JOHN DAY, Ore. – It was hailed as the Great American Eclipse of 2017 and, for the tens of millions of people who gathered along a 70-mile wide strip of the continental United States from Oregon to South Carolina, it proved to be the experience of a lifetime.
Some called Monday’s total eclipse of the sun perhaps the most viewed astronomical event in the history of this country. The path of totality, as the moon’s shadow crossed the surface of the earth, cut across parts of 14 states: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
A partial eclipse of the sun was visible from just about everywhere in North America.
Certainly, the celestial event, in which the moon totally blocked the sun along the path of totality, created sensational headlines across the country.
As crowds from urban areas flocked to areas inside the blackout zone, there are fears of gasoline and food shortages.
For instance, five million visitors were expected to descend on Oregon to catch a first glimpse of the total eclipse. The city of Madras, with a population of 6,200, was expected to receive 100,000 visitors.
There were dire predictions, especially from the electronic media, that townspeople along the eclipse path, fearing the large incoming crowds, would be driven to panic-buying at local supermarkets. Gas stations were even predicted to run out of fuel, thus stranding motorists in long lines as they struggled to both get to and exit observing sites.
The National Guard was called out in some states to help maintain order, especially in regard to traffic control.
A lot of that hype was not bunk. Traffic woes were particularly prevalent when leaving large pre-planned events. Backups ranging from one to three hours were experienced by visitors on rural roads in Oregon. Gas stations limited purchases to 10 gallons; customers could purchase two bags of ice.
The sight of recreational vehicles and cars towing trailers became commonplace along highways in the Pacific Northwest hugging the eclipse path. License plates on vehicles from California were especially conspicuous.
As one drew closer to the line of maximum totality, signs along the side of the highway offered emergency fuel, food and, of course, eclipse glasses for sale.
Temporary tent cities sprang up on the lawns of private citizens as well as high school and college athletic playing fields as eclipse viewers staked out choice parcels of land to camp out overnight to take in the big event.
Perhaps not surprisingly, price-gouging became rampant in places.
There were reports that some landowners asked as much as $1,000 for overnight camping privileges.
Some intrepid roadside vendors sold eclipse glasses for $50. Children sold lemonaide and home-baked cookies from makeshift roadside stands. It was evident that enterprising local citizens cleaned up financially during the once-in-350-year event.
In some cases, the sheer volume of visitors was enough to send cash registers into hyper drive. Motels displayed no vacancy signs and restaurants turned back customers due to lack of table space. Some shopkeepers reported they made as much money in one day as they did all summer.
There was one more perhaps even more important factor to ponder: travelers had to hope the weather cooperated in their favor.
There were, of course, the feel-good stories.
Grant Union Junior/Senior High School in John Day, located along U.S. highway 395 in rural central-east Oregon, came to the rescue of anxious travelers with a win-win situation.
The school offered overnight campsites on the school’s football field for $100 each. The fees generated are being used as a fundraiser to benefit both the school and its athletic department.
The grade 7-12 school has a enrollment of 200 students. It varsity football team is fielding a roster of 28 players this season. The Prospectors kick off their season in two weeks.
School administrators were excited about the opportunity to host the eclipse fundraiser. The overnight campers were happy as well with the bargain price. Guests not only received a safe campsite with plenty of room for tents and any observing equipment but also the amenities of restrooms and showers.
Dr. James Pesavento, an astronomer from Palomar College in San Diego North County who came to view the event, offered his expertise during a special solar eclipse presentation for overnight campers. Guests even had the opportunity to feast on a taco dinner in the school’s cafeteria.
The school made 60 spaces available for guests.
“It’s a great opportunity,” school principal Ryan Gerry explained. “John Day is one of the premier destinations. We wanted to fill the needs to people coming in. We hope we’ve been a good host to those people. We thank them for visiting our school.”
Lights out
Depending on where one was located along the eclipse path, the sun went dark either in morning skies for viewers in the western United States or in the afternoon for viewers on the East Coast.
The eclipse was only partial for residents in San Diego County. About 58 percent of the sun’s disk was obscured by the moon.
The moon took its first bite out of the sun (first contact) at approximately 9:07 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday. Totality started at approximately 10:23 a.m. (second contact) and ended at approximately 10:25 a.m. (third contact). The moon finally left the sun’s face at approximately 11:45 a.m. (fourth contact).
The maximum duration of totality was two minutes, 40 seconds at any point in the United States. Viewers in the Pacific Northwest got to see a little over two minutes of totality (2:02 in John Day, Ore.).
While many onlookers waited in earnest to snap photographs and even view the event through telescopes, some travelers simply wanted to take in the celestial event at a more sublime level, opting for eclipse glasses rather than additional optical aid.
No one was disappointed.
