Back-to-back solar eclipses

The solar eclipse happening on Saturday brings back vivid reminders of the total solar eclipse that went coast to coast in 2017. I vividly remember my boss coming to me weeks before saying "we are sending you to Beatrice, NE to cover it, but we have one problem. Accommodations in that area are full, so we might need you to camp out." That's one of the memories I'd like to forget, but the overall experience of the eclipse itself was amazing. 

This was our accommodations the night prior. A simple camper trailer and a generator. Honestly, I don't even remember what we had for food. And I don't recall getting an ounce of sleep the night before (it was a little windy, the generator was loud, and we had to be up early for the morning news coverage):

Something of this scale (since there hadn't been a coast-to-coast eclipse in a very long time) was covered by hundreds of news outlets. I was amazed at the long row of satellite trucks there and just how far away some of them had traveled to see a 2.5 minute episode of the moon hiding the sun. 

The forecast didn't look too bad, but we were up against clouds approaching from the south. Remember, we were covering this from Beatrice, NE and we knew it would be a race between the overcast reaching us and the eclipse taking place. As it would turn out, the clouds arrived before the eclipse and many folks were wondering if they should pack up and go find a new spot along the totality path. As it would happen, the clouds broke JUST in time for us to view it, making it even more dramatic. The photo shown below was taken the night BEFORE the eclipse, and you could already start to see some of the clouds that would move our way. 

Of course, Millie made the journey with us too. She spent the afternoon in the live truck in between broadcasts. 

The 360° sunset is right at the top of the list of things I'll remember from that day. The temperature cooled a bit, some nearby lights came on, and it seemed as if everyone in the crowd left with a smile. 

Saturday's eclipse is different. It is an ANNULAR eclipse, not a total one like back in 2017. Because the moon's orbit is elliptical around the Earth, there are times when the moon is farther and when it's closer. Since this eclipse happens when the moon is farther from Earth, the entire disk of the sun will NOT be
covered. 

If you traveled to the path of totality, only about 91% of the sun would be covered (as will be the case in Albuquerque, NM. 

Kansas will have about 70% coverage, still pretty amazing, but you won't get what was pictured above. 

Here are the viewing times:

What is fantastic is that we don't have to wait much longer for the next total solar eclipse to give us another dazzling show. And it's going to be just about as close as the one in 2017. If you have some eclipse glasses to view this year's celestial event, be sure to save them for the next one coming in 2024. 

And while you are working on your schedule, mark the calendar for 2045 when a total solar eclipse will come right across Kansas. 

Have a great day.