Solar Eclipse Today

[AutisticWill]

I got home an hour and a half ago; it took me that long to gather the strength to type to you guys.

Total walking time, about 8 hours.

[Fireball]

I got home an hour and a half ago; it took me that long to gather the strength to type to you guys.

Total walking time, about 8 hours.

Well done! I haven't been able to do that for several years, now.

[Gwaithmir]

I wasn't able to view the eclipse because the sun had set behind a screen of trees by the time it began. I did notice, however, that the sunlight was greatly subdued on Round Top Hill (opposite my house across the valley) during totality. 

[Unsapien]

I think that's the 3rd one I've seen in my lifetime. Never seen a TOTAL eclipse though 2 (including yesterday) were at least over 90%.

The strangest thing about it, other than it going dark at 3 in the afternoon, was the way the temperature just took a nosedive all of a sudden.

[polymath257]

I've seen quite a number of partial eclipses, had 1 total eclipse get clouded out, and have seen 2 total.

I just want to say, there is NO comparison between totality and even 99% coverage. They are simply different beasts.

In both of the total eclipses I witnessed, people started packing up bags within *minutes* after totality passed, even though there was over an hour left of partial eclipse. After the *real* show, partiality just isn't all that interesting. Cool shadows, sure. A bit darker, yes. A bit cooler, yep.

But you miss the main event if all you see is a partial eclipse and totality is available.

[airportkid]

... there is NO comparison between totality and even 99% coverage. They are simply different beasts ...

Isaac Asimov's brilliant "Nightfall" (written in his early 20s) about a planet with 6 suns that never experiences night presents the total eclipse story of eclipse stories.  In that story, totality is "totality" is its effects far beyond astrophysics.

[AutisticWill]

Still exhausted from all the walking yesterday, and i mean exhausted.

Woke up for a few hours in crippling pain today, about 10:30am.

Back to bed at 1:30pm.

Back up, and feeling exhausted but not in pain, 7:20pm.

Will try to write up my observations tomorrow.

[Cavebear]

For me, the eclipse was a total bust even with 89% where I live. I set up a camera on a tripod to record the differences in light (aimed at some white daffodils). Took pics, more as the maximum approached. And stood around watching the sky (from the safety of a large tree-trunk shadow). Personally, I saw little change in light. It was more like a small fluffy cloud passed over the sun. I'll be processing the pictures tomorrow, but I don't expect to see much change in light (and my cheap camera does not automatically adjust to light levels, so it should be accurate).

OK, some shadows were slightly less distinct at the peak. There were fewer bird-sounds (but not totally). I did not see any of the sky color changes on the horizon. If I had been outside and not known about the eclipse, I wouldn't have noticed it happening. My cats didn't react to it at all and they were outside with me.

And I know about astronomy. I looked forward to this event. I didn't expect to see much (no safe filters and outside the total eclipse area). But I did expect more than what I observed around me.

[pattylt]

I think it’s amazing how much even a little sun gives so much light. I’m located in the ~70% zone and nothing changed. The last full eclipse crossed Casper Wyoming and since we have friends and family (and lived there for years), went there and got the T-shirt! The minute the sun begins to reappear, the show is over and it’s full daylight again.

It’s fun to experience once and I’ve experienced two but I don’t feel any need to travel for another. If one took place in my backyard, I’d go and enjoy it but it’s not happening again in my lifetime.

[Deesse23]

I think it’s amazing how much even a little sun gives so much light.

I have read somehwere that every square meter of the suns surface emits enregy equivalent to a full blown nuclear powerplant.

[brewerb]

There was a group discussing the eclipse and I overheard one young lady say, in all seriousness, 'I don't understand why the back side of the moon doesn't catch fire'.

[pattylt]

There was a group discussing the eclipse and I overheard one young lady say, in all seriousness, 'I don't understand why the back side of the moon doesn't catch fire'.

My husbands grandfather was born in the late 1800’s and when we flew to the moon, he wondered how they got there without hitting any stars.  In his case, it was a lack of education as I think he only completed 6th grade. Today?  Someone learned nothing in school, obviously.  What a waste.