It is during totality that the sun’s tenuous outer atmosphere, the solar corona, is visible to the unaided eye. It always creates a stir of wonderment for viewers.
Violet Rose, a graduate of West Hills High School in Santee, was among the large contingent of Californians observing from Grant Union Junior/Senior High School. She called the event a “once in a lifetime experience.”
“I love anything involving space,” she said. “I feel connected to the universe.”
The crowd of between 125-150 people gathered on the school’s football field and track were awestruck when totality finally transpired. The image of the blackened sun in a twilight sky with bright planets and stars around it created a profound effect. Many began cheering wildly as the sun went dark, and began cheering again when the sun began to reappear.
One couple came from as far as Michigan to observe the total eclipse. One college student flew in from Austin, Texas, to observe the event with his uncle, an East Coast transplant.
Because the sun is always active, no two eclipses are the same. Due to magnetic storms and high-energy particles constantly spewed out by our local star, each total solar eclipse has its own distinct personality.
The corona looks different each time.
As a first precaution, observers should never look directly at the sun with their eyes but don a pair of approved eclipse glasses or special filters (the same goes for attempting to photograph the event). Looking at the sun with unprotected vision can be especially harmful and cause eye damage.
During the moment of totality, however, direct visual observation of the sun can be made without any physical harm.
There are a number of interesting effects associated with solar eclipses.
Temperatures drop noticeably about 10 to 15 minutes before totality and light levels noticeably dim. Shadows also take on a less defined shape. The sunlight filtering through also can take on a yellow or orange tint.
From a high vantage point looking down, it is possible to see the moon’s shadow approach the observer from west to east.
The effect on animals and insects can also be noted. Birds will go to roost during a total solar eclipse while crickets will begin chirping when light levels noticeably decline.
Eclipses come in cycles. The next total solar eclipse in the continental United States will take place in 2024. The prime observing area for that event will be in a swath from Texas through the Midwest into New England.
On the road to the Great American Eclipse of 2017
Published in the Aug. 31, 2017 print edition of The East County Californian
It was hailed as the Great American Eclipse of 2017 and, for the tens of millions of people who gathered along a 70-mile wide strip of the continental United States from Oregon to South Carolina on Aug. 21, it proved to be the experience of a lifetime.
Some called August’s total eclipse of the sun perhaps the most viewed astronomical event in the history of this country.
The path of totality, as the moon’s shadow crossed the surface of the earth, cut a swath across parts of 14 states: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
A partial eclipse of the sun was visible from just about everywhere in North America, including San Diego County where 58 percent of the sun’s disc was hidden by the moon.
For those fortunate enough to view the celestial event that created sensational headlines across the country with dire predictions of food and gas shortages, it was an event not to be missed.
In an amazing coincidence, two former classmates at West Hills High School happened to view the total eclipse from the same campsite in eastern Oregon. They recognized each other just minutes before totality as they lined up to view the sun through a telescope that another intrepid traveler from San Diego County had set up.
Oregon seemed to be the preferred destination for eclipse chasers from California.
“My Dad had read about this and thought it would be a good place to view it, so we came up,” explained Violet Rose, a 2008 graduate of the Santee school. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’ve always been interested in space. I feel connected to the universe.”
Kelly Twichel, a 2009 West Hills High School graduate, remembered Rose from high school. They chuckled about the chance meeting at the remote site in John Day, Ore., a town of about 1,800 located near the intersection of U.S. Routes 26 and 395.
“I never would have imagined that someone I went to high school with would end up by chance in the same tiny spot,” Twichel explained.
Neither Rose nor Twichel were disappointed after making the long trek to the Beaver State.
As the moment of totality neared, temperatures began to noticeably drop and light levels diminished. An eerie brownish glow permeated the surroundings as shadows began to evaporate.
Then, when the moon’s disc completely blotted out the sun, darkness came. It was sudden, as if someone had turned off the light switch in a room.
The moment everyone had been waiting for finally arrived, and eclipse-chasers began clapping their hands and cheering. For many, especially those who had never witnessed a total solar eclipse in person, it was an awe-inspiring event.
For some, it even provided a life-changing experience
“You have to be there, you can’t describe something so beautiful and impressive,” Twichel said. “It’s the moment science and enjoyment come together.”
Twichel snapped some impressive photos of the eclipse, including the famous diamond ring effect that occurs a second or two before and after totality is achieved.
“It looked awesome,” Rose said, not really needing to add any words.
The two Santee women were among a group of about 150 visitors who gathered on the football field at Grant Union Junior/Senior High School to observe the Aug. 21 total solar eclipse.
The school, with a total enrollment of 200 students, had opened its athletic field to overnight campers wishing the view the event. The $100 camping fee served as a fund-raiser for the school and its athletic department.
