Clear blue skies treated solar eclipse watchers to a more vivid look at the phenomenon on Saipan yesterday.
Residents saw the crescent shape of the sun either through a pinhole or the shadows of leaves under the trees. Other people used welder's masks to witness the eclipse.
As earlier predicted, the sun's partial eclipse came at around 11:45pm and it lasted for about six minutes.
A banana-shape like image was seen by a throng of witnesses at the Palms Resort Saipan where giant telescopes were set-up by the hotel to give the local community the once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The image was reflected into a big screen but the watchers preferred to view it from the telescopes. The hotel also provided eye-protectors for the viewers.
Visiting scientist J. Ward Moody, however, told them not to direct it to the sun for too long because it might burn their eyes.
Moody, who is a physics and astronomy professor from Brigham Young University, said it was the third time he saw a solar eclipse but not in this perfect setting.
“It's unbelievable. There was no cloud. It's the perfect day we hoped for. The crowd here are excited,” Moody said.
People started coming to the hotel as early as 9:30am but the eclipse started at around 11:30pm with a tiny little nibble on the Sun.
The total eclipse was seen between 70-75 percent in all 14 islands of the Northern Marianas, including Tinian and Rota.
Moody said this was the first time he witnessed a solar eclipse this clear.
He said first time he witnessed a solar eclipse was about 40 years ago and the second was 21 years ago-both in Utah, where it was usually cloudy.
The total eclipse was 100 percent in Iwo Jima, Japan, some parts of China, and India.
“It's just amazing,” he said.
Marian Aldan-Pierce of DFS said she's glad for this rare chance to view the solar eclipse. Her sentiments were shared by many people on the island.
She said she even brought her granddaughter, Jezza Guerrero, to let her experience the solar eclipse.
Aldan-Pierce said that the crescent shape of the sun was in itself pretty awesome.
“They never gonna see it again in their entire life,” she said.
Scientists theorize that this won't happen again until the next 132 years.
The 12-year-old Guerrero, said that she hopes to see it again if ever she is still alive by that time.
Her cousin Lance Yamada said that what he saw was indescribable and totally amazing.
A Japanese tourist, Eiji Koide, and his girlfriend came to Saipan instead of Shanghai because he was sure that the weather here would be clear.
He said he was not disappointed because he saw an excellent view of the eclipse.
Businessman Paul Zak said it was a beautiful way to experience the sun in the sky.
“The telescopes are a great deal to have and see the corona,” he said.
Zak said he noticed a significant drop in temperature.
“The temperature dropped so fast. It was so nice,” he said
Maersk Line Shipping's Rob Engelharte said it was historic in the sense that you cannot see this very often.
He said that the last time he saw a solar eclipse was as a 12-year-old Boy Scout in 1962 in his native Minnesota.
He's now 59 and this was the first time he saw it again and he's glad that the weather was clear.
Engelharte said the most amazing thing that happened was the quick change of temperature from humid to cool.
“It dropped to 10 degrees in 15 minutes,” he said.
Engelharte said that once in a while he sees a lunar eclipse while at sea, but what he witnessed yesterday was very different.
Kaori Itzuka, team member of the stargazing program, said Japan may have 100 percent total eclipse but she said the weather is better on Saipan.
“We have a perfect weather. We like it so much,” she said.
Russel Snow, president of United Micronesia Development Association, which owns the hotel, said hosting the solar eclipse viewing was how Palms Resort plans to serve the community.
“What we have seen today is a wonderful educational experience and a way to do something with your wife and friends,” he said.
The hotel invited Moody for the special event. He is also here to conduct presentations on astronomy the next two Fridays starting 9pm.
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