Eclipse Mania- 1918

[@daveschmarder-1950]

During the 1970 eclipse, I switched on my ham radio station. During the morning, the usual propagation on the 75 meter band was about 150 miles at best. When the eclipse came, I was talking with stations several states away. The ionosphere changed so the shortwave reflection bands were much higher, while the sun was blocked. That was my big science experiment.

[@nstark1066]

How cool!

[@allareasindex7984]

I wonder if AM radio “skip” will be similarly affected?

[@daveschmarder-1950]

@@allareasindex7984 Yes, you should experience nighttime propagation, at least within the eclipse band.

[@oldschoolman1444]

My dad was a ham radio operator and always liked to code with others at night. He said he could a lot better range at night.

[@daveschmarder-1950]

@@oldschoolman1444 Both my dad and brothers were hams along with myself. At night there is less signal absorption by the lower layers and the higher layers are good reflectors. Try listening on the clear channel frequencies where the 50kW stations reside. 700-1220 and 1500-1690 kHz.

[@james-p]

I've been lucky enough to see four total solar eclipses now (including April 8th). There is absolutely no way to describe what it is like to physically be there. It is a full sensory experience, the way the daylight gradually dims and then suddenly goes dark; the temperature drops, the wind picks up, birds roost, flowers close. And there's that 360-degree sunset. There is nothing like it.

[@prettycoolhuh747]

Saw one pass over my house last year. Wore a welding mask to watch. My dogs didn't even notice it. One of them even took a dump. You're being overly dramatic.

[@james-p]

@@prettycoolhuh747 You're just as numb as your dogs.

[@eb7713]

Fantastic!

[@gregtaylor3432]

If you ever have the chance to see total eclipse, I highly recommend it . Pictures don’t do it justice and the overall interplay between the light, the sky and the rest of nature is incredible .Last Monday, I as struck by two thoughts as I viewed the event: 1) I could understand how it could be terrifying toprimitive persons and 2) I marvel at the calculations done to predict paths and timing in the era before ubiquitous computers. (ie the 1918 event)

[@jamesadkins1780]

A little note on pop culture. The song “You’re So Vain” contains the line “You flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun”.

[@orbyfan]

That eclipse took place on July 10, 1972.

[@magistrumartium]

I was there, 12 years old. I remember it. It was a beautiful, cloudless summer day. It was eerie when the sky got dark on a cloudless, sunny day.

[@goodun2974]

" Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won/then you flew your Lear jet to Nova Scotia to see the total eclipse of the sun/well you're where you should be all the time,/ And when you're not you're with/some underworld spy, or the wife of a close friend, wife of a close friend......."

[@goodun2974]

Carly Simon, singing about Warren Beatty according to urban legend....

[@HeavenWithouttheE]

Unfortunately for me, I hear Carly Simon in my head whenever I use Ketchup….

[@Obleo575]

To me, an imho moment, I find that the moon to sun ratio that allows this observation to be possible simply amazing

[@anti-Russia-sigma]

As the moon is leaving,total solar eclipses will be a thing of the past.

[@chrismusix5669]

Ratioed.

[@JeffBishop_KB3QMT]

In the 1990's my wife and I were living in New Wilmington, PA. There was going to be an eclipse and the evening news stated that the best place to view the eclipse was in the ghost town of Pithole, PA, just north of Oil City. We went up there with a camera and welding glass to view it, expecting a large crowd including college students and school buses as well as others who might be interested. When we got there, except for a flock of turkeys, we were the only ones to show up, which did surprise me. Every photograph came out perfect. Now, living in the mountains of western Maine, we are going up to Jackman, Maine, with welding glass and cameras in tow to shoot stills and video. They are having an Eclipse Festival, so the turnout should be better than just a flock of turkeys.

[@gatordelt5]

Awesome, hope it was great!

[@JeffBishop_KB3QMT]

@@gatordelt5 I don't think the photographs and video were worth shooting. I should have stuck with film like before. It was a beautiful cloudless day and we got to see a perfect eclipse, including the little red dot on the bottom of it. Unlike in the 1990's, there were thousands of cars and people there. It was a regular event. Took over three hours to cover 30 miles on the way home. The traffic was bumper to bumper for miles on end, generally moving between being stopped and about 3-4mph. The traffic was worse than any I had seen in Pittsburg, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Boston, or NYC. Hours at a crawl. Edit: It was worth every minute of the drive home.

