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A total solar eclipse is one of nature’s rarest
and most awe-inspiring events. It startles the
Earth even the birds cease their singing-and, in
earlier ages, these “incomprehensible”
occurrences sowed panic, ended wars, and changed
the course of history. Today, we know an eclipse
as a definitive, experiential confirmation of
our place in the cosmos, dependent upon the
Sun’s energy. Thousands race to experience the
marvel of a total solar eclipse, traveling to
the far ends of the Earth. It is our great
fortune that the last total solar eclipse, on
March 29, 2006, it is observed at its maximum
duration from the |
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Mediterranean Sea near Libya.
Witness midnight at noon, as the eclipse plays
itself out against the background of this
ancient land.
Near noon,
anticipation grows as the shadow of the moon
takes a small bite out of the solar disc and
then grows for about half an hour while it
gradually covers the sun. As daylight
diminishes, the western sky darkens, and the sun
narrows to a crescent.
In the few minutes before totality, the sun
quickly becomes a sliver, and Bialy's Beads-the
last solar rays-emerge on the moon’s shadow. A
brilliant corona begins to ring the sun. Then
suddenly the blackness of totality plunges the
sun into a shadowy abyss for several minutes.
Finally the reddish prominences-giant solar gas
clouds surprises us with their unique shapes.
The sky is now dark enough for us to see the
closest and brightest planets and stars, and yet
a yellow-orange twilight appears to herald the
return of the light. As totality ends and the
shadow of the moon slips toward the east, we
know we have experienced one of nature’s most
mysterious and Spectacular wonders.
There are many places where you can watch
a solar eclipse in Libya:
1- Waw-Ennamus: because of the
spectacular landscapes in the vicinity.
2-The area around Jalu is another popular site
because it combines a desert landscape with a
high probability of clear desert skies and
accessibility from the rest of Libya – Jalu is
five hours’ travel south of Benghazi by good
road.
3- The region south of Tobruk, where no deep
desert expedition is required.
For
more information about eclipse visit these sites:
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