The 2024 Solar Eclipse - Observing 90% Totality!

byFrankB-1

5.7K followers

Updated 3 weeks ago

(Title Image Created With DALL-E 3, yup that's me in the center with eclipse glasses on, Lol.)

Hi WA Friends!

Just a quick post to talk about the eclipse yesterday. I should have posted this ahead of time to give others fun ideas, but I was too busy with other more pressing matters, so sorry about that.

What Is A Solar Eclipse?

Anyway, here in the United States, we had a total solar eclipse, which is very simply where the moon totally blots out the sun except for the radiation that can be seen around its edges, sometimes called the corona, which is actually the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere that is usually hidden by the bright light of the sun's surface.

Why Partial Is Better Than Nothing

Where I live in Rhode Island, we had a 90% "partial" eclipse, but it was still enough to plan a little commemorative get-together with family and friends; that's just how Italians are. Lol

I can't remember the last time I witnessed a solar eclipse, perhaps when I was in high school or college. I guess I was too busy with graduate studies or medical school to participate. Who knows??

Anyway, the next total solar eclipse in America isn't for another 20 years, so I'd be almost 90 years old or dead by then! Lol 😎

The Viewing, Food, and Refreshments

The eclipse began at about 2:30 PM, peaked at 90% at 3:30, and ended at about 4:30. We bought 30 pairs of ISO-certified eclipse glasses and passed them out to guests as they started arriving. Many of them missed the viewing and the barbecue due to work responsibilities but came later for the remainder of the festivities.

We had hotdogs, hamburgers, steak sandwiches, and a variety of refreshments. I almost missed the beginning of the eclipse, stuffing my face with a hamburger on the grill and fries! Haha

I also tried a Singapore Sling, at Nick's (Jessiefido) suggestion, or at least a few sips of one. Wow, are you kidding me, Nick? Delicious, but way too strong for an alcohol wimp like me! Lol 🤣 😂

The Entertainment

Sir Brian May, Ph.D.

We began the entertainment by watching a brief SKY News clip from Brian May, the astrophysicist and guitar player for Queen, showing time-lapse footage of the total eclipse from Mexico.

Queen

In honor of Brian and Queen, we viewed the "Hungarian Rhapsody: Live In Budapest" concert on Blu-ray. If you've never seen it, it's one of the best Queen performances!

Here is the track list (from Wikipedia):

1. "One Vision" (Queen)
2. "Tie Your Mother Down" (Brian May)
3. "In the Lap of the Gods... Revisited" (Freddie Mercury)
4. "Seven Seas of Rhye" (Mercury)
5. "Tear It Up" (May)
6. "A Kind of Magic" (Roger Taylor)
7. "Under Pressure" (Queen, David Bowie)
8. "Who Wants to Live Forever" (May)
9. "I Want to Break Free" (John Deacon)
10. "Guitar Solo" (May)
11. "Now I'm Here" (May)
12. "Love of My Life" (Mercury)
13. "Tavaszi Szél Vizet Áraszt" (Traditional)
14. "Is This the World We Created...?" (Mercury, May)
15. "Tutti Frutti" (Richard Penniman, Dorothy LaBostrie, Joe Lubin)
16. "Bohemian Rhapsody" (Mercury)
17. "Hammer to Fall" (May)
18. "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Mercury)
19. "Radio Ga Ga" (Taylor)
20. "We Will Rock You" (May)
21. "Friends Will Be Friends" (Mercury, Deacon)
22. "We Are the Champions" (Mercury)
23. "God Save the Queen" (End credits) (Traditional, arr. May)

• Extras
• • A Magic Year Documentary (DVD and Blu-ray only)

Pink Floyd

No eclipse is complete without watching a Pink Floyd concert that includes all the songs from their album "Dark Side Of The Moon!" They play every song on their concert Blu-ray "Pulse," as well as other all-time favorites.

It's a must-see for any Pink Floyd fan!

Here is the track list for Pulse (from Wikipedia):

Disc One

1. "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" (Parts I-V, VII)
2. "Learning to Fly"
3. "High Hopes"
4. "Take It Back"
5. "Coming Back to Life"
6. "Sorrow"
7. "Keep Talking"
8. "Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"
9. "One of These Days"

Disc Two: The Dark Side of the Moon and Encores

1. "Speak to Me"
2. "Breathe"
3. "On the Run"
4. "Time"
5. "The Great Gig in the Sky"
6. "Money"
7. "Us and Them"
8. "Any Colour You Like"
9. "Brain Damage"
10. "Eclipse"
11. "Wish You Were Here"
12. "Comfortably Numb"
13. "Run Like Hell"

How About You?

Do you live in an area where you were able to see the solar eclipse? Of course, you can watch it on YouTube, in case you missed out.

Did you see the partial or total eclipse, and what did you do to make it fun?

Let me know in the comments, AND ...

Keep On Rockin'! 🤘
Frank 🎸

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