I fucked up.
One of the biggest celestial events of the year occurred in North America a couple of days ago, and not a word on my blog about it...until now. This was an event that most anyone, even folks that rarely make a photo, would want to capture - and this page was a day late and a dollar short. My apologies for that...
So, I'm going to re-frame this post as general guide/checklist to observing solar eclipses. Solar eclipses happen about twice a year, so this should prove useful for those of us at points on the globe able to witness the next eclipse. For us in Canada, please bookmark this page and return to it in seven years (2024) to get a jump on our turn at witnessing a total (rather than a partial) eclipse.
If you'd like to know when the next solar eclipse is in your country, the BBC has this handy calculator.
- Get a jump on hotel reservations if you don't live in the path of totality.
- Don't wait to purchase eclipse viewing glasses and ensure yours are certified. Or, if you have some left over from earlier this week - donate them.
- Pray that the weather cooperates
- Don't look at the sun without the necessary protection - or do. It's really up to you, they're your eyes.
- Try not to cook your camera's sensor.
- Better yet - realize that you're not going to get a better picture of this than NASA (unless you have your own supersonic jet) and follow Neil DeGrasse Tyson's advice and put your camera/phone away for an hour and enjoy this marvellous event...next time.
Feature Photograph of the Week - Sunrise on The Ganges
Since we've all converted to sun-worshippers this week, I thought I'd present Sunrise On The Ganges as this week's photo of the week. On the bank of the Ganges River at Varanasi, an early morning boat ride at Sunrise