Many International Visitors to View Solar Eclipse Next Month in Chile
智利日全食将迎来大量游客
The world’s last total solar eclipse happened in August 2017. Millions of Americans stopped what they were doing to observe the eclipse, which passed over parts of the whole United States.
世界上最后一次日全食发生在2017年8月。数以百万计的美国人停下手中的工作去观赏这次日全食，当时的日全食覆盖了整个美国的部分地区。
A total solar eclipse happens when the sun, moon and Earth perfectly line up. The next total solar eclipse will happen on July 2.
当太阳、月亮和地球位于一条直线时，就会发生日全食。下一次日全食将发生在7月2日。
However, the total eclipse can only be seen in a few places in the world. This year, the path of totality will pass over areas of Chile and Argentina. The U.S. space agency NASA says the sun will be completely hidden by the moon for up to four minutes and 33 seconds during this eclipse.
然而，日全食只能在世界上的几个地方看到。今年，日全食将经过智利和阿根廷地区。美国国家航空航天局表示，这次日食期间，太阳将完全被月球遮挡长达4分33秒。
The upcoming event has led people from around the world to make plans to travel to Chile’s northern Coquimbo region, where the total solar eclipse is expected to be visible. Local officials say they expect more than 400,000 visitors to come to the area.
这次即将到来的天文现象促使世界各地的人们前往智利北部的科金波地区，那里预计可以看到日全食。当地官员表示，他们预计将有40多万游客到访。
A total solar eclipse is rare. The European Southern Observatory estimates that any specific place on earth sees just one, on average, once every 360 years. Visitors from around the world are expected to flood Coquimbo in the coming weeks for a chance to witness this uncommon event.
日全食现象十分少见。欧洲南方天文台估计，地球上任何一个特定地域平均每360年才会出现一次日全食。预计来自世界各地的游客将在未来几周涌入科金波地区，希望有机会目睹这一不寻常的天文现象。
The Coquimbo region sits on the Pacific coast at the foot of the Andes Mountains. Heavy demand means many hotel rooms are full ahead of the eclipse.
科金波地区位于安第斯山脉脚下的太平洋海岸。巨大的需求意味着许多酒店房间在日全食发生之前就已经住满了。
Flights to Coquimbo are offered by Chile’s LATAM Airlines as well as low-cost carriers Sky and JETSMART. Travel companies report airline tickets are selling out very fast.
飞往科金波地区的航班由智利的LATAM航空公司以及廉价航空公司Sky和JETSMART提供。旅游公司报告称，机票很快就卖光了。
A clock in the coastal town of La Serena shows a countdown to the big day. “People have gone mad,” one person from the town told Reuters about all the local excitement. “They want the day to come as soon as possible.”
沿海城市拉塞丽娜的时钟显示了对这个重要日子进行的倒计时。“人们都疯了。”该镇的一名居民告诉路透社，当地居民都很兴奋。“他们希望这一天尽快到来。”
Chile is a popular place for astronomers to visit. The country has many large, international research telescopes.
智利是天文学家常去的地方。该国有许多大型的国际研究望远镜。
“It’s a unique occasion,” Chilean astronomer Ivo Saviane told Reuters from the La Silla Observatory that he oversees. “For everyone, whether from Chile or abroad, it’s exciting.”
“这是一个与众不同的时刻，”智利天文学家伊沃·萨维恩在他所监管的拉西亚天文台对路透社说，“对每个人来说，无论是智利本地人还是国外游客，这都是一件令人兴奋的事情。”
Chilean President Sebastián Pinera is one of 150 “VIPs” with tickets to watch the eclipse at La Silla. Pinera has identified the eclipse as one of the most important events in Chile this year. The country is set to hold several major international conferences in 2019.
智利总统塞巴斯蒂安·皮涅拉是获得在拉西亚观看日食门票的150名“贵宾”之一。皮涅拉认为这次日全食是今年智利最重要的事件之一。2019年，该国将举办几场大型国际会议。
Luis Calderon is an engineer in La Serena. He told Reuters he thinks that the cost and effort of visiting Chile will be well worth it. “You have to be here to see it, even if it is just a couple of minutes,” he said.
路易斯·卡尔德龙是拉塞雷纳的一名工程师。他对路透社说，他认为他认为到智利旅游的花销和辛苦都是值得的。“你必须要亲自去看，即使只有短短几分钟。”他说。
英文、中文版本下载：http://www.yingyushijie.com/shop/source/detail/id/1474.html