Tuesday Morning Post Solar Eclipse Sunburn Neck Ache

That is me at the lower left, craning my head skyward. Even though the sun was being blocked by the moon, enough sun rays managed to hit my face to cause the first mild sunburn I have had in years. 

It did not occur to me that I should lather on some sunscreen before gazing at the disappearing sun for well over an hour.

Gazing skyward for over an hour has also resulted in a slight neck ache this morning.

Seeing The Sun Eclipsed By The Moon In Wichita Falls

Well, the eclipse of April 8, 2024 is over, for me, at my location. I walked the short distance to a rocking bench on the Circle Trail around half past noon.

When I got to the bench I put on my eclipse viewing glasses to find myself surprised to see the eclipse was underway.

For well over an hour I watched as the moon covered up more and more of the sun. There were odd lighting effects, sort of glowing orangish-red at the sun's edge.

I took photos with the phone, with the photo not showing the eclipse. I then put one of my eclipse viewing glass lenses over the phone's camera lens, thinking that might make the eclipse show up. 

It did not work. That is the best result, what you see above.

The eclipse viewer you see here shared the rocking bench with me. Daylight noticeably darkened as more and more of the sun was blocked by the moon. The temperature noticeably dropped. The wind picked up. Birds got noisy.

The moon shadow phenomenon I have seen pictured before, did happen as I walked back to my abode after the total eclipse part of the show was over.

So, in conclusion, I have to say the solar eclipse was more interesting than I thought it would be....

Fully Prepared Ready To Be Almost Totally Eclipsed

Eclipse viewing glasses arrived from Amazon on Friday. Which would make that me modeling a pair of the eclipse viewing glasses superimposed on a graphic showing how close Wichita Falls is to the total solar eclipse.

Apparently, I am in the 95% of total coverage zone. 

The eclipsing begins sometime after 1 tomorrow afternoon. The total eclipse only lasts a couple minutes, but the entire eclipsing from start to when the moon finally relents and lets the sun go back to full shine mode, is a couple hours.

At least, that is my understanding of how this epic event will unfold.

I have decided I am not driving anywhere tomorrow to view the eclipse. I am just going to walk the short distance to the Circle Trail and find a bench to sit on as my observation platform.