SOLAR ECLIPSE: Share Your Stories Archive '98

Archive from 1998 / Share Your Stories main page

We drove to La Paz in 1991 for the total eclipse. Scientists and their equipment filled the area. Many were kind enough to allow my family to view the eclipse through their equipment. The eclipse itself was awe-inspiring; cooling of the air, birds flying in to roost, the party atmosphere. Truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Doug Swords < sds24@csufresno.edu >
Sanger, ca usa - Friday, May 15, 1998 at 13:13:16 (PDT)

I tried to watch the eclipse on your web site but it was wasy too popular apparently! However, it was fun trying....

Spud < student07@nmi.sfsu.edu >
SF, CA USA - Tuesday, April 28, 1998 at 15:34:47 (PDT)

Hello! Thank you for this opportunity to read so interesting impressions about a total solar eclipse. I have not a story because I have never seen such a phenomenon. I am working in Astronomical Institute of Roumanian Academy and my field of interest is solar and solar-terrestrial physics. Actually I am head of the Solar Department. All of us are very interested in solar eclipses because in Romania it will be the "maximum of total eclipse of August 1999" (the greatest eclipse!). We invite you to Romania to see the last eclipse of the millenium! Please, visite our site: http://www.roastro.astro.ro

Georgeta Maris < gmaris@roastro.astro.ro >
Bucharest, RO ROMANIA - Friday, April 24, 1998 at 00:27:19 (PDT)

I saw it from Maracaibo-Venezuela at the Planetarium's Parking Lot. The magic moment to me, was the sudden change of speed that make the sun's movement just before totality. Everything was in a kind of softly rythm, but in a second the sun literaly jump and hide.

Antonio Noguera < venus@cantv.net >
Caracas, Venezuela - Friday, April 17, 1998 at 00:11:28 (PDT)

Your site is terrific, I am thoroughly enjoying it, and I am looking forward to many rewarding hours perusing it. I have, at this time, no story to share, but, I would be in your debt if someone would be kind enough to answer a question I have. Would someone be able to tell me what constellations were visible in the night sky of Aruba, the nights of February 23, 24, 25, 1998? This information would greatly help me to enhance a project I am presently working on. Thank you, whoever steps forward, for your help. Steve.

Steven LeClair < sleclair@globeandmail.ca >
Montreal, Canada - Wednesday, April 15, 1998 at 05:41:13 (PDT)

This was my second, the 1st being in 1991. Both times I have selected a cruise for the expedition, and they have both been successful. While it took some manuevering, the Veendam did make it to an excellent viewing position. As for this eclipse, I did particularly admire the planets that were visible and a beautiful corona, although everything else, such as the diamond ring was wonderful, too. The only thing is that I thought it might be darker. In any case, it was simply spectacular, and I can't wait to do it again either in 1999 or 2001.

Mike Marcelletti < mjmar@btc-bci.com >
Bloomingdale, MI 49026 - Sunday, April 12, 1998 at 15:49:28 (PDT)

On July 11, 1991, Garth O'Donnell and I went deep sea fishing off Kaneohe Bay on the north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. With winds at 15 to 20 knots it was a brisk morning on a 19'6" center console. It was a cloudy day and most of the people in Hawaii missed the eclipse. Because we were out several miles from the island the cloud cover was less dense and though the eclipse was not total we were able to watch it without filter as the clouds were acting as the perfect filter. The most amazing thing was the sea birds, some returning home and others just sitting on the water totally confused by the bizarre early morning sunset. We did later fullfil our mission with a good size "Ono" (known as a Wahoo to many). It was a memorable experience.

Kelly Faulkner < faulknerk001@hawaii.rr.com >
Kaneohe, HI US - Friday, March 27, 1998 at 00:48:47 (PST)

My wife and I love Total Eclipses. We went to Aruba to see this one. Everyone said in Aruba you don't need to worry about the weather. I said I would feel beter if we could find a way to see a satellite photo just before the eclipse. So, What happens, for the first time since October 1997 ? It rains eclipse morning ! We ran around looking for a clear area. Headed North because it looked clearer in that direction. In fact each day we had been in Aruba it was clearer to the North. We were staying in an area called Eagle Beach, about two miles north of Oranjestad. We drove North a bit and got out of the car when first contact was expected. We saw that first little bite that tells you ...IT REALLY IS GOING TO HAPPEN ! It looked a bit better to the East so we went to Wendy's, yes they have Wendy's in Aruba...and McDonalds. All the staff was taking turns going out and looking at the partial phases through thier eclipse glasses. It looked like the clouds were slipping up towards the North so back in the car and up the road we went. We stopped at a wind surfing rental place and got out. Lots of young folks fron The Netherlands were hanging out and wiating it see the eclipse. They just happen to be on Vacation and a Total Eclipse was coming along ! Talk about lucky. It took a while to get one of the yougn guys to believe that he could take a photo through his high tec camera (and my welder's #14 Glass) even though the camera was saying there wasn't enough light. Trust me , I said you will get a picture...Gee I hope he did . Again, the clouds started to slip north towards us and we headed further north. We could see the California Lighthouse, at the tip of the Island and hundreds of people standing up at the base of it . We desided to stay at the base of the hill that the lighthouse is on in case we needed to head back south. We parked and set up our equipment. A baby goat started to cry for it's mom. It was getting dark and it wanted her for beb-time. It seamed to take forever for the last bit of the sun to be covered. I was looking through my filter when I slid it aside I could see the inner corona...Hey it started! I took the filter away and there was a most perfect diamond ring. It lasted for several seconds. Maybe because we were close to the north edge of the path ? Then out came the outer corona. It was beautiful, but very mild. Done in Water color instead of oil paint , like the 1991 eclipse in Mexico. The planets Mercury, to the left and Jupiter to the lower right were dazzling. Venus was way off low to the right. What a sight. In the binoculars the fine polar streamers were very visble, and the inner corona was very bright. The wind died down to nothing and it was very dark. Wanda says it was the darkest eclipse she has seen. (She has seen 4 totals now) . Before we could believe it the sun stared to peak out and we saw a 5 second diamond ring. The corona could still be seen if you covered the bright bit with your hand for about a minute. The light was very strange...every thing looked like it was cast in bronze. We gave a big shout as did the crowd at the lighthouse and the eclipse was over. Even though people would watch a whole partial eclipse, if that was all they had to see, at a total eclipse everyone "goes home" when totality is over ! We went for a drive on the west side of the island a talked abou the sight and how nice Aruba was.

