People say that words can’t capture the feeling of a (near)-total eclipse.
So, with minimal words — just captions — here are some scenes from today’s once-in-a-real-long-time event.
Today’s free Levitt Pavilion show was in the sky, not on stage. (Photo/Frank Rosen)
The Westport Astronomical Society set up telescopes — and offered safety gear — outside the Westport Library. (Photo/Frank Rosen)
Getting ready, thanks to the Westport Astronomical Society. (Photo/Frank Rosen)
Getting started. (Photo/Benji Porosoff)
Waiting for glasses outside the Library. (Photo/Tracy Porosoff)
An hour before peak totality (90.7%). (Photo/Jerry Kuyper)
Compo’s South Beach (Photo/Ted Horowitz)
The Temple Israel staff takes an eclipse break … (Photo courtesy of Bryan Bierman)
… and so, 6 minutes before totality, so does the Town Hall staff. (Photo/Jeff Wieser)
Linda and Mikayla Doyle could not find glasses. So they used the “pin prick on cardboard” method. To their surprise, they saw a view of the eclipse through the shadows of an evergreen tree, on the cardboard.
Above the trees, a strange sight. (Photo/Lauri Weiser)
Near totality. (Photo/Andrew Colabella)
The payoff: The moon nearly blots out the sun. (Photo/Jerry Kuyper)
Taking no chances. (Photo/Amy Schneider)
Rarely have I seen so many get so excited for so little.
Tommy, I guess you’ve never been to a Trump wedding! If you think this was a flop………..
I thought trumps face was going to be revealed during the eclipse
Dan W at his best
WOW!!! wonderful post Dan. Thanks so much.
Great coverage!!!
Totality is what it is about! The experiences are not even close. As Dr Rick Fienberg of the American Astronomical Society said, “there is no such thing as a 99% total solar eclipse. Just like there’s no such thing as being 99% pregnant. It’s all or nothing.” It is the difference between a no-hitter and a perfect game.
We went to Waterbury, Vermont on Sunday to get a great spot for a view on Monday, and were not disappointed.
There are two primary differences in experiencing an eclipse in totality and a partial eclipse.
First, even when there is the slightest crescent of sun, there is plenty of sunlight – it might seem like late afternoon light, but there is still a lot of light. During totality, it is dark – think of the night sky and the experience when there is a full moon. You can still see your surroundings, but it is dark. And we could see Venus! Unfortunately, as the slightest haze had moved in, so we couldn’t see the less bright stars or a comet that folks had been hoping to see. But in totality, it is dark not light.
Second, the Corona! In totality, that split second that the Sun is completely covered, it is like someone turns on this beautiful ring. Just this bright perfect ring in the sky, surrounding a hole of darkness. (Comparatively, what is seen in a partial is more of a “crescent sun” a completely different thing.) We could also take off our eclipse glasses at that point and look right at what was happening!
While the haze also prevented us from seeing the “diamonds” that will sometimes appear, there was an interesting slightly red protrusion that could be seen at 7-o’clock on the Corona. (So instead of a diamond ring, we got a garnet one, I suppose!) I later heard that they were solar gases that did not escape via solar flares, so it was kind of a ‘solar bubble’ that was sticking out. Then after about 2:40 (up there), as quickly as they went out, the lights came back on.
If you want to “experience” a total eclipse without actually seeing one, the best bet is to read Annie Dillard’s extraordinary essay “Total Eclipse.”
Partial eclipses (like what was seen in Westport) are common, but fun, so save your glasses for the next one March 29, 2025. Even better, though not close to as rare as a total solar eclipse, we we experience a total lunar eclipse March 13/14, 2025. If you want to see an eclipse in totality, your next chance is in August 2026 – from parts of Spain, Iceland, and Greenland! The next total eclipse in the lower-48 (and mostly in the northern mountain west and Canada into Alaska) won’t be available in 2044.
At least Trump isn’t a war criminal like genocide Joe.
WTF does that have to do with the eclipse. Were you dropped on your head when you were a baby?