We live in New York State, perhaps 100 miles outside the zone of totality for the April 8 total eclipse of the sun. We knew that if we wanted to see the total eclipse we would have to travel. But, given our normal weather on April 8 of any year, we also Knew that many early April days are cloudy. We could even have a snowstorm. Going anywhere was a gamble. Should we travel west or easst, or try to stay within New York State?
After some research we decided on Rochester, New York. We signed up for a eclipse watching festival at Rochester's Museum and Science Center (RMSC), figuring that if the weather was bad, we'd have plenty of other things to do. If the weather was good....
Know what?
It was almost good. In fact, April 7 was beautiful with blue skies. April 9 was beautiful with blue skies.
But oh, that April 8. If only we had Known....
 |
| Is this a historic building on East Avenue? I have no idea |
It started nice. Here's the sky at 9:15 am as we walked from the parking garage to the RMSC, where we would view the eclipse. But it rapidly clouded up.
With the eclipse starting at 2:07 pm and totality starting at 3:20, we just Knew things weren't going to happen the way we wanted them to. But that was the chance we took, right?
2:50 pm. The eclipsing sun is in that picture somewhere. But note how those clouds look. So far, nothing out of the ordinary.
By 2:59 pm something strange is happening to the clouds. The temperature is noticeably dropping. The clouds are getting - lumpy. It's also a little darker than the picture shows - my iPhone 13 mini was doing some automatic light adjustment. I wish I had known how to stop it.
3:09 pm, 11 minutes before totality.
3:18 pm, two minutes before totality. It was darker than it looks. Meanwhile, the temperature had dropped even more. It was getting darker and darker. I felt a breeze.
3:20 pm. A shadow swept across the parking lot where we were watching. This is my fourth total solar eclipse but I've never seen one totally clouded up. We can't see the sun, but I Knew, with my eclipse experience's Knowing Knowledge that totality has arrived.
The three minutes and 38 seconds of totality have begun. Elsewhere in the parking lot, a couple are getting married. But alas, no sun. Strangely, I can see two small crescents in this picture. Can you?
3:21 pm.
Reverse sunset 3:21 pm.
3:22 pm. and I decide to take several shadow shots on the ground. Here's one.
As soon as it was over, the large crowd headed right for the exits. We did, also, even as the sky brightened up.
The eclipse ended - or should I say, the total eclipse of the total eclipse, as my spouse called it - at 4:30 pm.
The sun showed itself again about 5:30 pm.
So, what do we know?
We are not in control. Not on April 8, not ever. I feel for the people in the crowd - from the huge buildup on media this is not what they had signed up for and I heard a lot of comments while exiting along the lines of "this was overrated".. But there is always something to see and learn when you are a Skywatcher. I can just hope I can view another total eclipse before my time on Earth is over.
Joining Yogi and other skywatchers today for #SkywatchFriday.
"K" day at the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. My theme Gardens, History, Art and The Unexpected.
The cloudy sky was most interesting, the way it bubbled up and changed colour. What must the ancients have felt about a total eclipse - total terror, I should think.
ReplyDelete...The Hiram Sibley Building was built in 1925 at the corner of East Avenue and Alexander Street in Rochester, New York. It was named in his honor by his son Hiram Watson Sibley, and designed by Shepley, Bulfinch and Abbott of Boston.
ReplyDeleteLove the natural skies
ReplyDeleteAww, I feel sorry that you couldn't see the eclipse after taking so much effort. The pictures are great, though you couldn't capture the event. Check my A2Z posts here: https://www.sundarivenkatraman.in/
ReplyDeleteWe had a partial eclipse. Clear skies at the beginning but cloudy at peak. Still, it was dark enough to trip the sensors in the street lights.
ReplyDeleteWe had 95% here and it was fascinating. In Idaho in 2017 it was 100% totality and the weather was perfect so we got the whole experience.
ReplyDeletebig crowd for the eclipse
ReplyDeleteThis account was fascinating, although such a shame for those who had traveled a long way and couldn't see totality due to the cloud cover. That makes me sad for them because it truly is an incredible thing to witness and experience. Also, thanks for your comment on my blog post!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for the letdown. We also had a bit of a dud where we were, but it was very cool for those who had the full experience.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed inour cloud cover but the darkness was eerie!
ReplyDeleteWe just had the light turn a bit odd here out of the path of totality in Atlanta. The clouds in your photo look interesting. That last photo of how crowded it was, wow.
ReplyDeleteThat was disappointing, however a science museum is always fun. My 23% was nicer than I expected, a but chunk bitten off the bottom.
ReplyDeleteWonderful shadow photo!
I think that's very impressive, even with the clouds blocking the sun. I like the way you "time stamped" the photos, and amazing to see things go dark and the cloud changes. We were far away from the path of totality, so little to no change in light.
ReplyDeleteBummer. We had a bright, sunny day, but we only got about 50%, so we barely noticed. Still, weird to get darkness in the middle of the day. At least you got that. And I hear that one of the upcoming eclipses is in Australia, so that could be a good place to plan a trip to.
ReplyDeleteYou did get some pictures of a darkening sky until total darkness, so that is something, though not what you wanted. I feel bad you didn't get the pictures you wanted. Man plans, God laughs.
ReplyDeleteNice skies.
ReplyDeleteWorth a Thousand Words
Great captures.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry your eclipse drive was a bust. One of my sisters east of Rochester had the same issue -- too cloudy to see anything but darkness and light. I wasn't in totality, but it got pretty dark here with just a crescent of moon showing. Glad I bought those eclipse glasses!
ReplyDelete