David William Jordan < WWMICE@JUNO.COM >
New Cumberland, PA USA - Sunday, March 22, 1998 at 18:59:06 (PST)

We witnessed our first total eclipse on the sailing vessel, the Star Clipper off the island of Guadeloupe. Our captain got us right on the center line and kept us there. We really didn't know what to expect having never seen one before. It was totally the most amazing and wonderful experience of nature we have ever seen. It makes you want to see another one right away. We have tried to explain it to friends and family but words and even pictures can't do the real thing justice. Our recommendation to all is go see one at least once in your life.

Bob and Beth Dwyer < ahpbbd@kids.net >
Grand Island, NE USA - Wednesday, March 18, 1998 at 19:24:57 (PST)

I was in Aruba and it was my first eclipse. The only thing I can say is that until you have been in the shadow of totality, you can’t even imagine what it’s like. It’s eerie, magical, and emotional. It’s an event everyone should experience at least once.

Joe Ellington
Tokyo, Japan - Wednesday, March 18, 1998 at 07:09:52 (PST)

This was my 5th total solar eclipse..and my darkest..the shadow rushed in like a train and was very sudden.I managed to get the my best photo yet of totality..Thanks Aruba..Im getting ready for Hungary 1999..Im a travel agent.. Interested? EMail me!

jeff walters < Ecli99@aol.com >
atlanta, ga usa - Friday, March 13, 1998 at 17:35:03 (PST)

Here is the URL where you may view 3 of the slides I took of the sun/moon during totality on 26th Feb 1998: http://www.slac.stanford.edu/slac/feature/1998/eclipse/ I took them with my 400mm lens and 25 year old SLR camera on a 64ASA Kodachrome slide film, from the sundeck of the megacruise ship " Monarch of the Seas" as we sailed very slowly along the centerline between the Caribbean islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe. They look better when I project the slides in a regular projector and the quality of your computer monitor will further effect how they look on the WWW. Anyway, thought you'd like to see them, if you have JPEG program you can save these images. This was my 3rd and most spectacular total eclipse. I also enjoyed the ones in Java in 1983 and in Hawaii in 1991 (where we were some of the few to actually see the sun during totality as it was so cloudy on the Kona coast). The "diamond ring" effect is so surprising and beautiful, everyone should see one in their lifetime! Part of the kudos for my photos goes to the Captain of our cruise ship who did a marvellous job of steering us away from some nearby clouds and keeping the ship facing the same way for a couple of hours so only minor adjustments kept the sun in my camera's viewfinder. I may well "go home" in August 1999 to try to catch an English total eclipse.

Cherrill Spencer < cherrill@slac.stanford.edu >
Palo Alto, CA USA - Thursday, March 12, 1998 at 12:37:39 (PST)

the eclipse viewed from knip baai in curaçao was spectacular! leading up to totality, one clever british tourist used a kitchen colander with lots of round holes to project a hundred tiny crescent suns on the beach. as i am now completely addicted, i have begun my plans for august 11, 1999! the scilly isles? bucharest? i will be somewhere 'under the umbra' next year!

michael e. walton < shivapuja@aol.com >
columbus, oh usa - Thursday, March 12, 1998 at 04:31:16 (PST)

I`m Diana Hernández and I forgot my other personal information.

Diana Hernández < panchos@cable.net.co >
Bogotá, Bogotá Colombia - Tuesday, March 10, 1998 at 17:29:16 (PST)

I'm from Colombia today is marsh 10th. I was only doing my homework, because my teacher asked us to write about the eclipse. I live in Bogotá and I think that I have lost a big opportunity . I didn`t searsh anything before so, I didn`t think that it was going to be a gorgeurs and unique natural event. I just looked it and said "OH IT`S BEAUTIFUL" , But I think that It was incredible and that is a fenomenon whish hide real interestings facts, now. I saw the news and one of the clever things was that the animals maybe got crazy or confuse about that short night of the February 16th. Isn`t that funny.

Diana Hernández
- Tuesday, March 10, 1998 at 17:24:21 (PST)

Eclipse report can be found at: www.geocities.com/TheTropics/2959/eclipse.html

H. Studer < swiss@sprint.ca >
Vancouver, BC Canada - Monday, March 09, 1998 at 10:10:09 (PST)

I saw the eclipse -- my third -- from northern Venezuela. It was excellent, the only adverse factor being that it was so high in the sky; one couldn't encompass the landscape and eclipse at the same time, as I did in in 1994 Chile, high on the Atacam Desert, surrounded by volcanoes. For my paintings of previous eclipses, please cheack out my website at http://www.hardyart.demon.co.uk. David A Hardy (President, International Association of Astronomical Artists

David A Hardy < Dave@hardyart.demon.co.uk >
Birmingham, England - Friday, March 06, 1998 at 01:06:00 (PST)

I am in highschool and looking at this site was a required assignment.

