In the early afternoon on a Monday in April, the path of a total solar eclipse passed right over our house. Arkansas cities all along the path planned festivities, and local hotels and campgrounds jacked their rates. Businesses and state parks sold eclipse-viewing glasses. It was a big deal.
The day before, I went to the dentist. With my mouth pried open and his instruments poking my gums, he asked me what my plans were. When I could speak, I said, “I’ll probably go outside and look up.”
And that’s what I did. I popped in and out a couple times as the sun was partially obscured, but then as totality approached, I stayed. It was interesting watching the birds. A flock of Black Vultures flew over as though returning to their roost. A Cooper’s Hawk and a very pale Red-tailed Hawk also soared by, and scissor-tailed Flycatcher flew just over the roof of the house.
Totality here lasted about four minutes. Here are my photos, with solar activity visible as red spots around the edge. According to the internet, the spots “were the result of hydrogen and helium plasma being thrown up in broad arcs but never leaving the sun’s atmosphere.”
The moment when totality passed.
An unaltered photo of the area during totality.
