Our Eclipse

Somewhere between Rochester and Syracuse in the path of totality

This was probably the best view we had of the moon crossing in front of the sun.

We watched the weather obsessively for weeks before April 8, even before you could see the day on the forecast. We crossed our fingers and tried to will the little weather graphics to show us a clear day. It seemed like it could have happened. April 7 was clear and beautiful. April 9 was clear and beautiful. The morning of April 8 had some clear moments but by the afternoon it the sky was thick with clouds.

My dad set up the scope in eclipse viewing mode in case the clouds cleared. Before the clouds swallowed up the whole sky we had some clear moments and did get to see some sun spots. But the fleeting moments of sun passed and he retired to his wheelbarrow¹.

A bunch of family and friends came to hang out with us for the experience.

The clouds did have some cool textures.

My cousin Heather and I pried bark from dead ash stumps to look for bugs while we waited for the darkness. We found some great stuff.

Three of the beetles we found under the bark. One (the last one) I've never seen before.

We also found a beetle that had been eaten by an entomopathogenic fungus. I focus stacked these in Helicon.

"Finding a beetle being eaten by a fungus during an eclipse would not have a good ending in any sci-fi story" --Brian (probably inaccuratly remembered by me)

Since we had the crowbar out for prying bark Heather figured we should try to use it to rid the sky of clouds. It didn’t work but they did tell me it was their first time using a crowbar so perhaps next time after they’ve had a chance to practice more.

I tried to select an eclipse worthy beverage. Old Rasputin seemed like a beer worthy of an event that would feel very supernatural if it came on you unexpectedly and without a significant amount of reasuring science.

Eclipse glasses were not super helpful with the clouds but we kept trying when it would get a bit brighter.

Thanks to Josh for letting me use this photo. And Jenn for (hopefully) not minding. It’s such a great photo.

And then the edges of the sky started to turn this amazing shade of blue.

The darkness seemed to sweep over us so suddenly. The spring peepers started singing.

Two planes flew right over the field while we were in the shadow, perhaps trying to fly in the shadow for as long as they could.

Then the sun rose in the west and the peepers stopped singing.

Even though the sun was obscured by the clouds, it was still a very powerful experience. I’m so glad for everyone who came to share it with us in person and I’m glad for all the people who I don’t even know that we shared it with in time.

1. I like this wheelbarrow photo so much. I may have to do something artsy with it. Also I remember my grandpa sitting in wheelbarrows like this sometimes. It must be ancient wisdom handed down through the generations. Maybe someday when I finally build my yurt or strawbale house I shall furnish it with wheelbarrow chairs.