Astronomer moves heaven and Earth to see total eclipse

Philip Mann had to travel 9,000 to Cairns, Australia, to experience the phenomenon, which occurs when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun.
The eclipse, which could only been seen from northern Australia last Wednesday at about 6.30am, lasted for approximately two minutes.
Thousands of tourists who made special trips to Australia for the spectacle were nearly left disappointed as clouds threatened to mask the view, but huge cheers erupted when the clouds parted to give a perfect view of the eclipse.
Mr Mann, aged 68, who watched the eclipse from Ellis Beach, said: “We were beginning to resign ourselves to a cloudy eclipse. Then suddenly a gap appeared in the cloud and a cheer went up right along the beach.
“The moment of totality was stunning, a bright ring with red prominence visible all around the disc of the hidden sun.
“Gasps of delight could be heard from the grouped watchers as the sun moved on and the diamond ring appeared. Then gradually the light grew stronger and half an hour later the day continued just as though nothing had happened.”
Total eclipses can be seen from a given point on Earth's surface only once every 410 years in the northern hemisphere, but only once every 540 years in the southern hemisphere.
Mr Mann, who was the first president of the Newbury Astronomy Society in 1980, added: “The little beads of light seen during totality are known as Baily's Beads named after Francis Baily, the Newbury astronomer.”