"IT WAS sensational."
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That is how Dubbo astronomer Peter Neilson described the solar eclipse which he saw for two minutes early yesterday morning.
"To think the moon slid over the sun as a piece of (a jigsaw) puzzle was quite eerie really," he said.
Mr Neilson, who runs the Dubbo Observatory said he had been waiting for three years to see the solar eclipse.
Even though Dubbo did not witness a full solar eclipse like in Cairns, residents witnessed two-thirds of the sun covered which was amazing, he said.
An old couple passed outside his bookshop, Book Central, early in the morning and he showed them the partial solar eclipse through an astronomical solar film.
"The man said, 'I've lived all my life and I've never seen the moon covering the sun, you've just made my day'", he said.
Dubbo residents who missed the partial solar eclipse should not lose heart.
The annular eclipse due on May 10, 2013 would see the moon cover about one-quarter of the sun for residents to see, he said.
Mr Neilson said he could vividly remember being in New Zealand and seeing a volcano erupt.
"It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen in person and I think this explains why people are keen to watch a the solar eclipse, it is something different," he said.
Dubbo residents would be able to watch a total solar eclipse on July 22, 2028.
"Now that would be absolutely amazing to see and we won't need to travel to see it," he said.
"This would mean a lot for Dubbo as lots of tourists would come and see it. It won't cost the city anything to put it on as the sun does the show."
A total eclipse would mean the moon would go across the dish of the sun and completely cover it leaving the sky darkened and the night returns for a few minutes, he said.
abanob.saad@ruralpress.com