Rachel Petersen < rachel.petersen@usa.net >
Fort Bragg, CA USA - Thursday, March 05, 1998 at 12:09:31 (PST)

I took my family (wife and two daughters, ages 7 and 11) to Aruba because, as I have often said, at least ONCE in my life I am determined to see a total solar eclipse. The fact that this one was in Aruba (in February) made it a rather easy sell, with no objections from the rest of the clan. I knew how awe inspiring it would be and tried my best to get them to understand the significance of the event, although I don't think they completely believed me. Well, we came, we saw, we conquered, and everyone in my family agreed that it was FANTASTIC. I am so glad we made the trip, and now I've made converts out of the wife and kids - they are very glad we went also. I was particularly struck by the sight of the birds flying back to their nests, and the indescribable color of the sky during totallity. Although I took lots of pictures (some of which turned out rather good) and saw replays of it on CNN, no pictures or video can even come close to the stunning beauty of the actual event. To those who have seen one, you understand what I say. To those of you who haven't, take my advice and do whatever it takes to go see one. I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Jack Schenck < jschenck@inet.net >
DE USA - Wednesday, March 04, 1998 at 22:03:54 (PST)

I observed the most impressive and overwhelming experience in my life in Maracaibo, Venezuela last 26 february. I was in the capital city, Caracas the day before and still had doubts regarding if a solar eclipse is worth traveling to see. I finally encouraged myself and took the first plane to Maracaibo. The most amazing thing to me is the weird feeling of quietness that comes to the enviroment just a few seconds before totality then like a dream you see the sunlight being eaten by the moon and a rare darkness devour everything. Definitely, this is the most beautiful thing thaty you can ever witness in your life. If you can travel to see the next total eclipse, go ! you'll never regret it.

Javier Rondon < nrondon@intevep.pdv.com >
Venezuela - Wednesday, March 04, 1998 at 09:55:32 (PST)

I observed my first eclipse from the island of Taboga off the coast of Panama. This area was in 95% of totality. Even though Feb. is the driest month of the year, the clouds wanted to get all the attention. The day was very cloudy which forced us to look at the sky without the mylar lenses we had purchased for this event. We saw a phenomena which I had not heard of or read about before. The sunlight there was reflected off the edges of several clouds making it seems as though there were several 'suns' in the sky. In fact all of these 'suns' were brighter than the eclipsed sun. I would like others to let me know if they also experienced this. The sky darkened as though a storm was approaching. The beeze turned a few degrees cooler and we did see a few birds come is as if to roost. All of these were expected effects of the eclipse. We used a camera with a zoom lense and filters to take pictures at 15 min intervals (and cloud permitting). I was naive enough not to understand the difference between 95% and 100%. Trust me, I will not make that mistake again. Next time (2018?) I will bring the family, make sure I can be within the area of 100%, and I will be more aware of the weather.

Jerima King < wbking@pcisys.net >
Colorado Springs, CO USA - Tuesday, March 03, 1998 at 13:54:20 (PST)

I had seen pictures. I thought I knew what to expect. I was totally floored as I watched the total eclipse in Aruba 2/26/98. We set up just outside the Queen Beatrix Airport. When totality began, you could hear cheering and honking horns all over the island.

Jen Marrs
Framingham, MA USA - Monday, March 02, 1998 at 11:43:29 (PST)

I viewed the eclipse from the University of the Virgin Islands on the St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands campus. It was 90% near totality. Next to my kids, it was the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced.

Johann Creque < jcreque@uvi.edu >
St. Thomas, VI US - Monday, March 02, 1998 at 10:53:09 (PST)

Just returned from Aruba. Had a magnificent eclipse experience. This is eclipse number five for me. Started my addiction on February 26, 1979 in Saskatchewan, Canada. Other eclipses viewed were in Mazatlan, Mexico (1991); Potosi, Bolivia 1994; Darkhan, Mongolia 1997. The 1998 Carribean eclipse ranks as my number two eclipse experience but only because the first good one is always the best. I took my entire family with me this time (wife and three sons 14,12,10) we watched from atop the highest point on the island of Aruba at a peak called Yamanota. We could see the entire island from our vantage point. Others will report that the unsettled weather gave them cause for concern and that is also what happened with us. The difference, however, is that we could see the weather coming in off the ocean and for us it was a matter of determining how long it would take to reach us and, when it did, how long it would take to blow over us. We got rain (the first in five months on the island) we got heavy cloud and we got that sinking feeling that this one would not be ours to see but about 15 minutes before totality, the skies cleared and stayed that way. During totality, we could see people setting off fireworks all over the island. The runway lights came on at the airport and, at the prison on the island all of the bright sodium lights came on - a poignant reminder for the incarcerated that even in the path of totality, crime has unexpected costs. The best thing about an eclipse for me is being with people who have never actually experienced one before. It's one thing to have seen a movie or videotape of an eclipse or have read up on them but quite another to experience it. Some people, like the very sombre and reserved Swiss computer programmer I met while scouting viewing locations was still emotionally and physically overwhemed by the experience three days after the event. He told me that just shutting his eyes and remembering what happened was enough to make him extremely emotional. We were blessed with clear skies and a marvellous eclipse, saw both diamond rings but this time no 360 degree sunset. It appeared to be absorbed by ocean cloud banks. Many people viewed the eclipse from the beach or at their hotels. We made it an expedition. So much of our experiences these days are mediated through television and special effects we thought it important that our kids clearly understood that this was not just something that you get up from your lawn chair and your drink to witness it before returning to whatever you were doing.

Don Fleming < dfleming@epsb.edmonton.ab.ca >
Edmonton, Ab Canada - Sunday, March 01, 1998 at 20:56:59 (PST)

Last Thursday was my first experience of totality. I was about 600 yards north of Baby Beach on the south-east corner of Aruba. The most remarkable thing was when third contact occured. It was as if someone had struck an arc, and everything was shimmering for a moment.

Paul Hunsberger < atillahuns@sprintmail.com >
Mason, OH USA - Sunday, March 01, 1998 at 19:37:20 (PST)

I was on Palm Beach in Aruba on the 26th. The two things that really struck me were how sharp shadows became in the last few minutes before and after totality. I also saw shadow bands on a white sheet I had laid out. They were faint at first, but came very prominent just prior to the diamond ring.

