Task number: 49.
See both solar & lunar eclipses.
Date: 25th April 2013.
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Attendees: Yvonne Weatherlake.
I saw my first & only solar eclipse in 1999.
I'm sure a lot of you will remember this. It was around mid morning in August & the event had been talked about for what seemed like years.
"All birds would think it was night time & there would be scenes like Alfred Hitcock's movie as they headed to the trees to roost in mass".
"The tides may briefly change as the moons gravitational pull was affected".
"TV & radio signals could be radically affected".
Basically, all the signs of a immanent apocalypse. As is often the media's response to any pending global event. Thank god this didn't happen & we're all still here, but those that did see it will remember that it was worth a look.
An erie light that was neither day or night did descend on things for a few minutes. The best way to describe it was like when you look at things through a pair of sunglasses & a dull light that gives everything an almost Blue hue could be seen across the surrounding area.
The event I'd been waiting for to finally complete this task came in April this year. Just 14 years after the original! Lunar eclipses are much more common than Solar & can happen as often as every Two years. I had tried to see One Two years before & had planed a party for some friends, but after an absolutely clear day, around an hour before the eclipse was due to happen, the sky clouded over & we were left with a complete anti-climax.
This time round, I was going to give myself every chance! It was firmly planned in the diary.
In stark contrast to my previous effort, there was no fanfare, no party, not even a telescope set up. I nearly even forgot!
My girlfriend was hanging out the washing upstairs when she noticed it. The start was earlier than had been predicted & I came wondering into the bedroom rather pessimistic.
But there it was. I had tried not to keep my expectations low in case it was indeed an anti-climax, but this was pretty special.
The whole spectacle lasted around an hour. The moon developed from an Orange glow on One side to a bright, almost Red ball of light at its most prevalent.
Probably more excited about completing the task than actually seeing the event, I was hastily on the phone to anyone who would listen. "Mum, are you watching this?". "Watching what?" was her reply. How could she possibly be unaware of this Global phenomenon? After insisting that she go outside to take a look, I think she was rather surprised to see a sight that you, to be fair, don't see everyday.
I saw my first & only solar eclipse in 1999.
I'm sure a lot of you will remember this. It was around mid morning in August & the event had been talked about for what seemed like years.
"All birds would think it was night time & there would be scenes like Alfred Hitcock's movie as they headed to the trees to roost in mass".
"The tides may briefly change as the moons gravitational pull was affected".
"TV & radio signals could be radically affected".
Basically, all the signs of a immanent apocalypse. As is often the media's response to any pending global event. Thank god this didn't happen & we're all still here, but those that did see it will remember that it was worth a look.
An erie light that was neither day or night did descend on things for a few minutes. The best way to describe it was like when you look at things through a pair of sunglasses & a dull light that gives everything an almost Blue hue could be seen across the surrounding area.
 |
| On the phone to my mum, who was oblivious to this lunar "Phenomenon" |
This time round, I was going to give myself every chance! It was firmly planned in the diary.
In stark contrast to my previous effort, there was no fanfare, no party, not even a telescope set up. I nearly even forgot!
My girlfriend was hanging out the washing upstairs when she noticed it. The start was earlier than had been predicted & I came wondering into the bedroom rather pessimistic.
But there it was. I had tried not to keep my expectations low in case it was indeed an anti-climax, but this was pretty special.
The whole spectacle lasted around an hour. The moon developed from an Orange glow on One side to a bright, almost Red ball of light at its most prevalent.
Probably more excited about completing the task than actually seeing the event, I was hastily on the phone to anyone who would listen. "Mum, are you watching this?". "Watching what?" was her reply. How could she possibly be unaware of this Global phenomenon? After insisting that she go outside to take a look, I think she was rather surprised to see a sight that you, to be fair, don't see everyday.
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