The
Eclipse of 2017.
We watched a little black hole get punched into the sky
where the Sun used to be. The Sun dimmed, and then seemed to
wink out in an instant, to be replaced by a ring of dim
white fire in a darkened sky. People applauded and a start,
a kind of surprised noise of wonder, went up from the
thousands in the park watching with us.This is what we had
all come to see, but we were still startled by the
suddenness and intensity of the experience. Then there was
cheering and applause. People are strange - applause? But then, what else
would you do. In the few minutes the event lasted, the
temperature dropped noticeably and quickly. Some say by
twenty degrees (from 95 to 75). I can't say for sure; I
brought no thermometer. Everyone started, people shouted,
and pointed. Then it was over, and we all looked at each
other as if to ask, "Did you see that; did it really
happen?" Then we wondered if we really saw it ourselves.
We had gone to a strange place in the universe; but now it
was back to Earth - and time for the long drive out. At
the moment it happened, everything else seemed silly and
irrelevant - race, politics, opinion - all foolishness.
Every once and a while the universe reminds us of how
things really are. Then we quickly forget and things get
back to normal.
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A slightly bigger bite has now been taken
from The Sun. Though not yet apparant to the naked eye, the
light has become just a bit dimmer. The sun here si still
far too bright to be viewed without protection.
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A short walk from our campground brought us
to the park pavilion. Inside were a collection of nature
exhibits, restrooms, guides and staff, as well as some
special displays set up for the eclipse.
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Lots of visitors, including lots of young
visitors.It's nice to see so many kids here. This is a nice
park in a large natural setting. There is camping, a
shooting range, boating, picnic grounds, hiking trails, and
scenic lookouts. It's good to see kids doing something other
than playng video games, watching movies, and doing
Facebook.
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A large relief map and descriptive area of
this very large park. This place almost has the feel of a
national park.
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Left:
Some tables are set up for materials dealing with the
eclipse. There are a lot of eclipse related thing outside as
well, but the blessedly cool air conditioning makes this a
nice place to be.
Below:
More nature exhibits, and things to do.
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There is also lots to buy here, though not so
much as at some other places. It's hard not to spend money
here, and everyone wants to have something to take home with
them.
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The entrance door flanked by announcements, a
service counter, and opening onto a large map.
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In the meantime, the eclipse progresses, with
perhaps a quarter of The Sun blocked out.
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The outside of the pavilion is planted in a
nice, wild garden of plants native to the area. A placard
gives a description of the plants, and a low set retaining
wall doubles as a bench.
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Looking directly across the native garden
shows it is thick, and wild. A century or so ago, this whole
part of the country looked like this.
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With The Sun about half covered, the light is
changing noticeably. In addition to the official telescopes
and observers, nearly everyone seems to be taking pictures.
Some have astronomical quality filters, while others (like
me) are simply using the eclipse sunglasses being sold by
local vendors - putting them in from of their camera or
cellphone lens.
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By this time, the light was getting downright
strange. Though the Sun was still far too bright to view
through unfiltered eyes, it was obviously dimming.
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With just a sliver left, The Sun is still far
too bring to look at, but there is obviously something very
strange going on. The light is taking on an odd far off
look, with all of the highlights being very bright, and all
of the shadows being very dark.
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This photo was the best my camera could do,
in regards to exposure. The light was getting very strange,
very blue, and very much a point source, so contrast was
high. I suppose this must be what daylight is like on some
of the outer planets.
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If yuo take a close look at the light
splashes in these shadow areas, you will notice that they
are all crescent shaped, just like the crescent of The Sun.
It is just one of many strange things that the eclipse is
doing to the quality of the light.
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A little sliver of the sun, very nearly
covered now, yet still far too bright to view directly.
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