[@deuce-infinitum2001]

Welding lens. Yep. Done that

[@TheCleric42]

Pithole, PA sounds like the perfect sister city for Newark NJ or Gary IN.

[@BS-vx8dg]

@@JeffBishop_KB3QMT I was not too far from you; we were at the junction of VT, NH, and Canada, and yes, the cloudless sky made for a perfect experience. The little red dot between 6:00 and 7:00 did take me by surprise, however. When I mention it to other people, they say that they've seen photos of the "little red blob" on the eclipse, but I tell them no, it was like a precise laser pointer was hitting it there. Absolutely beautiful, even better than the 2017 eclipse I saw out west.

[@ElementofKindness]

I am so glad that I made the trip out to Lorain, OH, to be in the direct path of the eclipse. Getting to witness a total solar eclipse should be on everyone's bucket list. It is a completely surreal experience. A partial eclipse doesn't even come remotely close to the experience of seeing a total eclipse. (even an annual eclipse is nothing like a total eclipse)

[@sparkybolt2085]

I traveled to Arkansas for the April 8 eclipse. It was such a breathtaking, spectacular event. It was the fastest 4 minutes, 10 seconds of my life. Thank you for providing us with some amazing eclipse related history, something very fitting for the day.

[@ThePaulie02]

My two minutes, 37 seconds of totality in Tennessee in 2017 flew by. But with over four minutes in the shadow Monday, it felt like a lifetime. I can't wait to do it again.

[@terrycole9427]

That you History Guy for keeping forgotten History alive

[@Controllerhead]

I saw the 2024 eclipse in Headlands Beach State Park in Ohio, right on Lake Erie, i drove 9 hours from NJ, SO WORTH IT OMG!!! No picture i have ever seen can truly do it justice. Experiencing the dependable and predictable Sun suddenly becoming a giant shimmering black spot surrounded by 360' of orange sunset was just the wildest sensory experience. Totally changed my outlook on life. A+++++ would eclipse again!!!!

[@calvinhobbes6118]

Enjoyed the show today from Indy. Seeing the sun blotted out by the moon and having streetlights come on at 3:05 in the afternoon was a trip.

[@jaysomewhereinflyoverterri735]

Left my town for Carbondale, IL at 5:00A.M., traffic jam in St. Louis, found a place to stop in Carbondale 15 minutes before totality. 4 minutes of totality, awesome! Got home 10 minutes to midnight. Traffic jam after traffic jam, but I'm happy that I did this.

[@JohnSmith-dh4gw]

I saw the total in Kirkwood, MO, the annular in Quihi, TX, and this total in Hatfield, AR.

[@SaberToothBicycle]

Wherever overcast, local records may today be set for men yelling at clouds. Perhaps that'll be history worth remembering too.

[@tygrkhat4087]

I know. Here in Buffalo, Saturday and Sunday were beautiful. Today, complete cloud cover.

[@robertpearson8798]

@@tygrkhat4087 Unfortunate. Here in Hamilton we had the same thing but the clouds broke minutes before totality.

[@tygrkhat4087]

@@robertpearson8798 Actually, the same thing happened to me. It was hazy, but we saw the eclipse for the whole time of totality. BTW, Go Ti-Cats!

[@davidrudd9846]

My Grandfather who was 9 years old in 1918 said after traveling to Southwestern Arkansas always said he was more impressed with the big city of Texarkana than the eclipse. Its was his first time in the 'big ' city

[@nstark1066]

He would be dismayed to see Texarkana now, just a ghost of its former city. 😢

[@williamjordan9237]

What was his original city before he departed to Texarkana? Im in arkadelphia Arkansas.

[@davidrudd9846]

@@williamjordan9237 Bogata Texas His father had just traded a newly plow broke mule and $25 cash for a 'used' Model T said his two brothers and him pushed more than rode not sure what town in Arkansas had an Uncle there

[@davidrudd9846]

@@nstark1066 He was there in 1990 but the signs were already there

[@robertwalhout8982]

I was 9 years old when Sputnik went up. I study astrophysics now.

[@rickm9244]

A moment to reflect that we are just small things. Spinning on a ball of rock and fire. We are just passengers on this trip.

[@robertwalhout8982]

Merely specks of dust in the vastness of time and the void. It's best if we treat our cousins well.

[@bobcastro9386]

As has been said elsewhere; we are not passengers, we are the crew.

[@richwhitaker1506]

Seen a few partials over my time. Gonna watch today's special event pass overhead from my front yard . Best wishes to all.

