Story of Sun Eclipse from Anantara Resorts Maldives

On 15th January 2010 the sun rose, heralding another day in paradise, complete with blue skies, sparsely populated with soft white clouds. As the hours passed there was a sense of growing anticipation as staff and guests alike looked forward to witnessing a solar eclipse, and it had been predicted that the islands of the Maldives would be the best spot for viewing this annular eclipse of the sun.

To compliment this exceptional spectacle, Anantara Resorts designed a splendid Eclipse Cruise. At 11am, participating guests accompanied by Resident Manager Patrick Both, set sail for a vantage point which would afford unobstructed views of the eclipse.

As the Moon moved slowly between the Earth and the Sun, chilled aromatic champagne and delectable canapés were served as guests mingled and observed the progress of the moon through special eclipse-glasses. At approx 12:20 our party was rewarded at first with a clear and spectacular view of the eclipse; then, as clouds moved across the sky, the sight was perhaps even more striking; it was indeed a memorable excursion for all those on board.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, totally or partially obscuring Earth’s view of the Sun. The solar eclipse of January 15, 2010 was an annular eclipse of the Sun, which happens when the Moon’s apparent diameter is smaller than the Sun, causing the Sun to look like an annulus (ring), blocking most, but not all of the Sun’s light. The Maldives was in fact the best place for viewing this eclipse as this is where it was longest on land with 10.8 viewable minutes.