Eclipse !

We had the good fortune of a perfect weather at Madras (Oregon) and a perfect view of the eclipse. My photos are just like everyone else's and not very different from previous successful eclipses, but of course it's the experience of one of nature's rare beauties that made eclipse chasers go in search of the next again and again.

This one was different in being smack across one of the wealthiest countries. That meant more people made the effort to travel to the 110 km wide or so wide footprint across USA, more hype, and more crowded hotels and campsites. There were traffic gridlocks especially after the event when everyone tried to leave at the same time.  Our coach driver made a shrewd diversion and it still took us more than three times as long to return to Bend where we were based, but we had an unexpected bonus of a drive through Oregon rural country dirt roads, which we would otherwise by pass.

The 2 minute blackout was brief but the clarity remarkable. Venus, which was glared out at sunrise hours before, reappeared in a rarely seen overhead elevation.

We now look forward to the next one - Chile in 2019! 

Equipment being set up.

The Diamond Ring

Prominence erupting from sun's surface (red). Low exposure suppressed the corona.