Grey nomads were well represented in the 20,000 visitors who flocked to Exmouth in regional WA to catch a glimpse of the recent solar eclipse there … and now it seems New South Wales is keen to get a slice of the astronomical tourism action.
The ABC reports that another eclipse is set to occur on July 22, 2028, and will pass through parts of WA, the NT, Queensland … and the path of totality will pass directly through NSW, with many communities expected to experience total darkness.
Bourke, Dubbo and Sydney are on the totality path while, further west, Broken Hill is expected to see just under 90% of total coverage.
Astronomer Trevor Barry told the ABC that just a slither of one edge of the sun will still be not covered by the shadow, but still the lights will go out in Broken Hill as well.
Dark tourism! Another solar eclipse is expected to attract a flood of skywatching visitors. PIC: Elizabeth Olson / Pexels
“This particular solar eclipse gives the possibility for a great proportion of Australia’s population to experience the totality of a total solar eclipse,” he said. “It’s highly unusual, as far as Australia’s concerned, to have the track pass across virtually the entire continent.”
Destination NSW Country and Outback Chair, Clyde Thomson, told the ABC it was good to have so much advanvce notice.
“My view is we should start to think about promoting Broken Hill, Bourke, and the far west as somewhere to come and see the eclipse,” he said. “That then will enable people to come here earlier and enjoy what [these communities] have to offer but also enable people to judge what accommodation is required.”
Mr Thomson said promoting the various attractions of the far west could make it even more enticing for interstate and global visitors to plan longer trips to the area centred around the eclipse.
The 2028 eclipse totality is expected to last about four times as long as the Exmouth eclipse, at just over four minutes in Bourke.
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