of 2002
AP Breaking News/ Tampa Bay Online ^ | 6/11/02 | Lisa J. Adams

Posted on 06/11/2002 7:22:42 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) - Music pounded, drinks flowed and a dazzling white light rippled over yachts bobbing in the blue bay of this resort city, where life blooms under an ever-present sun.

But something changed Monday. With the sun still high in the sky, a dark moon shadow crept slowly upward, taking a small bite out of the glowing yellow orb about an hour and a half before sunset.

Tourists rose from their beach chairs, restaurant employees abandoned their posts and beach vendors set down their wares as small crowds gathered on the shore to watch a partial solar eclipse - a phenomenon that was visible around the Pacific from Indonesia to California.

While not a major astronomical event - several partial solar eclipses can occur in a year - Monday's eclipse was exciting for those who crowded Cabo's beaches. The moon swallowed more and more of the sun until all that remained was a small sliver of white light.

"This is something that no one should miss," said Elisa Tapia, who saw the day go dark at noontime during a total solar eclipse here in 1991.

"I wanted to relive that emotion today," Tapia said. "To see how the shadows creep over the sun that has been shining so brilliantly all day."

The climax of Monday's event, the first solar eclipse of 2002, lasted about 10 minutes before the moon began to slide away and the sun set under flaring pink and orange clouds.

"You have to view this because who knows when we'll see the next one," said Tomas Esteban, 35, a jewelry vendor who wore glasses to protect his eyes while staring at the sun.

"It's really cool," said Jessica Sherburne, 27, an Oregon native who now lives in Cabo San Lucas. "It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime experiences."

In most places in the United States, sky gazers saw only tiny portions of the sun obscured, if any. On the East coast the eclipse occurred after sunset and was not visible.

The event began at sunrise Tuesday across the international date line in Southeast Asia. The eclipse staged its most impressive show late Monday near San Diego, on Mexico's Baja California peninsula, where Cabo San Lucas is located, and in Puerto Vallarta.

A howl went up from a crowd of 300 people on the lawn of Griffith Observatory, when the eclipse reached its maximum and partially dimmed the skies over Los Angeles.

"The temperature changes and the light changes, and I always enjoy it when I can take off my sunglasses," said Paul Jose, 51, a construction worker and eclipse enthusiast who photographed the event. "That's when you know something is happening."

Outside San Diego, where about three quarters of the sun disappeared, a small crowd turned out to watch the eclipse at the Oceanside Photo and Telescope Astronomical Society.

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun. In this case, the moon was farther from the Earth than during total eclipses, passing in front of the sun but not completely covering it.

Just south of Puerto Vallarta and about 30 miles south of the tip of the Baja California peninsula, 97 percent of the sun was hidden, leaving only a narrow burning ring of fire, known as an annular eclipse.

In Cabo San Lucas, more than 90 percent of the sun disappeared.

"It was very pretty, quite impressive," said Fernando Avila, a restaurant chef who watched the eclipse in his white jacket. "It's something everyone should see."

AP-ES-06-11-02 0939EDT

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAZOUQTB2D.html

This story can be found at : http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAZOUQTB2D.html


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KEYWORDS: around; infirst; mooncovers; of; of2002; parts; solareclipse; sun; the; theworld

1 posted on 06/11/2002 7:22:48 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
Well isn't that sweet.
2 posted on 06/11/2002 7:28:54 AM PDT by concerned about politics
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To: cool guy;HairOfTheDog;RippleFire;seamole;backhoe;madfly;Jeff Head;Michigander;The Mayor...

3 posted on 06/11/2002 7:29:07 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: concerned about politics
On the East coast the eclipse occurred after sunset and was not visible.

I noticed it was coal black dark after sunset, is all

4 posted on 06/11/2002 7:31:13 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: all


5 posted on 06/11/2002 7:34:47 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: all


6 posted on 06/11/2002 7:36:40 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
""I wanted to relive that emotion today," Tapia said. "To see how the shadows creep over the sun that has been shining so brilliantly all day."

Sounds like a prancing, flaming interior decorator from "Will & Grace."

Leave it to the Dissociated Press to turn an ordinary mathematical alignment of solar-system matter into something with "emotion." The only think missing was some bimbo wondering how "the moon felt, covering up the sun like that..."

Michael

7 posted on 06/11/2002 7:37:02 AM PDT by Wright is right!
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To: all

Press Release Annular Solar Eclipse of 2002 June 10 Fred Espenak, NASA's GSFC


8 posted on 06/11/2002 7:40:12 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: Wright is right!
LOL the article is sappy and new agey written. God forbid they post the facts before sap.
9 posted on 06/11/2002 7:41:38 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
I'm on the East Coast so I had to depend on TV.
10 posted on 06/11/2002 7:43:25 AM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
That the two orbs are nearly the same size is absolutely amazing. Wonders and wonders.
11 posted on 06/11/2002 7:44:58 AM PDT by bvw
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To: Wright is right!
I don't care for new age trash, but I did see the 1991 great eclipse (a bit north of Cabo San Lucas on the Baja peninsula) and it was an intense emotional experience. I had the advantage of knowing that it was coming, but I now completely understand why the ancients, who didn't, thought the world was going to end when they saw one. I challenge you to see one and have nothing more than a strictly emotionless, analytical response.
12 posted on 06/11/2002 8:28:15 AM PDT by coloradan
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To: Wright is right!
Leave it to the Dissociated Press to turn an ordinary mathematical alignment of solar-system matter into something with "emotion." The only think missing was some bimbo wondering how "the moon felt, covering up the sun like that..."

Too true and too funny! ROFL.

13 posted on 06/11/2002 8:50:02 AM PDT by callisto
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To: bvw
I agree.
14 posted on 06/11/2002 10:53:02 AM PDT by TaRaRaBoomDeAyGoreLostToday!
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To: all

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15 posted on 06/13/2002 6:57:02 PM PDT by WIMom
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