Eclipse report.

[HenryC]

I watched the eclipse from a 3rd floor Quality Inn balcony in Columbia, South Carolina.

We picked the spot because it gave an unobstructed view of totality from a spot where we could watch in relative comfort. The temperature was in the 90s and it was imperative we had access to breeze and shade. The spot also gave a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside (I had read the rush across the landscape of the approaching lunar shadow is one of the more spectacular visual effects).

We also had a parking lot below where we might get a good look at the shadow bands rippling across it. We saw neither the bands nor the shadow, although some of the other guests saw the bands (caused by distortion of the upper atmosphere) in the swimming pool. Either I didn't know exactly what to look for, or I was looking in the wrong direction. I was also hoping to witness the phenomenon of "Bailey's Beads" (sunlight shining through gaps in lunar mountains on the moon's limb). I failed to see that as well.

I watched the eclipse progress through dark safety glasses which I quickly removed as soon as the last speck of sun vanished behind the lunar disk. If there was a "Diamond Ring" effect at second contact I probably missed it because of my eye protection. Without the glasses, I now saw the utterly black disc of the moon and the ghostly, pearly white glow of the solar corona. My first impression was how tiny they both were–the published photographs always seem to show it as being bigger, and they are over-exposed in such a way as to exaggerate the size of the corona relative to the lunar disc.

Having said that, the sun at totality was absolutely breathtaking. The visual effect of the ghostly corona surrounding the black hole of the dark side of the moon is impossible to prepare for...no matter how much you know about eclipses, their causes and appearance, the pictures you've seen or descriptions you've heard; the physical experience is simply impossible to grasp until you actually see it. The kids in the pool later said "awesome", I just kept thinking "breathtaking".

I've seen full gales both from the deck of a great ship and from a tiny yacht, stunning sunrises over a tropical sea, the Milky Way from a desert mountaintop. I distinctly remember my first earthquake and the instant I emotionally and viscerally understood the earth was not fixed and rigid, but could ripple like waves across a pond. I recall the shock I received when I first saw the Grand Canyon and Yosemite Valley. But none of those scenes seemed to even remotely compare to this affair.

I spontaneously started to weep, unashamed, bawling, tears streaming down my face, and I didn't care who saw me. It was simultaneously beautiful and terrifying. The temperature dropped, the wind picked up, across the town I could hear a collective gasp as every voice called out spontaneously. A squadron of sparrows rushed by, although perhaps they might have done so anyway. I saw a bright planet near the sun, a few scattered stars, and a continuous sunset glow circled the entire horizon.

I am a trained astronomer, I know what eclipses are and how they work. They are a simple natural phenomenon, a chance alignment of heavenly bodies. But none of that knowledge or prior experiences prepared me for what I saw. It was simply overwhelming.

Without an understanding of what a solar eclipse is, it must have been simply terrifying for primitive man. But even a full intellectual knowledge of the mechanics cannot dampen the sheer visual power of the experience. It was profound, mystical, spiritual. I feel so incredibly privileged to have been able to witness it. Here I am, a materialist, an atheist, and yet I know exactly what it would be like to stare directly into the eye of god.

About two and a half minutes later, the first speck of the sun peeked out from behind the moon. It was the Diamond Ring effect, this time clearly visible for a brief moment before I could quickly put on my sun shades, an explosion of pure white light, a great shout across space. This was the solar system slapping me across the face and demanding I pay attention.

I'll never forget this. It has changed me in some deep way I still haven't come to terms with. I am not being philosophical or poetic here, I mean it. I'm not the same person any more.

[brackish]

Good report HenryC, I only wish the impact had been as profound for me.  My first profession approximately fifty years ago was an oil and gas code welder and still having my hood and appropriate shade lens I cleaned it all up, stuck it on my head and went out to see the eclipse.  During our peak time the sun was behind some clouds, but it was clearly visible with the welding hood on almost like the lens filtered the clouds.  Maybe you can comment on the physics of that.  At any rate I was at about a 90% coverage zone so I was not willing to see it at all without the protection of the hood.  With the hood on it was not all that spectacular, neat and unusual but not nearly as dramatic as the enhanced pictures that have been available.

[HenryC]

90% coverage don't cut it, Brackish.

Partial eclipses, where the moon doesn't completely cover the sun, are quite common, they don't even bother reporting them in the papers or on TV.  I've seen about a half dozen of them, and as you say, they are interesting but not particularly mind-blowing.  Besides, they are usually still bright enough that you can't see them without protective gear.  Unless someone warns you about them, you don't even know they are going on.

I saw one partial driving home, and when I looked over at the setting sun, I noted it had a big bite taken out of it.  Another time, I was on a boat, lying on a cockpit bench, and when I looked up the partially eclipsed sun, shining thtough an overcast AND my sunglasses became visible.  Interesting, but not if you've seen it before.

But once the sun is totally blocked out, the sun's atmosphere, or corona, is plainly visible.  It's relatively faint and pale, easily washed out by the glare, so it is only visible when the sun's disc is totally blocked.   The result is like a great eye in the sky, with the moon being the pupil, and the corona being the iris.  Even when you know exactly what it is, the resemblance still blows you away.  I can see how primitive peoples completely freaked out when they saw God's Eye staring down at them.

The way to watch it is using eye protection until the sun completely disappears, THEN drop the filter and look at it naked eye.  Take my word for it, there is no photo, movie, textbook diagram, classroom demonstration whatever that can prepare you for it.  Like I said, I perfectly understand the whole drill, I've studied this phenomenon intensively, but nothing, absolutely nothing, prepares you for totality. I got all the "profound" and "dramatic" I could handle.

In fact, for the last few weeks, I was afraid that the sight I'd been waiting for all my life to see would be a big let-down, a great disappointment.

It wasn't.

PS.  I too,  noticed the phenomenon of clouds "disappearing"  when seen through the filter.  We had clouds Monday too, and we could see their shadows with our eclipse glasses, but I suppose the thinner ones that don't block the sun out completely are faintly illuminated by the fierce sunlight, but the filter makes them disappear.  Fortunately, by the time totality arrived the sun was in a clear, cloudless part of the sky.

[tmw]

I travelled to Kentucky to visit my mother, and we drove into the path of full totality.  I completely agree, partial eclipses are nothing compared to a total eclipse.  Henry described it well.  Partial eclipses are like cloudy days, but the total watching the corona for a couple minutes is worth it. 

Our area didn't get very dark, as the surrounding clouds reflected a lot of light into the area (similar to just after the sun goes down).  But watching that corona... that was nice.

[HJ51]

I watched with a friend from my CP23 on our lake in Tennessee.  The clouds parted at exactly the right time and I agree it was astonishing.  From the boat we got a great perspective on the 360-degree sunset which in many ways was as beautiful and unusual or more so than the eclipse/corona effect itself (to me anyway).  Plus we had a great time staying cool floating in the water around the boat while we waited!

[JBC]

Saw totality in Casper WY, on a ranch. Henry's description pretty well nails the experience: nothing I had seen in photos taken of previous total eclipses prepared me for what I actually saw (and felt). I was so stunned I even failed to remember to take a photo myself or take off the solar filter on my telescope for a zoomed-in look at that corona.

Did see Baily's Beads. Brilliant.

One additional point. Mosquitoes, totally missing from the field during the heat and light five minutes before totality took advantage of that two minute+ moment of 360 degrees dawn/dusk and zeroed in on us with delight!

Jett

[phil guzik]

I simply call it Gods handiwork . So many essential functions of our world and cosmos are simple physical events , that humans find for some reason , beautiful . Thanks for your description , also beautiful . Phil