I am a New Yorker, and although our city was not directly in the path of totality, I still managed to capture some spectacular photos of the eclipse. What I found more striking, however, was the energy, not from the sun and the moon but from the people themselves who were watching the spectacle. For a few minutes, everyone in the city (of 8.5 million people), had one common ground–a mission of awe…of science…of inspiration…of peace…and of hope.
Here are the details of that event…
My first solar eclipse in NYC, August 21st, 2017 (Totality: 70%), 2:44 PM
Above: The eclipse as seen above the Empire State Building in New York City
Above: Revelers, tourists, office personnel, everyday people all congregate to witness the phenomenon of the decade.
THE ECLIPSE
Solar eclipses are not a rare phenomenon although most happen in areas that aren’t heavily populated (like the oceans or Antarctica). But one that happens in New York City…that is pretty rare. The last one happened back in January 24, 1925 way before the age of social media.
While the moon is 400 times smaller than the sun, it is also 400 times closer to the Earth so the two planetary bodies appear exactly the same size from Earth, making our planet the perfect place to witness a solar eclipse.
Did you know that there is no other planet in our solar system where eclipses occur other than ours. Isn’t that amazing? I’m actually feeling very special right now 🙂
Above: Photos taken using an eclipse filter.
THE ENCORE
To catch the very next one, I suggest going to either Chile or Argentina on July 2nd, 2019. And, if you miss that, there is an encore in the very same countries a year later, sometime in December (2020).
Above: Crowds gather on East 42nd and 5th Avenue to witness the event. Photos of the sun (above and below) evoke a sensation of eerie as the eclipse fades.
THE NEXT GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE
We can wait for the next one on April 8, 2024 when it passes from Texas all the way to New York. That’s only 7 years away, so I will make sure that I am prepared.
And, if we are still around in 2045, it will once again cross the continental United States from coast to coast, where totality passes from California to Florida.
Seven years from now, I will most likely be somewhere in the Midwest or Northeast to witness this heavenly spectacle, and aiming for 100% totality. Erie, Pennsylvania or Buffalo, New York…here I come!
Aidenn's Journey 