Jeff Wilson < wilson@msn.fullfeed.com >
Madison, WI USA - Sunday, March 01, 1998 at 18:52:18 (PST)

We were fortunate enough to be on a cruise in the carribean aboard the Monarch of the Seas and the day planned to be in the exact location for totality. The captian of the ship along with Charles Perry posistioned the ship as such and we experienced one of the most awesome sights on earth. The top deck of the ship grew almost silent as planets and stars appeared. It was incredible!! Our ship was posistioned between Guadalupe and Monserrat and if the total eclipse was not enough the active volcano on Monserrat decided to add a little more flavour by having a minor erruption spewing a cloud of smoke. The cheers on the ship when we hit totality is certainly an experience my wife and I will never forget

John Andrews < jandrews@int-usa.net >
Old Orchard Beach, me usa - Sunday, March 01, 1998 at 17:39:38 (PST)

It was an unforgettable experience,the light turn down like a dimmer switch. Here in Puerto Rico was a 90% eclipse not completly dark , was 2:20pm look like 6:00 pm

Jose A. Gomez Colon < amarillo@prtc.net >
San Juan, Puerto Rico - Saturday, February 28, 1998 at 21:07:41 (PST)

I'm just 13 and I seen one last year. It was remarkable to see something happen as fast as that did. The land just filled up with darkness and my calculater went out.I was mad at first, but then I looked up into the sky and there it was, A Solar Eclipse.

Maranda Gossman < marandagossman2@hotmail.com >
Amarillo, TX United States - Saturday, February 28, 1998 at 08:45:50 (PST)

I saw the total solar eclipse of July, 1991, from San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico. It seemed as if someone had was using a "dimmer switch" to gradually "turn down" the sun. I can't emphasize enough how much difference there was between 99% partiality and 100% totality. Don't make the mistake of thinking the two are close. Just before totality, it was as if the "dimmer switch" was being sped up, and, although I was looking at the ground at that moment, I knew exactly the moment when the "light was completely out." I didn't know at the time aboout the safety of looking at the total eclipse, but I glanced briefly at the sun, and was amazed by the pearly brightness of the corona. To date, I have seen no photograph or video image that does justice to this spectacular phenomenon. I was also amazed at the sky. Here it was lunchtime, and I was looking at the night sky and stars; yet a red dawn was on the horizon 360 degrees around; sort of like a red band. When totality ended, I knew the exact moment the "dimmer switch" was turned back up and light came "on." It was an awe-inspiring, unforgettable experience! I can't wait to see another one! If you ever have an opportunity to travel to see one, DON'T MISS IT!

Debbie M. Thatcher < thadebmar@yahoo.com >
USA - Saturday, February 28, 1998 at 08:32:18 (PST)

I think they are cool. It is like nothing you see every day.

Kevin Cook
Sayre, PA U.S.A - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 17:26:19 (PST)

Now that I have seen the eclipse here I am sorry that the plane wasn't delayed for another day. I am glad to see that everything worked out for you guys. The rain on wednesday morning realy gave me a scare. At least you got to test the camera's on us. (The big blond guy staring you in the back)

Rob Moria < moria@tref.nl >
Alkmaar, NH Netherlands - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 13:07:32 (PST)

I witnessed a partial eclipse in Berkeley California sometime in the late 1980's. I remember standing on the sidewalk in front of a donut shop on Durant Avenue. Sometime in the late 80s or early 90s. It was impressive. The sky got darker, like during a storm. And it seemed that everything got a little quieter. It was not a run of the mill day. I remember the papers had some info about it, and one could read and see the path that the shadow would take. I made a hand-drawn poster of it and posted it in Peoples Park on the bulletin board.

John Delmos < none >
Berkeley, Ca United States - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 11:52:48 (PST)

I was five years old and living in Nova Scotia when I experienced the total solar eclipse of 1972. To this day, it remains as one of my most vivid and magical memories. My brother and I were on my grandad's front lawn, playing with our family's two big dogs. It was a beautiful summer day. I remember chirping birds, warmth and sunshine and the green grass under my bare feet. All of a sudden, it became like night. It was like a very strange twilight. Everything seemed flatter. There were still shadows, but the light was grey and completely contained. The birds stopped singing and the dogs froze. I remember being very frightened. Then I looked at Mom and Nana and saw that they were laughing and enjoying themselves. Mom told me not to be afraid. My five-year-old brain assumed that if they were okay with the situation, it probably wasn't going to do me any harm. The air was much cooler and everything was so still. It was as if someone had just shut off the day. Everything was waiting. In my memory, it only lasted a minute. Then, just as suddenly as they had been extinguished, the lights came back on again. Amazing! Once again,it was a warm summer day and the birds were singing. Everything in nature must have been wondering, "What the hell was that?" On the night of the February 26th eclipse, I called my mom to reminisce about that eventful day in my childhood. She said that neither my brother nor I had shown any interest in looking at the sun; we had been far too busy looking around at the changes in familiar things, like the dogs and the shadows. Most clearly, I remember my immense fear, and my great relief when I saw my mother's smiling face. "Don't worry!", she said. So I didn't! I remember thinking, "I'm safe, so this is just cool!" Only a handful of people have seen the earth from space -- as an entire, tropical, blue-ball of paradise. Witnessing a total solar eclipse must be this life's second most amazing privilidge. I'm booking ahead for 2017. Peace and Unity, everyone!

Greer < gjohnston@archives.ca >
Ottawa, Canada - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 11:16:14 (PST)

Fantastic articles. Good job Had a lot of trouble getting realtime video yesterday. Your server was overloaded

Robert Hyland < bhyland@cuda.chry-pei.com >
Madison, AL USA - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 10:06:32 (PST)

My ex-husband Carlos Nunez was in Adicora, Venezuela in the Paraguana Peninsula and he said that there was darkness for a few minutes and that the temperatures became cooler. He could see the stars and I believe some planets for those few minutes. He said it was very exciting and powerful to see.

Gloria Stewart < villalog@spring-branch.isd.tenet.edu >
Houston, Tx USA - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 09:59:12 (PST)

I was taking a nap with my son and when we woke up we saw that the sky was getting dark then it looked like there was a big diamond ring in the sky.

Sean Stewart < linden@atgnet.com >
Hawthorne, NY U.S.A. - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 08:03:41 (PST)

In, 1991 a friend and I took a cruise to the Mexican Riv to see one of the longest eclipses of the century. Aboard the Jubalee, we experienced nearly 7 minutes of totality out to sea near Mazatlan. The corona was huge and there were several promanences of note, one very large. When it was over we, turned the ship around to find a school of dolphins jumping in our wake in celebration with us. Truly an experience of a lifetime.

