diff --git a/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/beads-collage.jpeg b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/beads-collage.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..75e378f6 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/beads-collage.jpeg differ diff --git a/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/eclipse.jpeg b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/eclipse.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ba03544f Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/eclipse.jpeg differ diff --git a/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/glasses.jpeg b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/glasses.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..ab0bff9e Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/glasses.jpeg differ diff --git a/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/index.md b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/index.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..89340ccf --- /dev/null +++ b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/index.md @@ -0,0 +1,116 @@ +--- +title: Eclipse 2024 +layout: post +categories: +- eclipse +- solar +- nasa +date: '2024-04-12' +image: partial-collage.jpeg +--- + +On August 11, 1999, myself and a couple of friends took a trip down to Cornwall +to get in the path of totality for the eclipse that was happening in the UK that +day. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side and we had wall to wall +clouds which meant that we could actually see anything. We did experience +totality which was an awesome and eerie experience. + +This year, I knew about the eclipse happening across North America (where I now +live) but didn't initially plan to travel for it. + + + +A friend of mine asked me on Sunday if I would be able to watch his cats, as he +was planning to take a day trip down to Indiana to see the eclipse. Then he +asked me if I'd like to come with him. My initial reason for deciding not to +travel was that I had left it too late to book a hotel and the amount of driving +to do it in a day would be brutal (about 12 hours!). I figured if he was +planning to do the trip anyway I should take the day off and hitch a ride! + +He picked me up at 5am on eclipse day, and we began the trip down to Indiana +from Madison, Wisconsin. We didn't have a specific location in mind, just that +we would find the path of totality and then pick somewhere. We took a good look +at the map on the way down and decided on Bloomington as it seemed like a small +enough town that it wouldn't be too busy, but not so small that there were no +amenities. + +About 3 hours after we left we found ourselves entering Indiana... + +
+ {{< img src="indiana.jpeg" alt="Entering Indiana on the freeway" >}} + +
Indiana, we are in you!
+
+ +It took us another 3 hours to reach Bloomington, at which point we had to +decided where we were going to go. We found a nice park somewhere just outside +downtown in the suburbs called Bryan Park. There were plenty of people already +camped out for the eclipse but it wasn't busy. + +
+ {{< img src="glasses.jpeg" alt="" >}} + +
Testing out the solar eclipse glasses
+
+ +At 1:49pm (13:49) the moon started to move across the sun. For the next hour we +watched through our solar eclipse glasses as the sun became obscured. Gradually +it became darker and we noticed that the temperature was dropping. By the time I +took the last shot of the partial it was almost dusk like. + +
+ {{< img src="partial-collage.jpeg" alt="" >}} + +
Stages of the partial eclipse, taken with my iPhone 15 Pro Max + through a pair of eclipse glasses
+
+ +Then, at precisely 3:04pm (15:04) the moon completely covered the sun and... + +Wow. + +I mean, wow! + +
+ {{< img src="eclipse.jpeg" alt="" >}} + +
The total eclipse, taken with my Fuji X-Pro 2 at + 183mm
+
+ +For 4 minutes we stared in awe at the corona of the sun. It seemed massive in +the sky. It went as dark as night. The birds stopped singing. People cheered and +clapped. + +Then... the sun started to re-appear. Beading at the edges at first. Then +becoming brighter until we needed to don our solar eclipse glasses once more. + +
+ {{< img src="beads-collage.jpeg" alt="" >}} + +
The sun starting to bead at the edges of the moon
+
+ +We decided not to stick around to watch the moon recede from in front of the +sun. We were very hungry and also knew we had a long drive ahead of us (I ended +up driving us the whole way back). + +We stopped for food at a local place called Yogi's Bar & Grill. It was good! +They had this lovely bulb lit sign on the wall right over our table. + +
+ {{< img src="indiana-sign.jpeg" alt="" >}} + +
Bulb lit sign above our table at Yogi's
+
+ +After that we got back in the car and started the long journey back to +Wisconsin. We decided to avoid Chicago on the journey back (Chicago drivers are +fucking crazy!). My friend dropped me home at 11:30pm (23:00). + +It was a very long day, but absolutely worth it. Experiencing the eclipse was an +absolutely fantastic experience. Seeing a partial eclipse is great, but it +really doesn't hold a candle to being in the path of totality. + +I'm already thinking about how I can get to Spain or Iceland for the eclipse in +2026. I'll be better prepared this time! diff --git a/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/indiana-sign.jpeg b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/indiana-sign.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..6e1bf6ae Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/indiana-sign.jpeg differ diff --git a/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/indiana.jpeg b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/indiana.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..baeb6941 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/indiana.jpeg differ diff --git a/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/partial-collage.jpeg b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/partial-collage.jpeg new file mode 100644 index 00000000..5ffed386 Binary files /dev/null and b/content/blog/2024-04-12-eclipse-2024/partial-collage.jpeg differ