- My first solar eclipse experience was breathtaking thanks to advice from a seasoned eclipse chaser.
- Fred Espanak has seen 30 total solar eclipses and he told me how to get the most out of my first.
- Entering the path of wholeness was worth it for me and others.
On Monday, I witnessed my very first total solar eclipse. And it was breathtaking.
I traveled to Burlington, Vermont, to watch the moon’s shadow obscure the sun on Lake Champlain. The weather was warm and clear, traffic was light on my trip to Burlington, and the entire town gathered – along with thousands of visitors – to watch the eclipse unfold.
Eclipse watchers in Burlington, Vermont, gathered en masse at Lake Champlain to watch the event unfold over the Adirondack Mountains. Ellyne Lapointe
But what really helped make my first eclipse experience great was the advice I received from Fred Espanak, a former NASA astrophysicist and avid eclipse chaser.
Espanak has witnessed 30 total solar eclipses and seen one on all seven continents, including Antarctica. He’s seen so many that he’s earned the nickname “Mr. Eclipse,” and needless to say, his eclipse-viewing strategy has it down to a science.
In the weeks leading up to April 8, I asked him for advice on how to make the most of my first total solar eclipse experience. Here are the tips he gave me that proved to be the most helpful.
Access the path of totality
Millions of Americans took the path of totality to witness Monday’s eclipse, and Espanak would say they had the right idea.
“While a partial eclipse can be interesting, a total eclipse is incredible,” he said.
My totality photo, which shows the solar corona shining in white around the perimeter of the moon’s shadow. Ellyne Lapointe
When I spoke with Espanak in February, I called from my apartment in Brooklyn, New York. New York City was not going to be in the path of totality, but would see the moon cover about 90% of the sun during the eclipse. Espanak encouraged me to leave the city and travel the path of totality for the event.
So I decided to take the train to Burlington, Vermont to attend the event. And it was totally worth the seven hour trip. In Burlington, I was able to see a total of three minutes and 15 seconds, which was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
Keep an eye on the weather
The weather can make or break your total solar eclipse experience. Cloudy skies or precipitation in the forecast can make viewing and photographing the event difficult – some eclipse chasers in New York have learned this the hard way.
That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on the weather forecast during the week leading up to the eclipse, Espenak said, and be prepared to change viewing locations to find clearer skies if necessary.
“You need to be prepared to change your plans a day or two before the eclipse based on the weather forecast,” Espenak said.
Waterfront Park in Burlington, VT, just hours before the eclipse began. A few clouds arrived later, but they did not obstruct my view of the eclipse. Ellyne Lapointe
Vermont weather in April can be unpredictable, ranging from snow, rain, and high winds to sunshine and blue skies. I checked the weather every day of the week leading up to the eclipse. Luckily for me, Burlington was sunny and warm on the day of the eclipse, so I didn’t have to make any last minute changes to my viewing plan.
Espanak’s advice made my first total eclipse experience unforgettable. And now I’m going to prepare for the next one which will take place in the United States in 2044.
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