by Yasmina Platt
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine December 2023 Digital Issue
The (total) solar eclipse of 2017 was one of those memorable life experiences one remembers forever. A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky darkens as if it were dawn or dusk. A couple of girlfriends of mine and I flew from Denver, Colorado to Alliance, Nebraska for this special event. I landed the Cessna 172 we were flying, parked it on the side of a (fairly full) taxiway, and watched the eclipse right by the airplane. It was wicked! In a short time, we went from a calm day to a light windy day and from day light to an eerie dusk and… back.
The (total) solar eclipse of 2017 at Alliance, Nebraska, where we landed and parked our aircraft on the side of a (fairly full) taxiway, and watched it happen right by our airplane.
But we were not the only ones who thought it was bizarre and cool at the same time. The airport beacon turned on during totality. And, did you know that, when a solar eclipse reaches totality, nocturnal wildlife sometimes wake up thinking that it is nighttime, and they think it’s time to sleep?
John King, Yasmina Platt and Martha King.
Guess who else was there? John and Martha King, ladies, and gentlemen! They had the same great idea we did!
When I learned that two more eclipses were going through the U.S., I immediately made plans to view and experience both of them. There was an annular solar eclipse on October 14, 2023, and there will be another total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.
We watched the annular eclipse, also referred to as “ring of fire,” from Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque since the dates matched. Two for one! Double the coolness factor, although, unfortunately, we didn’t watch the eclipse from a balloon, but rather from the ground! The annular eclipse lasted a lot longer than the total eclipse; it was really cool to watch the slow movement of the Moon across the Sun and the perfect ring at the top of the eclipse. I can’t choose one eclipse over the other, to be honest; they are both very cool, very different, and equally impressive.
(LEFT) Annular Solar Eclipse, October 14, 2023. (RIGHT) Total Solar Eclipse, April 8, 2024. NASA’s Scientific Visualization Studio
The 2024 total eclipse, like the one I witnessed in 2017, will cross the U.S. from Texas to Maine, passing over Mexico and Canada as well. Have YOU made plans yet? The next total solar eclipse that will be able to be seen from the contiguous U.S., won’t be until August 23, 2044, so it’s time to plan for the 2024 one!
Will it be going over you or will you have to fly somewhere to see it? We’ll be watching it from our cabin in Leakey, Texas (49R is the airport identifier). Maybe we’ll see you there!
Remember to use special eye protection (eclipse glasses or a specialized solar filter) to view eclipses. However, with the total eclipse, the protection can be removed during its peak.
Can’t view it in person? Live coverage is often available on NASA TV and the agency’s website, FMI, visit https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/eclipses. Plan ahead!
Fly safe and fly often!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Yasmina Platt’s full-time job has her planning the future of aviation infrastructure for Joby’s electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. She also writes an aviation travel blog called “Air Trails” (www.airtrails.weebly.com), in addition to articles on pilot destinations for Midwest Flyer Magazine. Pilots can locate articles Yasmina has written by going to www.MidwestFlyer.com and typing “Yasmina” in the search box, or by going to the “Archives” section, then “Columns,” then “Destinations.”
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this column is the expressed opinion of the author only, and readers are advised to seek the advice of their personal flight instructor and others, and refer to the Federal Aviation Regulations, FAA Aeronautical Information Manual, and instructional materials before attempting any procedures discussed herein.