Darrin Gilbert < dkterra@earthlink.net >
Syracuse, NY USA - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 07:08:20 (PST)

I have never experienced a total eclipse, I, a 49 year old kid really enjoyed the personal accounts of other people's experiences. I did experience a partial eclipse a few years ago and I remember the dappling under the trees to which one of your reporters referred. I had not known to expect that and was just watching and watching. My primary tool for the experience was a piece of paper with a pinhole in it, and I had been projecting the image on the handiest surfaces around me, which was often the ground, as the bite got bigger. I was very aware of the difference in the quality of the light, and I began to notice that the shadows under the trees were quite different somehow. On closer observation, I was amazed to see little images like the one I had been seeing with my pinhole all over the ground under the trees. Someday I would love to see a total eclipse so I could see the shadow bands and the especially the corona. Thanks for this wonderful site you all have created, and for sharing all those personal accounts. Verlie

Verlie Hutchens < Verlie@concentric.net >
Easthampton, MA US - Friday, February 27, 1998 at 04:59:45 (PST)

February 26, 1979--Only J. S. Bach could write the score. It, my first, hit me so hard I was in tears.

Tatiana Covington < tatianac@u.arizona.edu >
Tucson, AZ USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 22:24:05 (PST)

Our family tried to view an eclipse in Maui, Hawaii. It was cloudy and raining but we could still see the shadow of the eclipse move over the ocean and the neighboring island of Hawaii.It was a powerful and awe inspiring experience. The light of the early morning mixed with the grey of the ocean and clouds gave this unique experience a surrealistic quality.

Gail Chaid < chaidg@aol.com >
San Jose, CA USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 21:10:16 (PST)

I haven't seen a total eclipse myself, but Annie Dillard has a wonderful essay called "Total Eclipse" that is a must read!!!

Ken Lotterman < kenl@pobox.com >
- Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 20:53:36 (PST)

Total eclipse when I was four; birds roosting and twilight at midday, a wonderful experience because my parents were so filled with wonder and I felt how important the event was to them; they too, university degrees, professional careers and all, were also filled with awe. They even had me invite friends over so we could see the eclipse together. Through exposed film negatives, and obliquely, to save our eyes. But the awe and wonder stay with me, overrode any fear. So I got the best of science and mythology all at once. It's part of what first brought out the poet in me!

MaryKate Jordan < Flowerj@aol.com >
Monterey , MA USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 20:38:54 (PST)

As a young boy in Texas we had an eclipse in early afternoon. The chickens all went back to their rousting and the other animals began to act as thoygh it was sun down. There was much discussion on how to view the eclipse use smoked glass etc. This was in the summer of 1939 ibleive.

Edward Decker < eddecker-bashful@worldnet..att.net >
Pacifica, CA USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 18:17:45 (PST)

edward Decker < eddecker-bashful@worldnet..att.net >
Pacifica, CA USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 18:16:59 (PST)

Viewed Solor Eclipse in late 30's in Owatonna,Mn. Still remember using smoked glass to view and being very impressed.

Ruth Johnson < Star@Vom.Com >
Sonoma, Ca. USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 17:07:30 (PST)

I was in the New Orleans area and saw the eclipse there in the early 1980's. It was about 10 a.m. on a warm May morning, but the air suddenly felt chilly as totality approached.

Lyn Murphy < lynm@iamerica.net >
Alexandria, LA USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 16:37:35 (PST)

it's cool

tuk < road rock 10 >
- Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 15:04:35 (PST)

My best eclipse was in June, 1963 somewhere between Montreal and Quebec City. Four of us recent university graduates traveled from Boston to a carefully chosen spot on a highway. As the sky darkened, the birds roosted and farm animals clustered. The air chilled remarkably. Perhaps the most striking animal behavior was that of the speeding Quebecois, who screeched to the side of the road at the moment of totality, spent 15 seconds getting out of their cars and looking, and then sped off. Also viewed two in Nova Scotia, one being obscured by cloud except for a stunning horizon effect, and the other Carly Simon's--annular and therefore not as awesome. Wish I'd had time and money today.

Margaret Shirley
Truro, NS Canada - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 14:59:56 (PST)

From Curacao: just having seen the solar eclipse. For the first time it bacame cool in the tropics. The burning rays of the sun were gone for 2 minutes. Twilight and those stars around the sun. It was magical. Then slowly the sun came from behind the moon with a flash and faster than when it had come on it was all over. This is my second solar eclipse. When I was 8 or 9 I saw one in England. That one didn't impress me so much as this one did. Age seems to be a factor to enjoy nature's wonders of the world.

Hilde Moulijn < mouzuid@cura.net >
Curacao, Neth. Antilles - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 14:45:20 (PST)

I viewed today's partial eclipse from the bar at the Hyannis yacht club ar Cape Cod in Massachusetts with an ice cold, powder dry martini. The experience was was much the same as when as when I was 7, 70 years ago with the possible exception that I seemed a little mellower. I'm looking forward to the full eclipse in 2005. Kudos to webtv for a super report.

Dick Carens < bbbcape@webtv.net >
E, Dennis, MA USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 14:00:32 (PST)

We had a fun time looking at the SOLAR ECLIPSE with a box that had a hole in it. I hope you did to.

Nathan jeffery < Suejeffery@aol.com >
lutz, fl U.S.A. - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 13:57:20 (PST)

I watched the eclipse from my school. We are only a 1/2 hour away from San Fransisco so we had a prety good view.I love this web site but I wish they had a couple of pictures of the dimond ring effect.

Lynn Ferreira
Fremont, C.A. U.S.A.. - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 13:56:11 (PST)

We viewed the solar eclipse on February 26, 1998 which was about 20% of totality in the New York area. We used a telescope to focus the image on a piece of paper placed near the eyepiece. To us the shape looked like someone had taken a bite out of a cookie, the cookie being our sun.

D. Heyner, 3rd grade teacher < DHEYNER@tTODD.LHRIC.ORG. >
Briarcliff Manor, NY USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 13:40:13 (PST)

I don't have a story. I liked your site very much.

