Total Solar Eclipse

D. S. Mitchell

Calamity Politics is a progressive political blog. Our aim is to offer earnest and honest opinions and speculations, and constructive arguments on the daily happenings in the U.S. political scene. Today however, I want to talk about the upcoming total solar eclipse. Mark your calendar for 8-21-2017, because on that date all of North America will experience a solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse is one of nature’s most inspiring and intimidating events. Calculations show it will take 1000 years for every geographic location in the lower 48 to view a total solar eclipse.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon covers the sun-an event where only the sun’s coronal atmosphere will be visible behind the moon. You must be “in the path” of the totality. If you are not, you will not see the total phase of the eclipse, and unfortunately, that is the show.

I live on the North Oregon Coast between Astoria and Seaside. The path of the August 2017 eclipse will be about an hour and a half south of me, coming across the continent just north of the small coastal community of Cloverdale, Oregon. I am quite familiar with the little town because one set of Aunts grew up in Cloverdale and nearby Neahkahnie. Amazing in my now aged mind that I will soon be headed back to a place of such fond childhood memories.

Reports from earlier total eclipse observers attest that about an hour to an hour and a half before totality you begin to notice the moon taking “bites” out of the sun. Over the next approximate hour the bites get bigger as the moon slowly covers the entire solar disk.

What we are actually witnessing is the movement of the moon in its orbit around the earth.  The next total solar eclipse is expected April 8, 2024. That eclipse will track from Texas to Maine. I like that the 2017 eclipse is so conveniently located. I’m getting pretty excited. I plan on getting up early that morning and heading south via #101. The eclipse is expected to start at 9:05 PDT and totality beginning at 10:17 (PDT)and will last two minutes. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed for at least a semi-clear day.

Thinking about the eclipse aroused my curiosity and I have done some reading and learned a few things that I thought were interesting facts and interesting enough to pass on.

The most important thing to know is NEVER look directly at the sun while any part of the bright disk is visible.  You must get filtered eyeglasses called “eclipse glasses” to be able to safely view the phenomenon. Once the eclipse becomes total you can look at it without the glasses because the moon is covering it and the sun will have a luminosity of a full moon. Be sure to remove the glasses once totality is achieved, otherwise you won’t see anything. Once the totality ends–immediately put the eclipse glasses back on.

A few other interesting facts I read:

The sky darkens in the last 2-3 minutes before the totality. The temperature will drop significantly, and the wind may pick up. Animals react as if the sun is setting and birds will roost and insects will chirp. At the very last instant before totality if you look to the West you will see a huge curtain of darkness spring up as the moon’s shadow rushes at the observer. Stars and planets will be visible.

So mark August 21,2017 on your calendar and throw politics aside and watch a sight that you will never forget. Be sure to set your camera up for breathtaking shots. Or you can just watch. Alone or in a group take it in.

Join the Resistance

Dar