Successful Eclipse observation from Tatakoto

Hi folks,

This is to report back that we observed successfully the 11-Jul eclipse from Tatakoto. It was a night and morning full of tension as a lot of clouds built up in the evening and the night with from time to time some rain. Also big clearings with fantastic star sky but in the early morning looked quite overcast. before the eclipse started there was even a short rain shower an I had to cover my camera that was already mounted on the tripod.

But before first contact a big clearing in the sky reached the sun and before first contact at 07:27 we were all in the clear, with some big clouds just on the horizon. Just before 2nd contact there was very little of thin cloud just before the sun but almost all of the total phase we could see unobstructed. The corona was extremely beautiful with long streamers and hundreds of fine plumes near the poles. there was one very large prominence at 11: O'clock, having the shape of a lasso, part of a mass coronal ejection (MCE).
At the end of totality more bright prominences showed up, almost half a circle, then followed by the chromosphere and a short but very bright diamond ring. It was beautifuol and we were especially very releaved that everything turned out so well.

Just to end by saying that the stay at this small atol of Tatakoto was fantastic. The local people welcomed us very warm hartedly in their houses (no pensions here on this islan with a population of less thne 300, 1 village with 1 mainstreet, 1 town hall , 1 post office, 1 school. We stayed with 8 in the house of one family who took care of the excellent food: lots of fresh cooked and raw fish, and lots of coconut, the island is planted full of coconut trees. They took care for the lodging and bringing us around. After the eclipse they made up a nice show with the local dances. No internet, no stress, completely relaxing (except for the clouds before eclipse).

I am moving next to Moorea, just a small stop here in Papeete.

by for now.