Eclipse 2017

The "Great American Total Solar Eclipse of August 21, 2017" occurred, well, you know when.   The following pages contain several things including (1) A history of total solar eclipses,
especially related to where I was when I observed it; (2) Pre-eclipse information; (3) What both I, and others who I was with, experienced during it; and (4) Post-eclipse information.
I hope that you enjoy it ...

1. The last total solar eclipse from coast to coast was in 1918
2. The last total solar eclipse visible from Wyoming was on June 8, 1918
3. The last total solar eclipse over the contiguous 48 states was in 1979
4. The last total solar eclipse in the U.S. was over Hawaii in 1991
5. The next total solar eclipse visible from Wyoming will be on May 03, 2106
6. 40,000 to 50,000 people were estimated to go to Casper for the event
7. The maximum totality for any recorded total solar eclipse was 7 minutes and 32 seconds
8. The speed of the moon's shadow's averages 1755mph
9. The distance across Wyoming from west to east is 365 miles
10. It takes 12 minutes 39 seconds for the sun's shadow to sweep across Wyoming
11. The average amount of cloud cover in Casper during August 21st was 42%

House and People

Shop and People

Telescope, Chicken Coup, and Mountain Range

1. I rented a vehicle -- a Jeep Patriot -- that was large enough to transport both my telescope and my backpacking equipment
2. I drove 1,400 miles in about 18 hours, including a one-hour nap, from San Diego to Casper
3. It was either completely or mostly cloudy every day and night in Casper from the day that I arrived on August 12th until August 16th
4. My friend informed me that the weather during the previous week had been like that of fall instead of summer, including rainstorms
5. Everywhere in the continental U.S. would experience at least a partial eclipse
6. A lock was placed on the gate that led to the eight or nine properties to prevent eclipse chasers from entering their properties
7. There were lots of cars in Casper's Wal-Mart parking lot on Sunday the 20th
8. I saw a sign in Casper where someone or some organization was selling parking spots for $25 each
9. Someone said that they saw a sign that a business was selling parking spots for $400 each
10. Supposedly, one or two sheikhs from the Middle East were flying into Casper for the event
11. Someone said that Casper's airport was going to be shut down one hour before and after totality
12. There was a rumor that Casper's third runway was going to open for observers
13. The center line crossed through 10 states
14. Stores were sold out of flour and sugar; we couldn't determine why those items   (Why those items?)
15. I set up a video camera to record how my friend's chickens would react
16. I printed a sky chart with the potentially visible planets and stars
17. Venus and Jupiter would be on opposite sides of the sun

Eclipse Through Solar Glasses - Start

Eclipse Through Solar Glasses - Start Middle

Eclipse Through Solar Glasses - Totality

Eclipse Through Solar Glasses - Finish Middle

What Is This All About?

1. I woke up before the sun rose, saw the clear sky, and let said "Thank you!   Thank you!   Thank you!"
2. We could look down into the valley and see a lake that was 1-1/4 miles from centerline
3. Timeline: 10:22 -> First contact, 11:42 -> Totality began, 11:45 -> Totality ended, 13:09 -> Final contact
4. I took three pictures ten minutes before, five minutes before, and at totality of a lake at centerline in the valley below us
5. I could not see the lake during totality, but the camera caught it ... barely
6. The beginning and ending of totality were very abrupt
7. The temperature dropped noticeably -- ten degrees according to my friend's on-site personal weather station
8. "The crowd went wild" when totality began   ("Oh!"   "Oh, my God!"   "Oh, this is SO cool!")
9. We could easily see stars, Venus, and Jupiter while some people could see also Mercury and Mars
10. Someone saw the corona, asked me what it was, and I was so excited, I incorrect responded "It's the chromosphere."
11. Someone recorded solar eclipse shadow bands/snakes on a bedsheet that they placed on the ground
12. The eclipse ended at 1:09 as I observed it through my telescope
13. Totality lasted for 2 minutes and 25 seconds in Casper
14. Totality lasted for 2 minutes and 40 seconds at "ground zero" -- slightly south of Carbondale, Illinois
15. Most of the chickens were "caught" away from the coup, they remained under the canopy of an RV during totality and for about 15 minutes before and after it
16. The chickens and the lone rooster never made sounds during totality and many minutes before and after it
17. Someone repeatedly played Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon"

Eclipse Through Telescope - Start

Eclipse Through Telescope - Near Totality

Eclipse Through Telescope - Totality

Eclipse Through Telescope - Finish

1. Astronomical League's "Astrocon 2017"
2. Behind the Scenes Distillery Tours
3. Burgers + Brews
4. Central Wyoming Fair + Rodeo
5. Close Encounters of the Symphonic Kind
6. The Machine Performs Pink Floyd
7. Riverfest
8. Solabration on the Circle
9. Wyoming Eclipse Festival
10. Wyoming Photo Fest
11. Yellowstone Garage Music Fest

Chicken Coup --

-6 Minutes	-4 Minutes	-2 Minutes	-1 Minute	Totality	+1 Minute	+2 Minutes	+4 Minutes

Weather History Graph

1. Stores were sold out of both eclipse t-shirts and newspapers
2. What usually took 4-1/2 hours to travel from Casper to Denver took 12 hours for people who left soon after the event
3. According to the news, there were about 100 cars in line for gas in Glendo, WY
4. The next total solar eclipse in Wyoming occurs on June 13, 2132
5. My friends are planning on making "The Eclipse Plaque" from the wood that we built and placed under my telescope to level it
6. I have updated my memoirs with this "Bucket List" item

of Page
Return to Astronomy Page