John < none >
Soldotna, ak us - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 13:22:51 (PST)

The group at south campus, Palm Beach Comm. College, Boca Raton, FL had a very clear sky view of the partial eclipse. The eclipse was projected from a 4 inch Newtonian telescope with 8 mm eyepiece. The view was excellent throughout. At maximum , the moon probably covered about 45 % of the solar disk from our location. As eclipse progressed, we witnessed two sunspots emerging from behind the lunar shadow. The best solar eclipse in south Florida in 4 years!

Prof. Jeffrey Sundquist < sundquj@mail.firn.edu >
Boca Raton, FL USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 11:44:02 (PST)

It was like a beautiful pearl going through the sky . I wish we,us could expierience a great thing like this more often.

swanbird < fbjacobswanson@hotmail.com >
mendocino, ca u.s.a. - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 10:52:07 (PST)

It must have been in the spring of 92, we heard we were going to experiance a total solar eclipse. My sister and I were totally in shock to find that our kids in school were about to just sit in their class rooms during this rare event, with no hope of getting to view such a wonderful occurance. We kept our kids home that day, and we all drove north with our binoculars, telescopes (with filters, of course) and a full picnic basket. We set up at a fort near Oswego, NY, and saw many amature astronomers with their big telescopes set up in the same field. The kids were so excited about seeing this celestrial event for the first time in their lives. We were happy they were going to see it too, and hoped it would form a memory they will have forever. It was so awesome when the eclipes first started, and it only got better. It got darker, the birds were flying of to roost for the "night", and the air took on a chill. The kids all stood in a line at the telescope and continued to peek, and then reform the line again and again. They each got to see the "diamond ring" as it reached its total, and we viewed the rest of it by focusing binoculars onto a piece of paper. It was the best picnic we ever had!

J austin
nineveh, NY - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 10:18:56 (PST)

In the 1980's in my hometown of Lipton, Saskatchewan - Canada, I remember our teachers blocking up the windows of the school so we would not be tempted to stare at the sun. In the science lab, (where the windows faced south) through a pin hole in a piece of card, we would watch the eclipse via its reflection on a piece of white paper.

S. Capnerhurst
Yorkton, SK Canada - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 07:12:51 (PST)

eclipse reminds us of dark unexplained thoughts of seers at their fires and the animals kneeling in half-lit meadows as kings die. -written during the annular solar eclipse of spring 1994

Alexandria Dobkowski < adobkowski@towery.com >
Memphis, TN USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 06:44:03 (PST)

I wish as much interest was paid to the dark shadow caused by hunger in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We should improve efforts in finding ways to improve our conditions on earth. Looking at humankind's problems and solving them first instead of looking to the stars searching for UFO's. Is there any intelligent life on earth?

Alejandro Romero < alejandro.romero@inelectra.com >
Caracas, DF Venezuela - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 06:11:06 (PST)

My friend Dan and I drove all the way from Sacramento, Calif., down through the Baja California, Mexico Peninsula, over 2100 miles, to watch the total eclipse of July 11, 1991. It became one of the greatest adventures of my life. We camped on beaches and stayed in small towns. The eclipse was one of the longest: almost seven minutes. The maximum theoretical time an eclipse could last is about 7 minutes 30 seconds. The seven minutes were awesome! I noticed the temperature dropped from 89 to about 65 degrees in 15 minutes leading to the event. The waves at the beach, starting in the morning and ending about the time of the eclipse, 12:05 pm., slowed down until the water was almost completely calm. There were small crescent shapes in the tree shadows that mirrored the crescent of the ever-smaller sun. And one of the most rare things I've heard you can witness is the 1000 mile an hour shadow/ripple effect as the sun's light fades as it is covered and then later uncovered by the moon. Absolutely fascinating. My friend captured the ripples on his 35 mm camera. Very rare. I think we were lucky because we were on a high hill and could see the ripples go from mountain range to us and then down to the sea. Cloudless sky. And, Venus, Jupiter, Mars were lined up and we could see them 'come out' as it darkened. I have some very good video and pictures of the corona during totality. One of the most exciting times of my life! We're counting down the days to the total eclipse passing over Redding, Calif., north of Sacramento, due to occur in 2017!

Mike Powell < mikey96@pacbell.net >
Carmichael, CA USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 05:48:50 (PST)

I saw the eclipse one Saros cycle back, at the end of Feb `79, in Montana. We had only some thin high clouds, unlike most everyone else along the path in Idaho and Washington. It's amazing how quickly the 2+ minutes of totality go by, but the entire experience in indelibly etched in my memory. What was really striking were the bands of light and dark very rapidly (1000 mph?) moving over the snow-covered landscape just before totality. One almost lost one's balance and fell over, it was that disorienting. There's no experience on the planet quite like a solar eclipse. http://www.UCCS.edu/~cwetheri/Astro/index.html

Chris Wetherill < CWetheri@Alf.UCCS.edu >
Colorado Springs, CO USA - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 00:44:15 (PST)

y o tuve la opurtunidad de ver un eclipse solar ase 30 anos todo fue formidable en guanajuato mex.

alfredo yepez < @ayepez >
novato, ca usa - Thursday, February 26, 1998 at 00:19:11 (PST)

I have seen at least 4 eclipeses of the sun--once when I was a child in the 1950s, once in my 20s, once in my 30s, and once about 3 years ago (in my 40s). I believe the first 3 were partial eclipses because everything did not get dark. I had tried to see others but they were rained out. The best solar eclipse I ever saw was the annualar eclipse we had about 3 years ago. I viewed it by looking through photonegatives at reflections in the windows of cars. The light was very strange and beautiful. A crowd of people gatherered around me and I passed out the negatives and showed them how to look and we enjoyed ourselves a great deal. I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time when I saw these eclipses because I don't have the funds to follow eclipses; if I were rich I certainly would do that, as I adore celestial phenomena. I am looking forward greatly to watching tomorrow's eclipse on the www and thank you for broadcasting it.

