The Impact of Totality- Some Teasers

So I got challenged to "convince" one of you this week. I'm certainly up for that! Of course, I don't think that one post alone is going to convince any of you to go see this eclipse. The purpose of this blog is to hopefully convince at least some of you over time to at least consider taking a vacation to see it.
 

One of the ways I hope to do that is by sharing some eclipse stories and videos that I feel best express the reactions from eclipse chasers, both first timers and experienced ones, as well as some of the more amazing characteristics of totality.

I'll start with the following video, filmed by Dave Kodama at the March 29, 2006 eclipse in Libya. As you watch the video, note several things:

1. The amazing drop in light level. This is not a time lapse video. THIS IS IN REAL TIME. I can speak from experience- the drop in light level that leads into totality is truly astonishing! Remember, you're watching this video on a computer or phone screen. You have the opportunity to have the entire world around you- the sky and the land- go dark that quickly. I should mention to you that it does not get as dark during a real total eclipse as it does in the video. Dave may have had the camera set to automatic exposure, which must have underexposed the scene. The average darkness of totality is similar to deep twilight.

2. As the eclipse becomes total, notice that a white glow starts to surround the disc of the Moon. That's the Sun's corona- its outer atmosphere. Well, the corona is actually MUCH more detailed than that! Cameras can't capture the range of brightness that the human eye sees. The corona is intricate and delicate.

3. Listen to the reactions! It is an exciting, incredible, and- for some- an overwhelming experience.

Here's the video (note that you don't have to watch the whole thing; it becomes pretty static after the 3:30 point. But a real total eclipse is anything but static!):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffBYVQ7j8M

Pretty amazing, wouldn't you say? Since that was in 2006, I had already developed a strong interest to total Solar eclipses. You may wonder- what got ME interested in total eclipses? Of course, the interest grew over time, but one of the first things that really caught my eye appeared in the December 1991 issue of Sky and Telescope Magazine. I had only been into astronomy a few months when I picked up the magazine. There had been a total eclipse over parts of Hawaii, Mexico, Central and South America that past July 11. Sky and Telescope published an article in that issue summarizing eclipse reports from all along the shadow path. This was the introduction to that article, written by Barry Slavin, who had witnessed the eclipse from Baja California: 

"The shadow came down on us over the ridge of mountains to the west enveloping everything in a single in-drawn breath. The diamond ring flashed, followed by unbelievably delicate and gossamer coronal streamers stretching, stretching outward. Now everyone was yelling, hollering, screaming, pointing. "Look at that!" "Look at this!" "Look here!" "Look there!" Just look! Look! Video and audio tape spooled in and out of cassettes. Stopwatches clicked. Film wound in countless cameras gathering images. I hardly know what I did. My so-carefully laid plans were in ruins. I could not take my eyes off that terrible, wonderful thing in the sky over our heads. No grammatical gymnastics of mine can begin to describe what I saw in those precious, fleeting minutes. It was every artist's conception of totality, but more brilliant, delicate, and finely etched than I could have ever imagined. Were the waves still breaking on the shore of the Sea of Cortez? I do not know. I did not hear them.
The diamond ring flashed again, unbelievably more incandescent than the first. The shadow ripped away, out and over the sea, heading toward mainland Mexico and beyond. The light returned. The wind off the sea returned. Insects buzzed again. Everything was as it was before, only everything had changed. Maybe I had changed." 

That gave me goosebumps the first time I read it, and each time since- now that I have experienced a total eclipse.

There was one other thing that got me interested. I was visiting a telescope store in a suburb of Houston, and was chatting with the owner. Somehow the topic of the total eclipse that past July came up. He said that he had led a group to Mexico to go see it. He told me that a couple came up to him after the eclipse, and they told him that it was one of the best experiences of their lives, second only to witnessing the birth of their children. Yes, a total Solar eclipse REALLY. IS. THAT. AWESOME.

I plan to post more stories and videos in future posts. Next time I post (in a week or two): What am I really hoping for and- why so early?? Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

A truly awesome natural event

Imagine a natural event that you look around and see a twilight- colored sky with an orange glow on the horizon in every direction- like a 360-degree sunset. A few bright stars are visible- and this is during the day! The air has a strange calmness to it- unlike anything you've ever felt before. But dominating the scene is a black hole in the sky, surrounded by a stunningly beautiful, pearl-colored glow that has fine lines, loops, and details that no artist could ever recreate. You and people around you are transfixed at what is happening. Are you on another planet? No, you're experiencing a total eclipse of the Sun right here on Earth- arguably the most incredible natural event that humans can experience. On August 21, 2017, people in parts of the United States have the opportunity to witness this stunning celestial spectacle.

Welcome to my blog dedicated to the total eclipse of the Sun on August 21, 2017! Thank you for visiting!

Many people have seen a partial eclipse of the Sun- or know someone who has. Indeed, this eclipse can be seen as a partial eclipse over all of North and Central America, parts of South America, and Europe. However, the scene described above can only be seen in the approximately 70-mile-wide path shown on the map below:

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html 

(The path of totality is the space between the blue lines. Map courtesy of NASA)

 It's my goal here to help you learn more about this eclipse, and to try to convince you to consider going to see it from the path of totality. I saw one near Munich in August 1999. I can't express to you enough how STUNNING of an experience a total eclipse of the sun is. Here are some topics that will be covered:

-Why is it so important to travel to the path of totality? Can't we just stay home and watch the partial eclipse?
-Why am I announcing this so early?
-How have other people reacted to seeing a total solar eclipse?
-What are some other good sources for information?
-How can we view the eclipse safely?
-How do we choose which region to visit?
-How do we choose an eclipse viewing location?

and more. 

Many of you reading this may not have an interest in astronomy or eclipses. But a total eclipse of the Sun is such a glorious, amazing event that everyone should see one in their lifetimes. Total solar eclipses do take place every 1.5 to 2 years- somewhere in the world. But since the path of totality at each eclipse is so narrow, traveling to see one usually requires traveling thousands of miles, at considerable expense. This one is easily accessible for millions of people.
  
Remember, the eclipse only takes place for a few hours. This is actually an opportunity for you to plan a great vacation- including sightseeing, eating great food, meeting people, and more- and include an unforgettable natural event.

I have been a member of an eclipse chasers' discussion group for over 15 years now. Many of the world's top total Solar eclipse chasers are members. I have learned so much from them. I plan to share that knowledge with all of you.

Thank you for reading this, and thank you for following this blog. As the saying goes- watch this space! 

Contact information: 
eclipseaugust2017@gmail.com (for private messages) or comment on this blog if you're ok with others seeing the message. I'll be creating a facebook page about the eclipse as well. Wishing all of you the best!