[@AliciaGuitar]

Partials are nothing compared to the full totality experience!

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

I hope you enjoyed the show. It's definitely worth the watch.

[@richwhitaker1506]

@@katieandkevinsears7724 Yes, it was a wonderful and moving experience. Thanks

[@jerryc2709]

Experienced totality back in 2017 in East Tennessee. What a show!!!

[@Hackerswillprobfindthis]

I love stepping away from the history guy channel for a few days only to come back to not one but two videos, one involving onions I’m so excited

[@shawnr771]

Thank you for the lesson. For everyone that can see it, ENJOY.

[@livin4thelamb499]

I'm so excited 😁😁😁

[@shawnr771]

@@livin4thelamb499 I am hoping for clearer skies. My house is within a couple of miles of the center line of the path of totality

[@ghowell13]

I am as well! We'll only get 80% or so here in NC, but that's still quite a bit!!

[@Scaliad]

Heavy cloud cover in central Texas so far today...

[@shawnr771]

@@Scaliad my first reply evaporated. We are getting peeks of sun now. I am just north of Waco.

[@ghowell13]

"... we are still merely human." What a great ending to this video. Thanks for the upload and the perspective. Hubris often rules the day. I've been through a few solar eclipses now. The best was the one back in 2017. I was in my driveway with both my parents, and my oldest daughter. For a brief time, 3 generations were together, and while standing in awe of such an occurance, we were allowed to forget about our youngest daughter'sstruggles, if only for a brief. She had been born just 2 days earlier, with a heart defect. My wife watched from the hospital roof. We were on the phone with each other. What surprises me is the lack of lunar eclipses covered. I only remember one in my 50 years, and I was 7 years old or less. Im sure theres a reason I only remember the one. Thanks again, The History Guy!!!

[@LBGirl1988]

I too enjoyed the 1970s eclipse. Our elementary school had worked on creating a paper “tool” to see it. The entire school was outside and we all were happily freaked out!

[@HeavenWithouttheE]

I thought the exact same thing today, just watching the fortunate “humans” in complete awe across the continent:))

[@glassdave]

i was fortunate enough to have near perfect viewing location for the 2024 eclipse with an unobstructed southern view across Sandusky bay in NW Ohio. I spent better then a year working the excitement up within my group of friends that really did not know how powerful the event was going to be, truth be told i had never seen one either. Oh my god it did not disappoint, what an event it was. I still lack the words to even closely describe what we were lucky enough to see. Such a fun time with family and friends.

[@ThePaulie02]

It's not easy describing being in totality to those that have not experienced it.

[@ericgulseth74]

I was in Carbondale, IL for 2017. I wanted to come back for 2024, but it was practically in my back yard in Upstate NY and Plattsburgh ended up looking like some of the best weather in the nation. Such an awe-inspiring moment. Can't wait to catch another one at some point in my life.

[@nancywhitehead219]

The animals will think the sun is setting. Chickens will go to roost. The shadows as the moon crosses the sun are phenomenal.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Some papers reported that chickens went to roost, others said they did not. It likely depends most upon the length of totality.

[@allareasindex7984]

Going to a Totality party here in San Antonio, Texas. The electronic signs over the highways have been saying “Total Eclipse April 8 - Plan your viewing location / Arrive early - Stay put - Leave late

[@charlayned]

I hope it's not cloudy there. We're near NASA in Houston and it's so overcast here, there's nothing to see (we were going to get a partial). I'm watching on TV.

[@Donnie64inPa]

I Viewed the total Ecliose today April 8th 2024 in Erie Pennsylvania. The sky was over cast but became clear right before the event! It was epic and would recommend it to anyone. The only draw back was the traffic leaving added 2.5 hrs to the trip 😢.

[@ruthbennett7563]

It’s been an experience to find the differences in my friends & family as far as who would travel just the 30 miles from our city to catch true totality. If one has the chance, it should be taken. It was profoundly AMAZING. 😮

[@KarlWitsman]

I was glad to hear that you didn't have as many clouds in Southern Illinois as were predicted. We were fearful of clouds, so we traveled from Danville, Illinois to Danville, Indiana. It was fantastic.

[@TheOfficial007]

Just saw the 24 eclipse. Neat seeing the light cycle in minutes.

[@mainiac4pats]

Never cease to amaze me, the Lewiston Sun Journal, a fine paper when I was young. 7 years on from living in Maine and I hear you mention it here. You are an amazing historian, thank you.

