Great American Eclipse - The Sequel
Observing the total solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024
Great American Eclipse – The Sequel
Movie sequels were always horrible. They rarely live up to the quality of the
original. I think the movie Aliens was probably the first time a sequel
was actually good. In August of 2017, a total solar eclipse graced the United
States, from Oregon to South Carolina. Without any firm destination, Lynn and I
packed up my astronomy equipment, extra gas cans, some sleeping bags, and headed
out to chase it down. It was a grand adventure and we experienced totality in a
little Tennessee town called Spring City. You can read about it here:
AmericanEclipse2017. Just a short seven years later,
another total eclipse graced the United States, stretching from Texas to Maine.
Unlike the previous eclipse, we actually did a little planning for this one.
The Great American Eclipse of 2024 was a sequel to the 2017 eclipse. The
difference was this one crossed the country in a different direction and was
longer in duration, with maximum totality being over 4 minutes. Our good
friends, Tyler & Julie Toney spurred us to do more planning for this one,
instead of heading out like astronomical gypsies. We reserved various hotel
rooms ranging from Texas to Indiana, and planned on elimination based on weather
reports. The days leading up to the eclipse were an exercise in frustration and
stress, with the weather reports flip flopping back and forth on which areas had
the best chance for clear skies. As the days dwindled down we finally settled on
Jonesboro, Arkansas as our base of operations. It was within the path of
totality and we figured we could strike out from there if need be.
The eclipse was on April 8th. We headed out on April 6th, with hopes and dreams
for clear skies. Our first stop was in the Nashville, Tennessee area. We had
lunch and watched the basketball NCAA final four, which featured our alma mater,
NC State against Perdue. Unfortunately we lost, but it was a historic run for NC
State, which hadn’t played in the final four since 1983, when they went on to
win the championship. The next day we explored historic Franklin, Tennessee,
visiting various shops and the old cemetery. I love walking among the
tombstones, reading the names and date of souls that have passed on. I believe
you give significance to those long forgotten, when you visit their graves, read
their names, and think about their lives. We had lunch and explored some local
shops in Leipers Fork. Also enjoyed some great country music played live.
We finally arrived in Jonesboro, Arkansas on April 7th and started pouring over
the maps and weather reports for where we would end up on the next day for the
big event. We wanted to be on the center line of the eclipse path for the
maximum length of darkness. Even striking out the next morning we weren’t
entirely sure where we would end up, but along the way we decided on a small
town called Hardy, Arkansas. We arrived at a small park between a river and the
railroad tracks. During the day we met the chief of police and visited the
various shops along the quaint main street.
While I cautiously eyed various clouds and haze throughout the day, when the
time came for the grand event we had clear skies. I must admit, I prayed on it a
bit. The moon took the first bite out of the sun at around 12:37pm CDT. It
slowly progressed across the solar disk. As the sun neared totality, there was a
noticeable drop in temperature and brightness. We reached totality at around
1:54pm CDT. While I’ve observed quite a few partial eclipses, the difference
between a 99% eclipse and 100% eclipse of the sun is the difference between
night and day. There is no comparison to the experience.
Right before the last rays of the sun disappeared behind the moon, the planets
Venus and Jupiter popped into view. I’m sure some of the brighter stars and
planets were also visible, but I was too excited to look for them. The landscape
was lit with an eerie diminished sunshine. It was like looking through tinted
glass. Then, at totality, the sun winked out and the land went dark. The grand
corona around the sun, only visible during a total eclipse, blazed forth in all
its glory. Pictures, videos, and words cannot describe the experience of
totality. It’s something that needs to be seen and felt. It borders on a
spiritual and emotional encounter. I highly suggest you watch/listen to the
video from Tyler:
https://share.icloud.com/photos/060GIQSqQH0AurSnPTBUIioSA I’m
so glad he recorded it as it really captures the impact of a solar eclipse.
Several prominent solar prominences could be seen along the disk. They were so
big and bright that Lynn thought the sun was peaking back around. A twilight sky
surrounded the horizon. For the next 4 min and 12 sec, we lived in the shadow of
the moon. It was glorious! All too soon, it was over. The first hint that it was
over was the sight of Baily’s Beads, along the edge of the moon. This is the
irregular light of the sun peeking out behind the moon, caused by the moon’s
rugged topography along the lunar limb (i.e. mountains and such). Then the sun
bursts forth and totality is over. After totality we ventured over to the tree
line to observe the pinhole shadows caused by the light of the sun filtering
through the leaves of the trees. The overlapping leaves create natural pinholes
and display mini eclipses on the ground.
It was over way too soon. But the experience will be in my thoughts forever.
What makes it even more special was celebrating it with great friends such as
Tyler and Julie, and even the various strangers we met, who become eclipse
friends in the moment, through the shared grand experience of a lifetime, a
total solar eclipse. See you at the next one.
Jeffrey L. Polston
Images
The moon takes it's first bite of the sun, on the right.
The moon moves further along.
Moving right along.
Over half way now.
Thin crescent, almost there.
Slip sliding away.
A thin sliver of the sun remains, a second before totality.
Bam! Total solar eclipse, April 8, 2024!
Deep twilight as the sun is eclipsed.
Baily's Beads as the sun starts to peak back out.
Tiny sun crescents projected by the leaves.
Yours truly and my beautiful bride.
Friends Tyler & Julie Toney.
Me trying to get a shot.
Lynn at the binoculars.
Tyler and Julie enjoying the view.
Us during totality.
Downtown Franklin, Tennessee.
Solar eclipse path: http://xjubier.free.fr/en/site_pages/solar_eclipses/TSE_2024_GoogleMapFull.html
This link shows the path of sun on an interactive map similar to Google maps. It was VERY handy in deciding where to go, and how to get there. You can also view other eclipse paths.