Besides having a safe place to camp overnight, the school made restrooms and locker room showers available to campers. Palomar College astronomy professor James Pesavento, who traveled from San Diego to John Day to view the event, was courteous enough to provide a solar eclipse presentation to campers prior to eclipse day.
The school also provided a taco feast to campers the night before the eclipse as part of the fundraiser.
With rumors of some landowners along the eclipse path charging hundreds of dollars for overnight camping privileges or daytime viewing plots, the school came to the rescue of anxious travelers with a win-win situation.
School administrators were excited about the opportunity to host the eclipse fund-raiser as were the overnight campers who benefitted from the arrangement.
The school made 60 spaces available for guests.
“It’s a great opportunity,” school principal Ryan Gerry explained. “John Day is one of the premier destinations. We wanted to fill the needs to people coming in. We hope we’ve been a good host to those people. We thank them for visiting our school.”
Lights out
As crowds from urban areas flocked to areas inside the blackout zone, there were fears of gasoline and food shortages due to panic-buying.
Five million visitors were expected to descend on Oregon to catch a first glimpse of the total eclipse. The city of Madras, with a population of about 6,200, received an estimated 100,000 visitors.
Traffic snarls were commonplace, especially after totality as motorists crowded along highways to get home.
A 25-mile line-up of vehicles was reported heading out of Madras, for instance. It took four hours to travel 26 miles to nearby Redmond – a distance usually covered in 31 minutes.
The National Guard was called out in some states to help maintain order, especially in regard to traffic control.
Gas stations along the eclipse path limited purchases to 10 gallons; customers could purchase two bags of ice.
As one drew closer to the line of maximum totality, signs along the side of the highway offered emergency fuel, food and, of course, eclipse glasses for sale.
Temporary tent cities sprang up on the lawns of private citizens as well as local schools and colleges. Seemingly every available parking spot was occupied in cities that fell under the moon’s sweeping shadow.
Perhaps not surprisingly, price gouging became rampant in some places.
Some intrepid roadside vendors sold eclipse glasses for $50. Children sold lemonade and home-baked cookies from makeshift roadside stands. It was evident that enterprising local citizens cleaned up financially during the event.
In some cases, the sheer volume of visitors was enough to send cash registers into hyper drive. Motels displayed no vacancy signs and restaurants turned back customers due to lack of table space. Some shopkeepers reported they made as much money in one day as they did all summer.
There was one more perhaps even more important factor to ponder: travelers had to hope the weather cooperated in their favor.
Depending on where one was located along the eclipse path, the sun went dark either in morning skies for viewers in the western United States or in the afternoon for viewers on the East Coast.
The maximum duration of totality was two minutes, 40 seconds at any point in the United States. Viewers in the Pacific Northwest got to see a little over two minutes of totality (2:02 in John Day).
While many observers waited in earnest to snap photographs and even view the event through telescopes, some travelers simply wanted to take in the celestial event at a more sublime level, opting for eclipse glasses rather than additional optical aid.
No one seemed disappointed.
It is during totality that the sun’s tenuous outer atmosphere, the solar corona, is visible to the unaided eye. It always creates a stir of wonderment for viewers.
Because the sun is always active, no two eclipses are the same. Due to magnetic storms and high-energy particles constantly spewed out by our local star, each total solar eclipse has its own distinct personality.
The corona looks different each time.
As a first precaution, observers should never look directly at the sun with their eyes but don a pair of approved eclipse glasses or special filters (the same goes for attempting to photograph the event). Looking at the sun with unprotected vision can be especially harmful and cause eye damage.
During the moment of totality, however, direct visual observation of the sun can be made without any physical harm.
There are a number of interesting effects associated with solar eclipses.
From a high vantage point looking down, it is possible to see the moon’s shadow approach the observer from west to east.
The effect on animals and insects can also be noted. Birds will go to roost during a total solar eclipse while crickets will begin chirping when light levels noticeably decline.
Eclipses come in cycles. The next total solar eclipse in the continental United States will take place in 2024. The prime observing area for that event will be in a swath from Texas through the Midwest into New England.
On the road to the Great American Eclipse of 2017
Published in the Sept. 8, 2017 print edition of The Star-News
It was hailed as the Great American Eclipse of 2017 and, for the tens of millions of people who gathered along a 70-mile wide strip of the continental United States from Oregon to South Carolina on Aug. 21, it proved to be the experience of a lifetime.
Some called August’s total eclipse of the sun perhaps the most viewed astronomical event in the history of this country.
The path of totality, as the moon’s shadow crossed the surface of the Earth, cut a swath across parts of 14 states: Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
A partial eclipse of the sun was visible from just about everywhere in North America, including San Diego County where 58 percent of the sun’s disc was hidden by the moon.
For those fortunate enough to view the celestial event that created sensational headlines across the country with dire predictions of food and gas shortages, it was an event not to be missed.