[@bryantsemenza38]

Great Job History Guy. With World uncertainties, it’s great to focus back to a simple exciting event and let the not so good leave us for just several minutes.

[@johnlaughlin266]

Today’s popular media sources namely the legacy networks which have the greatest reach gave a one week to 3 day heads-up as usual of the April 8th eclipse in contrast to 1918 which gave a 6 month lead. In 1918 spectrographic analysis was explained to the reader while today the best the media could do was say it’s not safe to look at the sun. REALLY! Way to go.

[@ThePaulie02]

The TSE has been in the news for weeks, and in my friend group, for years.

[@74Spirit1]

My first partial eclipse of memory was May 30, 1984. 1991's eclipse wasn’t much, and neither were the eclipses of the early 2000's though one created a cool sunset. Then came August 21, 2017. The sky grew dim(I was in a partial)enough for people to step out and use eclipse glasses to see the moon partially block out the sun. April 8, 2024 was already discussed, and at the time, I was thinking another deep partial. I didn't think I would have the means to see a total eclipse 74 miles away from me, and I got it!!!!

[@tomfromoz8527]

Small world! I was once your neighbor, and my daughters still live in DeSoto! NASA was at SIUC. You do *not* sound at all like Southern Illinois. You made my day. *Pam* {Tom's wife}

[@daffers2345]

Where I live, the sun was about 92% covered at the peak. It was partly cloudy, so I was able to look up at the sun through the clouds with only a pair of sunglasses. There really IS something thst awes the human mind when you see the sun looking like a crescent with a big dark circle over it. Shortly after the eclipse started, a bat came out and began to fly around, thinking night was coming. Robins began singing too, since it looked like evening. I went inside after the peak as the clouds began to thin, though it was still pretty dark. My two guinea pigs were much quieter than usual. They are trained to be quiet at night and thus calmed down when the sun was covered. It was truly an amazing experience and I'm glad I didn't have to travel to see it! It was truly a stunning and

[@DeeVine999]

So awesome, i live in Belleville. My daughter and i went to Southwestern Illinois College for the 2017 eclipse, and it was truly amazing. We were in total awe❤

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

Hey neighbor!

[@atsiv12]

Live in the Terre Haute area

[@nelsonbergman7706]

I lived in Belleville in 2017 and with my Amazon Eclipse glasses I was able to observe it from the parking lot of my apartment. A great day.

[@TheHistoryGuyChannel]

@@nelsonbergman7706 I watched it from my deck.

[@StaceyG-l6m]

They shot three rockets so what did third one do?!❤️😎🥸🙏 15:30 & my Dad was born in January 1918😎🫶❤️🙏✌️✅😇🍀🦋🦍🐾

[@lot2196]

I live about 15 miles from the absolute center line here in west central Ohio.

[@LuckyBaldwin777]

I wish you the best of luck with the clouds.

[@JamesCrouchX]

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is expecting 25k-35K people with over 10K tickets already sold.

[@dianayount2122]

that is cool

[@kevinpotts123]

We were in Southern Illinois, in Du Quoins, to see this today. It was beyond description. Magical isn't descriptive enough.

[@patprop74]

In Montreal Canada, It was rather moving to be sitting in a park with thousands of other strangers, when it was the full eclipse you could really feel the energy coming from everyone, I'm sure most of us for those few mins, we all felt connected somehow, its no wonder people in the middle ages would have taken an eclipse for a sign of god or something.

[@carlahardwick9908]

It was wonderful! Arkansas was the perfect place to be with my family and friends! I can't wait until the next "once in a lifetime" event. Thanks for sharing your fascination with us.

[@johngeib]

According to the news, Dallas had 400,000 visitors today to watch the eclipse. Most of central Texas got to be in the path of totality and there where festivals and watch parties everywhere.

[@eb7713]

Yep! We drove from rainy Houston to Waxahachie and had clear skies during totality!! We even made some friends along the way!

[@katieandkevinsears7724]

I witnessed both the 2017 total eclipse from Jefferson City, Missouri and the 2024 total eclipse from my pasture in Ohio. Both were amazing sights to behold and I was fortunate enough to not get clouded out for both.

[@lisahinton9682]

I enjoyed the 2017 eclipse here in Phoenix, Arizona. It was wild, awe-inspiring, and fascinating. Thanks, The History Guy, for another interesting episode.

