Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024

7 years after our first eclispe, we were preparing early for the next one. This would be the last solar eclipse to cross the Americas for the next few decades, so we made sure that we cleared our schedules in advance. Just barely, too, as I had just graduated with my PhD the week before!

This time, we decided to head north and see the eclipse from Montreal, Quebec. This was quite a change from the scenery of the previous eclipse, since Idaho Falls is a much smaller and remote town.

[PICTURE - MONTREAL]

Though initially wet and cloudy, the forecast rapidly cleared up as eclipse day approached. On the morning of the ecipse, there was nothing but blue skies.

[PICTURE - MONTREAL MORNING]

We chose to brave the crowds this time and followed others to a central island park to view the eclipse. By the time the eclipse was starting, thousands of people were clustered into the park.

[PICTURE - PARK]

Although the maximum duration of totality was longer for this eclipse, in Montreal totality lasted only around 90 seconds - very similar to our experience in the 2017 eclipse. This time, the corona was spread out in a more even pattern, accentuating the ghostly blue-whites during the brief seconds of totality. Many solar prominences also made themselves visible.

[IMAGES - TOTALITY]

After the joy of the eclipse, it was time to leave. This...ended up being harder than we thought. The large crowds overwhelmed the local transportation systems and brought everything to a halt until long after the eclipse had ended.

In the end, we walked the long bridge back to the mainland, and finally got some rest after a long day.