The 2024 Eclipse

Being a potato, Dug knew how important it was to protect your eyes ;-D.

We lucked out and the clouds were intermittent enough this afternoon that we were able to watch the eclipse.  It didn't get dark enough for the birds to stop singing and I'm not sure what the sheep and chickens did because Dug, Bea and I were over at the neighbors.  I wonder if the clouds kept things from getting too weird and maybe they didn't really notice.

Were you able to see it where you were?

The 2021 Lunar Eclipse

I got up several times last night to watch the lunar eclipse.  At 2:00 there wasn't much to look at.  By 3:00 it was starting to get interesting.  By 4:00 it was excellent!  We had crystal clear skies and a great view.  It was cold, but no wind.  Perfect. 

It reminded me of watching the 2017 solar eclipse.  

Without the soul crushing heat.

But with 20.

Oh dear.  He really should get to see this eclipse as well.

I mean, how many sheep can claim to have seen both eclipses?  

I probably couldn't have pulled it off at, say 11:00, but by 4:00 I was up for an adventure.  I thought 20 was always up for an adventure as well, but he actually seemed a bit confused as to why I was putting his sweater on him in the wee hours of the morning.  Once we got outside though, he was all in.  

We sat out by the farm truck looking at the moon, taking some pictures with my phone and the big camera, talking about the solar eclipse and how the moon was different and why we could look right at it and I thanked him for being a good friend and a good sport about everything ;-).  

Note: I did wake Saint Tim up to take a quick look, but he too seemed a bit confused as to why I was waking him up in the wee hours of the morning ;-D.

It was worth it.

The 2017 Eclipse Party

There might have been fancier parties in 100% coverage locations, but I'm quite sure no one had as much fun as we did on The Hillside in Winchester, Kentucky.  Dr. Science aka Uncle John built three viewing devices.  Auntie Reg made an awesome tomato pie eclipsed by cheddar cheese. Friends and neighbors came.  We stayed as cool as we could and a good time was had by all.

Getting ready.

It's starting!

20 preferred the long box pinhole camera.

Quite a good view using a simple cardboard box!

The clouds moving across were interesting.

Getting a bigger view.

A fan in the forest!

Such a beautiful area.

Getting there!

Eclipse pie :-D.

This picture cracks me up.  I wonder what 20 was telling them!

The long box, being twice as long as the short box pinhole camera, made the image twice as large, but nowhere near as large as the binoculars set up.

It never got dark, but it did get dim.  I'm not sure what the animals here on the farm did, but the birds there got quiet and the crickets started singing more.  The best part?  It cooled off for a few minutes!

As total as we got.  It was rotating around at this point.  It started as sort of a backward C, then a U and then the moon moved on.  It was great fun!