[@TeaMollie11]

I just saw the one yesterday in waco and it was the most significant thing I have probably ever experienced. I got some maybe decent pictures with my camera too and recorded the whole thing with my phone. I looked at it with my binoculars and I gave them to my friend so he could see and told him to run them over to the group near us too so fast I can't even remember exactly what it looked like. But it was gorgeous enough to make me give them away instantly.

[@danieldaniels7571]

I traveled from Phoenix to Glendo, Wyoming to view totality

[@lisahinton9682]

@danieldaniels7571 Why didn't you take me with youuuu? 😁

[@danieldaniels7571]

@@lisahinton9682 could only afford plane tickets for me daughter and I

[@ThePaulie02]

I'm a space nerd, and not even I find a partial solar eclipse awe-inspiring. But a TSE? Absolutely. Already think Gibraltar 2027.

[@k-dog7013]

I think solar eclipses always have and always will be awe inspiring to anyone. I saw the 2017 eclipse for the summit of Mt Borah in Idaho on an absolutely perfect day. I went to college for physics so I know what to expect but seeing the sun’s corona with my own bare eyes in a sky full of stars instead of through a telescope is the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.

[@ThePaulie02]

Funny that astronomically, you can know everything that will happen, what to look for and when, but nothing can truly prepare you for that first time in the shadow.

[@clintballard521]

Enjoying the show from Jonesboro, AR today. Totality begins at 1:53 😁

[@catofthecastle1681]

Me too!

[@ronking3049]

Will be watching in walldenburg 😊

[@nstark1066]

Lucky you! 🎉😊

[@thenadonation2664]

I got to experiance both in my life. I lived in beaufort south carolina in 2017 and in Michigan now.

[@Mavrick2787]

Here in cloudy NY just waiting.

[@corvid...]

Great video, as usual. I live in portland on the 2017 eclipse was one of the best things I have ever seen, wish I had the means to go see this one too. Even being lucky enough to have experienced it once in my life was amazing

[@jeremiahgaskins9127]

Good morning from Greensburg, Indiana-awaiting our 100% totality this afternoon. And in true Midwestern politeness, I image the moon saying "sorry" to the sun as he passes by and blocks the rays.

[@adreabrooks11]

Up here in Canada, the sun held the door for the moon as it went by. 😁

[@DavidJones-pv8zu]

I didn't understand this "mania" until I witnessed one; alongside people from all over the planet who declared it "the best". A camera can't do it justice. A corona of diamonds amidst an amazing night sky. The Australian outback in 2002 was perfectly clear. I was 39 then and watched the whole event; now 61 & my eyesight is fine.

[@kythian]

The eclipse of 2017 was perfectly clear for me as well. I lived within the path of totality and the view was perfect. We opened a bottle of mead during totality to celebrate. An experience I will never forget.

[@StevenDietrich-k2w]

Good Monday morning fellow classmates. Welcome to class. I positioned myself directly under the total solar eclipse back in (?) 2018. I drove for 6 hours each way to get to the nearest place that I would be directly under. It lasted about 2.5 minutes, the wind stopped and the birds went quiet. Definitely worth the drive and a great experience. Don't miss this one if you have a chance to see it.

[@JeffreyGlover65]

😎

[@StevenDietrich-k2w]

@@JeffreyGlover65 I'm going to sit next to you if THG ever has a quiz (well maybe Constipated and ResiredSailor as well). We can copy off each other.

[@HollyMoore-wo2mh]

@@StevenDietrich-k2w 🤣🤣

[@masonl.8859]

I did as well! I rode my motorcycle 6 hours to watch the eclipse in Idaho and then road home the same day. It was a great trip!

[@giselematthews7949]

My significant other drove from st Louis to Casper WY to see it in 2017. Driving to Carbondale Ill, today.

[@johnshinn6274]

Always my favorite channel. God bless you, Lance!

[@SquidGames1]

I enjoyed the last eclipse in the cab of a tow truck. I didn't have a spare tire, but I had AAA. the driver had no idea about the eclipse, he started freaking out when everything went dark, around 1pm, he then pulled over to pray, fearing the end of the world. He said he was thinking of dropping my car on the side of the road to go check on his family. I couldn't tell if he was just confused, or wanted to get out of the job.

[@ThePaulie02]

I would have demanded the driver get back in and drive. Idiot can go pray to his imaginary friend on his own time.

[@cvkline]

We drove to Olney IL for the eclipse on Monday. I was nervous about crowds and availability of parking, but the Olney City Park was only moderately occupied and a parking space did not take much effort. We had a lovely time and a nice picnic lunch!