Ms. Billie Mudry Spaight < bmsp8@erols.com >
New York, NY United States - Wednesday, February 25, 1998 at 20:04:40 (PST)

About 20 of us were on an 8-day geology field trip (read dirt camping) the length of Baja California. The plans included observing the eclipse of July, 1991? 1992? It was a perfect experience. Members of our group recorded it by video camera, telescope camera, drawing successive images by tracing shadows caught with a field telescope, . . . We used straw hats to catch shadows on various surfaces and saw multiple images on the floor of a building nearby: the roof had holes. The residents of the tiny community just north of La Paz stayed indoors until the full sun was again visible. The euphoria stayed with me for weeks; it is still a most treasured memory.

Karen Denu DODSON < kddodson@unm.gallup.edu >
Gallup, NM USA - Wednesday, February 25, 1998 at 17:14:09 (PST)

It is a facinating natural phenomena seen from the earth and many times in a lifetime if you're lucky - so hold your breath for those few magical moments when the sun and the moon are married again !!.

Krishnan Subramaniam < shwetha_kris@hotmail.com >
Rockville, MD USA - Wednesday, February 25, 1998 at 16:26:47 (PST)

In the mid-eighties, there was a total solar eclipse who's center passed over downtown Atlanta. My friends and I (highschoolers, at the time) took great pleasure in cutting class and joining with many thousands of other currious souls in Piedmont Park - one block from the absolute darkest point in the path of the eclipse. We were fascinated by the experience, the strange patterns of light, and the erie quiet of the city as the sky grew darker....

John Truslow < truslow@aol.com >
Atlanta, GA USA - Wednesday, February 25, 1998 at 12:54:07 (PST)

My class viewed an eclipse about three years ago using the binocular method you described and it was very successful.

Margaret Wells < msw03@gnofn.org >
New Orleans, LA USA - Wednesday, February 25, 1998 at 08:25:28 (PST)

the solar eclipse I viewed was in erie, pa, usa. If I recall correctly it was 1994. I video taped the event using a pair of binoculars duck taped to a tripod, projected onto a piece of white cardboard.this was not a total eclipse but was dead center, the moon in front of the sun with a perfect ring around it. Erie was in the center of the path the eclipse was viewable from so we got a perfect ring around the moon very cool. The ring was very thin and very perfect. The thing I noticed most about the eclipse that interested me was that my children were very calm prior to the event, just milling around the yard playing quietly, as the eclipse progressed I noticed the children begin to get excited, thier ages were 3 & 4 so they did not even know what was ocurring so I dont think thier excitment was due to thier interest in the event, rather I'm quite convinced it was the effect of the solar eclipse that caused the change in thier behavior, because after the event they became calm again. Everything was purple outside and it became so dim outside that our automatic nightlite came on over the garage.

Bill Fenton < wtf@velocity.net >
Erie, Pa usa - Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 20:47:54 (PST)

I want to share with you my experience on the 91 Eclipse in Guadalajara, Mexico. We at the astronomical club here in Juarez, Mexico, went there in a bus, and we separated in two groups, one went to the Nayarit beaches, and we stayed at Guadalajara. I was carrying a digital watch with the UT and a video camera. We had to move from Guadalajara to the highway to find a better spot. We get a solitaire spot next to the road, and waited for the totality. I put the camera on and my friends put the telescope with the appropiate filters, these were 4 inch catadioptric, and filters number 14. Then it happened... there it was... the beauty and greatness of it. We even saw the shadow coming in the fields (no trees, by the way). And little plants closing their leaves as it got darker. And the thing that I most admired, was the red flames I could saw at naked eye. And I felt as little as any little creature in the world. I felt the Moon and the Sun could make us humble for this kind of event is beyond our hands and control. Hola, soy mexicano y astrónomo aficionado. Para todos aquellos que deseen, pueden escribirme. El eclipse del 91 fue mi primer y último eclipse total de Sol, aquí en Juárez hemos tenido dos anulares. Intercambiemos experiencias. Sociedad Astronómica Juarense.

Gerardo Escobedo-Sainz < estampilla@usa.net >
Juárez, Chi México - Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 18:28:11 (PST)

Gerardo Escobedo-Sainz < estampilla@usa.net >
Juárez, Chi México - Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 18:22:04 (PST)

We had a total eclipse in 1992. The skies were cloudless, and it happened right around noon. I stared at the sun for nearly an hour through a welder's glass. It is incredible to watch the sun become a slow cresent, to watch the black disk of the moon glide with effortless diliberateness before the amorphous bright spot of the sun. The birds ceased their singing even before the moon began to obscure the sun. Everything became quiet. It was eerie hush -- like in bad horror flicks. The sky became dimmer and dimmer in a quickening twilight. The color of the clear sky became cold and dark the way clouds will before a storm. The air was cool and chargedwith tension, apprehension. Something about it really did feel like the end of the world. It was beautiful and terrifying, and something I was so completely at the mercy of. I literally could not tear my eyes from it. The sun, at the peak of the eclipse, was like some giant egg, and the moon was the yolk. Corona spilling out, it was a beautiful ring of fire. An eye in the sky. It was one of the most incredible and beautiful things I will ever be fortunate enough to see in my life. The experience was one of those that I will always remember with absolutely crystal clarity.

