Searching the Sky: total solar eclipse vs. weather

This article was contributed by community member David Baumgartner as part of a local series on astronomy. Read this article in Spanish here.

Ever since witnessing the total eclipse traveling through North America in 2017, our gang of want-to-be astronomers here in Hollister couldn’t wait until the arrival of the total eclipse occurring this year in April. It seems like it took forever to get here, at least 70 years I figure. I may be off a little there.

All this traveling around the world to witness a four-minute astronomical event sounds a little bit absurd. Just the other day, a friend of mine said he completely agreed with this assessment. He has been reading all about these solar eclipses, people spending enormous amount of money and time chasing these solar events, when all you have to do is sit back in your comfortable living room chair and watch the whole four-minute spectacle on TV for free . Now with the extra time you have, you can take out the garbage, water the plants and mow the lawn. What a good husband. total eclipse? Not exciting until you see one in person, without the clouds that is.

Solar eclipse. Photo by David Baumgartner.

To start off here, I must admit that I have traveled to a few places around the world just to watch a four-minute wonder, and I must admit again that not all of them have turned out as I planned. Just because you spend all that money, time and effort does not assure you the success of seeing what you came to see. There are other things that occur that are completely out of your control.

For instance, we have the pleasure of living in a beautiful part of Central California: very few clouds, very little rain, maybe a few mornings with fog that burns off by 10 am So when we get the rare chance to witness something like a total eclipse in our area, by George we’re going to see it. Well, at least, a good chance. Clouds are just a sample of the things that can happen when traveling abroad.

Our first adventure searching for an eclipse was when my wife and I traveled to Egypt. The eclipse’s path covered Egypt and crossed over the Mediterranean Sea and off through Europe. We did get to visit the pyramids. How nice.

I’m in one of the pyramids in a 5′ tall walk way I called a crawl space. After 20 minutes of crawling, our string of lights went out. I’m trapped in a crawl space dungeon with people I don’t know. How nice. This lady keeps asking me if I have any water? I want to say, “Yes, but you can’t have any.” It’s odd what you’ll say when you are trapped in a dark dungeon for 20 minutes. The lights go back on. There standing next to me is this lady asking me, “Do you have any water?”

The next day we are on our bus going to the viewing site. We are God knows how far out in the desert when we are pulled over by about a dozen armed soldiers. They come into the bus and ask about half of us. One soldier asks me if I have any water? I say, “No, but you might ask the lady behind me.” They finally let us go on our way. We arrive an hour before first contact; It is foggy, can’t see a thing. How nice. Lucky for us it cleared up just in time. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I want to see it again, right now.

A few years later our daughter and I went to Panama to see the canal and an annular eclipse. We are at the sight ready to go. In Panama, they have these things called clouds. The guy in charge shoves us back into the bus and takes us to an optional location. Did I tell you about the clouds they have down there? The oddest thing happens; just as we approach, a little patch of clearing opens up, enough to get a picture or two. It was like our tour guide had a control to open up the sky. The opening didn’t last long. Better than nothing, though.

Then Jo Anne and I go to Reno for another annular eclipse. And this time, no stinking clouds, just beautiful blue skies. That trip was the best, got some great pictures.

I can’t say much about the 2017 total eclipse; my back goes out on me the day before we are set to leave. Of course, they have no clouds.

Last October, I went to Oregon, they have the biggest clouds up there. No clouds the days before or after, just for the day of the event.

The eclipse last month, six of us drove to Austin, TX, one of the best locations right on the total path. It seems they have clouds as well. You get it; not the best viewing, but we get a few pictures.

Are you seeing a trend here? Whenever I show up, the clouds follow. So it’s no wonder why no one wants to go while I’m there. Or it could just be personal.

I won’t be hurt if next time you decide to go without me, I’ll just take it personally. Or maybe I’ll just watch it on the TV and carry out the garbage and mow the lawn. What a good husband.

Now if my friend could just see a total eclipse for himself, I know he would think differently about those four minutes. It has to be seen in person, I can’t stress that enough.

But this round has to go to the winner: Weather. I’ll b ready for you next time.

(I hate clouds) Clear skies.

Calendar of events:

May 01: Last Quarter Moon

May 03: Moon passes 0.8° south of Saturn

May 04: Moon passes 0.3° south of Neptune

May 04: Moon passes 0.2° north of Mars

May 05: Eta Aquarlid meteor shower peaks

May 05: Moon is at perigee (225,659 miles from Earth)

May 06: Moon passes 4° north of Mercury

May 07: New Moon

May 15: First Quarter