The last solar eclipse making the headlines in Angkor was the one on the 24th October 1995. It was a total eclipse reaching its maximum just before noon. As the sun was already high in the sky, no picture could be taken with the silhouette of Angkor Wat.
The recent solar eclipse that took place on March 9th 2016 received almost the same attention from the media. In a narrow corridor stretching from Sumatra to Sulawesi in Indonesia, the eclipse was total but only partial in other parts of Southeast Asia: Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Philippines, and Cambodia.
As the date of this eclipse was close to the Spring Equinox celebration where the central tower of Angkor Wat is perfectly aligned with the rising sun, it was such a perfect timing for watching the sun rising behind the main towers of the temple. Sunrise on that day was at 6.16 am and the eclipse started at 6.39 am, reaching its maximum at 7:34 am and ended at 8.37 am.
As expected, the moon started passing in front of the sun just after sunrise. As the eclipse continued the sun was close enough to the main tower to capture a half-sun sitting right above the pinnacle of the main tower. It was also a good time to catch some reflection on the pond.
Another eclipse leaving only a crescent of sun above Angkor Wat will take place on April 20th 2042. Save the date, it should be another spectacular event, though with a maximum point at 8.06 am, the sun will already be quite high on the sky but the changing of light might be interesting.
(These pictures were taken with a Canon 5DMKII and a 24-105 mm f:4 lens fitted with a 10-stops neutral density filter)
Angkor Wat temple before sunrise – 6.08 am.
Beginning of the solar eclipse behind Angkor Wat – 6.41 am
Sun eclipse above Angkor Wat main tower – 6.54 am
Sun eclipse beside Angkor Wat main tower – 6.58 am.
Sun eclipse above Angkor Wat main tower – 7.04 am.
Angkor Wat temple reflecting on water pond – 7.08 am.
Partial solar eclipse at the maximum – 7.35 am.
Angkor Wat temple and its moat view from the from West entrance – 8.06 am.
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