Amy Reese < areese@null.net >
South Bend, IN Usa - Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 11:42:25 (PST)

I witnessed the February 26, 1979 total eclipse from Clarkleigh, Manitoba. Two friends accompanyed me on our excursion. There was some trepedation involved since we would be driving 700 miles north from Iowa in the teeth of winter. Winter in Iowa can be a sobering experience in itself. Traveling to Manitoba was something that required some consideration! We drove in shifts and after 18 hours we reached the Canadian border. The day prior to the eclipse was overcast, the weather forecast was dismal, and we nearly turned back at the Canadian border. We persevered, however, and continued on through Winnepeg until we reached the town of Lundar. We stayed overnight in pre-arranged lodging at the Moose Lodge. The Lundar citizens put on a fine homestyle dinner and a dance. The morning of the eclipse dawned partly cloudy and the excitement began to build. After having breakfast at the Moose Lodge, our party of three departed for the tiny nearby village of Clarkleigh which was located precisely on the centerline of the eclipse path. We were joined by several other parties, including at least one group from a Minnesota college. The eclipse commenced sometime around 9:20 a.m. (as best I can recall). Totality was approx. 10:30 or so. During totality the breezes died away and the temperature (already at zero deg. F.) fell 10 degrees. I'm sure no one noticed the icy temperatures as many people were yelling and cheering as the black disk of the Moon covered the Sun's brilliant disk. Brighter stars and the planets were visible and the pearly-white corona surrounding the Sun was glorious. The telescope, now without the solar filter, allowed us to safely see delicate streamers of the Sun's corona and the beautiful red prominences standing on the darkened silhouette of the Moon and projected against the corona. Using an 8-inch reflecting telescope, I captured a fine sequence of the eclipse including partial and total phases. The view shimmered subtly as seen through the eyepiece. The crowd continued to cheer and applaud through the total eclipse. Totality lasted (again, as I remember) 2 min., 40 sec. We stayed and photographed the following partial phase (with the solar filter back in place) until about 12 noon when the last "bite" out of the Sun was gone. Afterwards we talked excitedly about the entire experience while we packed our gear. A trip back to Iowa through a Minnesota ice storm added to our excitement. We were very relieved we didn't turn back on that cloudy day prior to the eclipse. An enlargement of the 1979 eclipse still hangs on my wall today. Most "eclipse chasers" agree there is no other experience like witnessing a total eclipse. There's a 'charged' atmosphere experienced as the anticipation builds and the eclipse elapses that defies description. I heartily recommend it!

Doug Slauson < dslauson@cedar-rapids.net >
Swisher, IA USA - Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 10:49:30 (PST)

I saw an eclipse in North Carolina in 1969 or 1970. It was superb, the most wonderful thing I've ever seen in the sky. The dim, feather-like corona was delicate beyond all describing. At it center, the moon's disk was pitch black. If you have ANY way of getting to Europe to see the August 1999 eclipse, borrow the money if you must, play hooky from your job or school or whatever if you must, and just GO. You'll never regret it.

Harry McComas
- Tuesday, February 24, 1998 at 09:23:57 (PST)

May 10, 1994 90% in Cedar Rapids, IA. Some coworkers taped paper to the window (small pinhole) and paper to the desk and drew the track. A copy is on the web at: http://www.netside.com/~lynmax/HTML/RMH/IA/CedarRapids/SolarEclipse.html

Ralph Hightower < lynmax@netside.com >
Cedar Rapids, IA USA - Monday, February 23, 1998 at 17:15:35 (PST)

My name is Rodrigo Castro I am a Doctor, I'm live in Medellín Colombia, and I am prepared for the beautiful conjunction of ZUE (sun (in Chibcha lenguaje)) and CHIA (moon). Hola soy Rodrigo Castro, soy médico y trabajo en rehabilitación en Medellín colombia, estoy muy contento de poder apreciar este espectacular fenómeno el próximo 26 de este mes. Cuando ZUE y CHIA (el sol y la luna en dialecto Chibcha) se conjugan.

Rodrigo Castro < Rodrigoc@epm.net.co >
Medellín, Ant Colombia - Saturday, February 21, 1998 at 12:42:45 (PST)

We traveled to La Paz, Mexico in 1991 to see the solar eclipse. It was spectacular and long. I couldn't wait to go or see another. So, we made plans to go to Aruba for the 26 February 1998 eclipse. I remembered the quiet and awe of the darkness as the moon crossed the suns path and how the bees and insects stopped flying and the birds went to their nests. Stunning.

Leslie Greaves Radloff < radloff@pro-ns.net >
S.St.Paul, MN United States - Friday, February 20, 1998 at 06:59:44 (PST)

Professional astronomer, solar physicist, works in Kandilli Observatory since 1965. Prepares a good expedition for August 11, 1999 eclipse. Our web site http://www.boun.edu.tr/~koeri/eclipse_99.

Atila Ozguc < ozguc@boun.edu.tr >
Istanbul, Turkey - Friday, February 20, 1998 at 01:58:16 (PST)

Ten years ago, I started to follow solar eclipses. The first one that I followed, happened when I was finishing elementary school in the 1988-89 school year in Concord, CA. But alas, it was only a partial eclipse. The total eclipse, at the time, was in the Pacific Ocean. At that time, the newspaper reported that the United States would see a total eclipse over the Hawaiian Islands on July 11, 1991, and a total solar eclipse would not occour until the year 2017 in the contenental United States. The time went by fast between 1989 and 1991. The total solar eclipse over the Hawaiian Islands happened, and the San Francisco Bay Area, nearly half of the sun was eclipsed. The latest one that I followed, happened while I was in high school in Vacaville, CA. I saw a good portion of the sun taken out by the moon's shadow. This was a part of an annular eclipse that was best seen in Texas. :~)

Christopher Wolf < star_fox@pacbell.net >
Fairfield, CA USA - Friday, February 20, 1998 at 00:04:38 (PST)

I used to tell my astronomy students that some day there would be astronomy studied professionally from Decker's Point, PA. You must realize that there isn't a traffic light in our school districe. We are rural. The W A McCreery Middle School will be watching the eclipse on-line as each classroom is connected to the net. Students will have activities to participate in the event in their classroom. I am excited to be part of this event live and on-line. Thanks, Captain Midnight

Rodney Allshouse < rodneya@microserve.net >
Marion Center, PA USA - Saturday, February 14, 1998 at 07:42:10 (PST)

I'll admit it I'm an eclipse junkie. The February 26th event will be my 13th total eclipse and my 4th from sea (Statendam near Curacao). I'm also participating in a live webcam project called Eclipse '98 http://www.excelsoft.com/eclipse - well after all, we put in a good word for the Exploratorium's website on our web page. :) If you can't make it to this astronomical supershow in person, watch it live on the web!

Bernie Verreau < perigee@ix.netcom.com >
Redwood City, CA USA - Wednesday, February 11, 1998 at 18:34:19 (PST)

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