I saw the one in 2017 as well, from Wyoming where the sky was crystal clear. It’s the only one I’ve seen so far. Before totality arrived, I thought I knew what to expect, but when I took off the eclipse glasses and looked up the sheer majesty of what I was seeing actually caused my knees to buckle. I couldn’t even speak coherently. All I kept saying was “Wow!..Oh wow!…wow!.”
If you’ve seen a total eclipse, you instantly understand why people plan years in advance and fly halfway around the world just to experience a few precious minutes of it. And if you’re just outside the path of totality and think that even 99% total is good enough, you would be completely wrong. The sun is so bright that even 1% of its light is blinding. It’s only when the sun is 100% covered by the moon that it is safe to look at it with the naked eye, and only then are you able to see the indescribable corona and bright red prominences erupting from the surface.
All of that said though, if you’re in the path or near it and it looks like the sky will be clouded over, don’t give up and ignore it. I would still do whatever it takes to get inside that path of totality because you will still experience the amazing darkness that comes, will hear how the animals and insects react as if night is coming, and will feel the steep temperature drop. Where I was in 2017, the temperature dropped 15 degrees in a few minutes.
I wish I could take off to see this eclipse but unfortunately, I can’t.
I agree that once you’ve seen one, it’s easy to understand why people travel all over to watch total eclipses. I’d love to be able to do it. It’s an experience like no other. Just a shame it’s so brief.
Maybe we won’t be totally clouded over next Monday and I’ll get to see what we do get. I still have my glasses from last time. And I can get a pic or two of the shadow crescents, if any trees have enough leaves on them. That could be a problem.