The Total Solar Eclipse, April 8th 2024 – Texas, USA

April 8th, 2024, a date I had long marked in my calendar following our experience of the 2017 total solar eclipse in Idaho, USA. End of March, Karin and I embarked on a journey that combined eclipse chasing with visits to friends in Florida and Texas. Securing accommodation at our ‘eclipse hotel’ in Mabank, TX, had required advanced booking a year prior. However, as our trip unfolded in the US, the weather forecasts consistently predicted overcast skies, casting doubt on our chances of witnessing the celestial event. On Sunday evening, we made the decision to relocate to an area with a more favorable cloud coverage estimate of 40%-60%. Setting out early on the morning of the 8th, our expectations were tempered by dense fog and drizzle as we headed towards Alvarado. Yet, around 11 AM, a glimmer of hope emerged as the clouds began to dissipate, revealing patches of blue sky. Opting to make a last-minute drive to Mansfield, where conditions seemed promising, we arrived at a quiet place with no living souls around (cemetery) where I hastily set up my equipment to capture the onset of the eclipse, starting with contact point C1 at 12:23 PM. While clouds initially obstructed our view, as the total eclipse approached, the temperature plummeted and many of the clouds dispersed, granting us a clear, unobstructed view of the celestial spectacle at its peak. Our luck held as the moon gradually receded from its solar companion, with clouds only reappearing as the event drew to a close. We were truly lucky!

Here are some of my results I managed to capture of this fabulous event:

This image captures both the start (C2) and end (C3) of the total eclipse, with the added bonus of capturing Baily’s Beads. This occurs when beads of sunlight shine through the valleys on the moon’s rugged surface. Named after Francis Baily, who first documented them in 1836, these beads create a stunning visual effect as they twinkle around the edges of the moon. Also visible are some gorgeous red colored solar prominences, towering arcs of plasma, erupt from the sun’s surface, sometimes extending hundreds of thousands of kilometers into space.

Capturing Baily’s Beads requires perfect timing. This picture shows a mosaic of 11 frames, captured approximately every second. It shows the evolution of this stunning visual effect during a period of 10 seconds.

This represents another picture from my dataset. The partial stages of the eclipse were captured using a white light filter to diminish the intensity of the sun’s light. Several sunspots were observable during this period. However, not all partial phases were documented due to occasional cloud cover obstructing visibility. Totality was photographed without the use of any filter.

This picture shows the solar corona, an ethereal halo of plasma, extending millions of kilometers into space during a total solar eclipse, revealing the sun’s outer atmosphere. This luminous crown, with its intricate patterns and streamers, is composed of highly ionized gases.

This rendition showcases the Earthshine phenomenon. Earthshine occurs when sunlight reflects off the Earth’s surface and illuminates the dark side of the moon, creating a faint glow. This occurrence is typically seen during a crescent moon phase when the sun’s reflection on the moon is minimal, though it can also manifest during a solar eclipse.

Very lucky with the weather!

Equipment:

Canon Eos 6D

Sigma Mirror-Telephoto 600mm f/8 + white light solar filter ND5 (during partial phase)

Skywatcher Star Adventurer