European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 12, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Friday july 11, 1991 the stars and stripes b Page 3 witness rare of scientists some Umbra at 50 Miles 1730 get 50 pm source totality eclipses of the Sun univ. Of Hawaii press a Karl tale by Ron Staton the associated press atop Mauna Kea Hawaii a the Moon slipped Over the Sun thursday in the ageless celestial ceremony of the eclipse turning Day info night for thousands of thrill seekers and scientists. But Clouds interfered with the View for Many and could affect scientific experiments. 1 astronomers and tourists came to see the Moon line up Between the Sun and Earth and plunge into darkness a 160-mile-wide Swath stretching from Hawaii and Mexico a Baja Peninsula to Central and Southern Mexico Central America Colombia and Brazil. One after another spectators around the Mountain top astronomy Observatory exclaimed a ooh my god a As the sky went dark. Gov. John Waihee remarked a what do you say its spectacular. In a just glad i had the Chance to be  but Cirrus Clouds High in the sky dampened the Joy of scientists who said even thin Clouds affect their ability to gather data. Donald Hall of the University of Hawaii a astronomy Institute said researchers would have to study the material that was gathered before they could say with certainty How much harm had been done. During the total eclipse a huge Orange prominence or Cloud of solar gases could be seen with the naked Eye projecting out of the top of the hidden Sun. Hall said the Loop of fiery gases extended at least 50,000 Miles from the surface of the Sun. A a. The eclipse ended with a dazzling a Diamond ring effect on the rim As the first rays of Sun emerged from behind the  the Clouds Hall described the eclipse As a �?o10�?� on the scale of 1 to 10. As totality a the moment of total Sun coverage a arrived at sea level in Mauna Kea thousands of feet below the Sun was hidden by a Cloud cover. It still got dark but the Clouds obscured the View for about 500 people gathered on the driving Range at the Mauna Lani resort in South Koala. Their Hopes had fallen and risen in the previous hour As the Clouds came and went. A i came especially for this and Hope we get to see it a said Margaret Macleod a mathematics and science teacher from Manhattan Beach calif., shortly before the eclipse. A if we done to get to see it i May have to go to Iraq for the next one a eclipse mania gripped Hawaii and Mexico which offered the Best viewing spots. About 500 astronomers and tens of thousands of amateurs arrived in recent weeks. Entrepreneurs peddled to shirts and other paraphernalia. Events ranged from ancient eclipse rituals in Mexico to a wedding atop a Man made Waterfall in Hawaii As the Sun disappeared. Only a partial eclipse would be visible in the Mainland United states and Southern Canada. The Best viewing spots in the Continental United states were in the Southwest and Southern California. But in some places part of an eclipse was nearly As Good As a whole one. In Elpaso Texas summer school students planned to watch during lunch. A a it la be right Over the lunch hour which is real convenient a said John Peterson school District planetarium director. A a it a like this thing was scheduled just for  in Mexico City a ritual depicting the Moon attempting to eat the Sun was planned at the anthropology museum. Guatemalan Indian villagers who worry during eclipses that the Sun will disappear forever were to ring Church Bells and bang pots and pans to resurrect it. In Hawaii the Rev. Beverly Bates planned to marry Dene Hallum and Kimberly Ruiz no travelled from Houston. Bates planned to Don special sunglasses during the ceremony timed to culminate with a kiss at the moment of totality. A a in la have on my White ministers Robe and my Square Little Sun peeps a she said. Observers were warned not to look directly at the Sun because of the risk of Eye damage from any Bright Light and radiation not blocked by the eclipse. Vendors Selling protective glasses were doing a brisk business but the american Academy of ophthalmology said they weren to foolproof and suggested ways to View the eclipse indirectly such As through homemade pinhole cameras. A local wit in Mexico City joked a be Safe listen to the eclipse on the  astronomers and other scientists from around the world gathered at an Observatory on the 13,796-foot Summit of Mauna Kea a dormant Volcano to study the suns Corona during the eclipse with an array of High powered telescopes. It was the first time an eclipse path of totality would pass Over a major Observatory scientists said. A before we be always had to pack up our equipment and go to the eclipse a said Charles Lindsay a scientist with the University of Hawaii Institute for astronomy. Scientists worried that the four minute View would be less than perfect because of Ash from erupting mount Pinatubo in the Philippines. One objective is to learn More about Why the suns Corona the layer of Gas around the Sun is about 3 million degrees fahrenheit while the suns surface is Only 10,000 degrees one scientist said. The suns Interior is around 27 million degrees. While scientists tended to their Mountaintop experiments tourists staked out Good viewing positions. Hawaii county officials suspended a parking ban along highways to allow motorists to pull off to the Side and watch. Restaurants and other businesses offered souvenirs eclipse theme dishes and drinks and even eclipse haircuts a everything is Selling pretty Well except for the eclipse Frisbee. Nobody wants eclipse fris Dees a said a wild Bill Lawrence who helped out at Moons a Dows one of Many Small shops set up to sell eclipse mementos. One Church in Hawaii offered a nightly eclipse service. Another invited visitors to a come worship with the  Awe struck tourists and residents gape through protective Shields As the Sun is eclipsed Over Koala coast Hawaii