Neither right nor left

Just dead center

The eclipse last Saturday morning was pretty awesome from dead center in the pathway viewed from the Bears Ears National Monument in southeast Utah. The awesomeness was made more so by my friend Kent. His Dad was a solar physicist so Kent inherited some of his knowledge and all of his solar telescope. The scope allowed him to get these awesome photos and for us to see the surface of the sun as well as the prominences – the gaseous plumes that get explode out from the sun and then get sucked back in. That’s what Kent tells me anyway. They’re the bumpy things right on the edge of the sun.

Other than the heavenly spectacle, the most noticeable thing was how cold it got. It wasn’t long before the four of us had our sleeping bags or puffy jackets draped over us. I don’t know how much the temperature dropped, but I know I went from warm and sunny to very cold toes and fingers.

One of the strangest parts was the eclipse glasses. They were totally black. The only thing that could be seen through then was the sun. Yet, despite this there was a warning printed on them: “Do not drive while wearing these glasses” Good point.

                                                Me and Kent’s wife, Joanie

                                                          Kent’s scope…and Kent

                    Back tomorrow with the real work of The Civil Conversations Project