| 2017 Aug 21: The Spectacular Total Solar Eclipse (2017-12-31) ⬅︎ |
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It has been said that a total solar eclipse is the most spectacular celestial event that one can witness. We traveled
to Oregon for the August 21st eclipse to find out for ourselves.
With perfect weather, we began our watch shortly after sunrise. By about 9am, the moon clearly began to cover
the disk of the sun. By 10am the sky was noticeably darker and cooler as over 90% of the sun was covered. The
appearance of our surroundings became strange and surreal.
But at 10:17, as the moon fully covered the sun's disk, everything changed. In an instant, the sky became nearly as
dark as
night.
Where the sun had been there was now a pure black orb, one surrounded by huge, flowing wisps of gases of the
sun's outer atmosphere, the corona.
For the next 103 seconds, we stood mesmerized by something we had never
before witnessed. We gasped, cried, and cheered.
Although we were close to fifty in number, when totality ended I think none of us could find adequate words to
describe what we all had seen and felt. So everyone present simply began to applaud and then exchange hugs.
It just may be true that a total solar eclipse is the most spectacular celestial event one can witness. What is certain
is
that this one left all of us wondering when and where we could experience another.
Tap Astrophotos above to see more pics of the eclipse.
Photo credit: Braden Henricksen/Starry Hill, Takahashi TOA 130 and Canon 6d, 8/21/2017 |
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