August 21, 2017. The day the sun went dark.
Starting in Oregon and ending in South Carolina, the eclipse was a sight to see. A partial eclipse could be seen from most of the United States, but that wasn’t good enough for several E-gineers. Troy, Don, Tim, and I traveled down to Scottsville, KY to witness totality. Totality happens when the sun is completely covered by the moon, and it could only be seen within a 70-mile band across the country.
With our eclipse timer running, our YouTube videos watched (here’s a great one), our eclipse glasses on, and our cameras around our necks (or in our hands for the phone guys), we were ready for the spectacle. Or so we thought… At first, we saw the moon slowly creep over the sun, which could be seen by most of the United States. After a while though, totality crept closer and closer. The shining moment. Well, not shining I guess… but that wasn’t all we were there for. There are four main phases of a total eclipse: C1, C2, C3, and C4. Totality happens right between C2 and C3. Just before C2, and just after C3, some really amazing things happen. We witnessed the diamond ring, shadow bands, and Baily’s beads.
With the sun completely covered, everything changed. The sky got dark, the world seemed grey, and on the horizon was a 360 degree sunset. It was surreal. If you ever get the chance to see a total eclipse, even if you have to drive several hours to see it, I strongly recommend that you take the time to witness it yourself.
If you live in Indy, like most of us, then you’re in luck! On April 8, 2024, we’ll be getting a total solar eclipse right here. So order your glasses, grab your camera, and get ready for the view of a lifetime. But for now, here are some pictures!
Photos by Justin Dickey – E-gineering.
Approximately Pi-Approximation Day