Star-News freelance photographer Ron Becijos, who turns 71 in October, decided at the last minute to view the celestial spectacle. He left his Bonita home Saturday afternoon and some 20 hours later pulled into Madras, Ore., a town of 6,120 that had swelled to 100,000 for what many were calling “the experience of a lifetime.”
“I thought this one might be the only one I get to see,” he said.
Oregon seemed to be the preferred destination for eclipse chasers from California. In fact, the Beaver State was expected to receive up to five million visitors who traveled from outlying regions to catch a first glimpse of the total eclipse.
Becihjos called the locals “friendly and welcoming.”
“I was curious what they thought but, with so many people from outside the area, you didn’t meet many locals,” noted Becijos, who taught special education classes in the Sweetwater Union High School District for 23 years and continues to work as a substitute teacher.
Gridlock was obviously a problem with so many visitors and so many vehicles; just moving around the town was a headache, he said.
Still, the event — call it an astronomical Woodstock — presented a feast for the eye … and camera lens.
Becijos said just about every imaginable parking spot was taken up in the area. Local enterprising citizens cashed in on the event.
Some landowners along the eclipse path charged hundreds of dollars for overnight camping privileges or daytime viewing plots.
Becijos plopped down $70. He was not disappointed.
“There was private parking on about three square miles of open land just outside town called Solar City where there were hundreds of cars and RVs parked,” he said. “People also had tents and camped there several days to secure a spot.”
Late arrivals were seen driving on the nearby airport property to find a place to park.
The massive crowd also created its own woes. Becijos framed one image of a lone porta-potty with 50 to 60 people lined up to use it.
“There were a lot of personal inconveniences,” he said.
But the overall atmosphere was electrifying.
“Someone was offering hot air balloon rides at Solar City,” the intrepid Bonita photographer said. “It would go about 100 feet up on a tethered line. I imagine it would have been a terrific view of the crowd but I didn’t go up because the line was too long.”
Mindful of the time (it took 40 minutes to go across town), he hastened to set up his camera equipment in a parking lot he found to observe from.
He only took a handful of photos, however, as he — like virtually everyone who viewed the eclipse — found it so awe-inspiring that they just took in the totality phase with the unaided eye.
“It was a life-inspiring event,” he said. “I just stood there in awe.”
(As a required precaution, observers should never look directly at the sun with their eyes but don a pair of approved eclipse glasses or special filters (the same goes for attempting to photograph a solar eclipse). Looking at the sun with unprotected vision can be especially harmful and cause eye damage. However, the sun can be safely observed during full totality.)
Becijos noted that as the moment of totality neared, temperatures noticeably dropped and light levels diminished. An eerie brownish glow permeated the surroundings as shadows began to melt into the gathering gloom.
Then, when the moon’s disc completely blotted out the sun, darkness suddenly ruled.
At that moment eclipse-chasers began clapping their hands and cheering. For many, especially those who had never witnessed a total solar eclipse in person, it was a life-changing experience, filled with wonderment.
The maximum duration of totality was two minutes, 40 seconds at any point in the United States. Viewers in the Pacific Northwest got to see about two minutes of totality.
It is during totality that the sun’s tenuous outer atmosphere, the solar corona, is visible to the unaided eye. It always creates a stir of wonderment for viewers.
Because the sun is always active, no two eclipses are the same. Due to magnetic storms and high-energy particles constantly being spewed out by our local star, each total solar eclipse has its own distinct personality.
The corona looks different each time.
Becijos managed to snap some impressive photos of the sun’s corona. However, there wasn’t a lot of time to savor the experience.
“It was over so quickly,” he said. “The time seemed to accelerate.”
Then the crush to get back home began. That was the most unpleasant part of the trip, Becijos said.
Traffic snarls were commonplace, starting immediately after totality ended as motorists crowded along highways. A 25-mile line-up of vehicles was reported heading out of Madras. It took four hours to travel to nearby Redmond — a trip that is usually covered in 31 minutes.
It was not a happy moment for motorists caught in the snarl.
The National Guard was called out in some states to help maintain order, especially in regard to traffic control.
As crowds from urban areas flocked to areas inside the blackout zone, there were fears of gasoline and food shortages due to panic-buying.
Gas stations along the eclipse path limited purchases to 10 gallons; customers could purchase two bags of ice.
Children sold lemonade and home-baked cookies from makeshift roadside stands.
The sheer volume of visitors was enough to send cash registers into hyper drive. Motels displayed no vacancy signs and restaurants turned back customers due to lack of table space. Some shopkeepers reported they made as much money in one day as they did all summer.
And many eclipse-chasers will get ready to do it again in seven years.
The next total solar eclipse in the United States occurs in 2024 when the path of totality will stretch from Texas through New England.
Becijos remains mesmerized by the lure. “I’ll definitely plan well in advance for the next one,” he said.
