2010 solar eclipse - Cook Islands by Mark Sukhija

The Cook Islands are a collection of 15 islands in the South Pacific. The population of the Cook Islands is around 21,000 people. The Cook Islands are self-governing parliamentary democracy in free association with New Zealand.

Eclipse 2010

On 11th July, 2010, a total solar eclipse will occur in the Cook Islands. This pages is being developed with that in mind.

The 2010 eclipse only passes over the island of Mangaia which is the most southerly of the Cook Islands. Rarotonga will experience a partial eclipse.

On Mangaia first contact is at sun rise with totality at an elevation of 14 degrees - duration 3m 18seconds.

Getting to the Cook Islands

Rarotonga International Airport is the sole entry point to the Cook Islands by air and the quickest way of arriving. The Rarotonga International Airport is located on Rarotonga island, which is where most of the population (around 9,500) live.

Air Rarotonga, Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti have flights to Rarotonga International Airport.

Accomodation

Like Easter Island and French Polynesia, accomodation in Mangaia is likely to be in very short supply - especially as many tour operators started offering tours in early 2008, some even started as early as 2007.

Further reading