It might seem like a crazy idea to travel half-way round the world for something where the main event will last less than the time it takes to boil a kettle. And that’s weather permitting. But it’s an event that is out of this world! What am I talking about? The Total Solar Eclipse, of course! By the time you read this, on the 21st August 2017, the Moon would have been positioned perfectly to obscure the Sun for about 2.5 minutes of darkening skies in totality.
A Total Solar Eclipse is a rare event, on average happening once every 18 months somewhere on Earth. This time it’s crossing a number of States of the USA, and my wife and I are heading off to view our first one ever. These days it’s possible to see pictures and videos of these things nearly instantly, but there’s a difference between that and being there to experience it yourself; the change as the Moon starts to cover the Sun, to full eclipse and finally uncovering. The temperature will drop, and of course the light level and colours will change. People have reported that animals react as if it’s a new night or day. We will get to experience such a wondrous event for ourselves firsthand.
So what sparked my interest in travelling for such a unique moment? I’m an amateur astronomer so the Total Solar Eclipse is naturally of great interest to me, but I’m also interested in other things like the night sky, space, technology and the natural phenomena in this world.
I was fortunate enough to see a Space Shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral which was an impressive sight and incredible sound too! My wife and I recently travelled to Europe and in Norway saw the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) dancing across the sky during the polar night in the middle of winter which was a sight I won’t forget.
In fact, some of most memorable travel experiences have been through our shared interest in natural wonders and wildlife. We’ve been to places where the sky is very dark and the Milky Way and stars light up the sky. As you experience these things, it becomes almost addictive and you want more. They don’t call it the travel bug for nothing 😉
Here’s a tip though. Travelling for natural events is risky business. Experienced eclipse chasers say that you should plan other things to do for your holiday in case the weather impacts the eclipse viewing. I recommend always balancing out trips like these with other, let’s say, more traditional travel experiences like visiting (indoor!) attractions. Our upcoming journey will include visiting National Parks, museums and sights in Washington DC and New York. And probably eating too much food!
For some natural events, it pays to buffer your stay with a few extra days in case the weather gods aren’t on your side. When we travelled to see the Aurora we had planned ten days in Norway in case the weather was bad or the aurora did not appear, which was fortunate as we were only able to see the Aurora on two nights of our visit. It was a win:win though – the extra time allowed us to do other activities including dog sledding, snowmobiling and to see the humpback whales and orcas migrating through the fjords.
So as you can see, travelling to the USA for 2.5 minutes isn’t as out-there as it first sounds. Having passions that help influence your travel choices and decisions is one of the most fun ways to travel. Maybe, like other eclipse chasers, we will get hooked on seeing as many Total Solar Eclipses as we can. Chile in 2019 has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?
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