[@QueenOfTheNorth65]

1918 was an insane year in history. Flu, World War 1, and a solar eclipse.

[@Sibyle79]

My grandmother was born that year too!

[@lancerevell5979]

I imagine many looked forward to something peaceful to take their minds off the Great War. 😎👍

[@humboldthammer]

In 2016, ALL the Pentecostal Prophets on Christian TV proclaimed Trump CHOSEN by God to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem -- so the Sanhedrin can renew their rituals of smoke and blood for the remission of our sins, and FINALLY get rid of Jesus and the cross. 100's of millions deceived. Matthew 24: 24. Great Re-Set coming on 09/23/26. All the people will cry out in a shared, worldwide experience as Never Before in the entire history of Man, "No more war. Forgive our debts. Save us from Omega. We will do Anything!" That's when THEY unveil the NEON GAUD -- the abomination of desolation -- God as machine.

[@djquinn11]

That was quite a year.

[@lococomrade3488]

​@@ct8764 superstitious nonsense.

[@heatherwhittaker6169]

Thank you History Guy..your channel is wonderful ❤

[@nikburton9264]

They are expecting 80 to 100 thousand folks in this county of 15000. Living right in the Path of Totality here in the Glorious Buckeye State. Saw one when stationed on Guam in 02, and a partial in the 80s in KC MO. Moonshadow festivals are lots of fun.

[@andrewlindenfeld6222]

I got to see the April 8th eclipse from St Johnsbury, VT. Had about 2 mins of totality. I traveled from Springfield, MA and wow... it was worth fighting the traffic... I'd been waiting for this for more than 7 years, especially after the 2017 eclipse. Luckily I was also able to bring my wife and four-year-old daughter, who can't stop talking about it! Worth every moment for sure and we will all not ever forget it for the rest of our lives! The fact the weather cooperated is also beyond amazing... we had a big storm before the eclipse, and a couple days after it's been nothing but clouds and rain! The icing on the cake… My wife brought her canon 5DmkIV and 75-200mmf2.8L lens... we only got two pictures during totality, but one was during full totality, the last one was just before the sun came back out the other side, and they just happened to come out amazing by sheer luck!

[@yensid4294]

There is a very enjoyable movie called Einstein & Eddington (with David Tennant & Andy Serkis) that dramatizes Eddington attempting to prove Einstein's theory by photographing the eclipse. It's worth a watch :)

[@emilyr3451]

Sounds interesting. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@Sakai070]

Maine is in the path this year, and I've got a 2 hrs drive to the totality zone ahead of me today lol.

[@worldsheaviestjamband93]

How long did your drive actually take?

[@ewittkofs]

Following your WW1 theme, I observed the 2017 Totality on the grounds of the National WW1 Monument and Museum in Kansas City, Missouri. This year I saw a 96% eclipse from my home in Connecticut. Thanks for the great story.

[@tristangossman8910]

Always been a fan...and liked his videos about little Egypt...now I know why. Guess me and the history guy are neighbors...kind of...live in Southern Illinois myself!

[@WaltzingAustralia]

I was among the thousands who headed south in Illinois to see the eclipse. Very fun seeing past reactions. As always, thanks for the history.

[@GRW3]

It was cloudy where I was watching but I still experienced the totality. A lot was made that you wouldn't see much difference until close to the event because the sun is so bright. An interesting point, but under the cloud cover I could tell the light was fading well before the event. The thing that struck me about the totality was how quick it was. If night fall, then totality crashes, and perhaps that's what drives our imagination. Getting dark is natural but not that way.

[@Maxaldojo]

Well done, Lance! It was an amazing event, both then and now... Happy Total Eclipse 2024!

[@GasCityGuy]

We hit the jackpot with our town having 2+ mins of totality. Watched the whole thing from my front yard!

[@joshthemediocre7824]

i'm writing this the day of the eclipse from central oh right in the path of totality. We have people here from everywhere, all the hotels, eateries, everything is full of people just hanging out waiting.

[@LisaBowers]

I really enjoyed this episode. My family and I witnessed the 2017 eclipse from our backyard in South Carolina. We were completely awestruck. The feeling is undescribable. This year, we had 85% coverage of the eclipse. All the colors in the backyard were muted. Everything looked and felt strange. Being in the path of totality is an experience unlike any other! 🌞

[@besticudcumupwith202]

...it's the location of the path of totality that makes it "rare". When is the next one scheduled to cover this same path? Someone said it'll be 375 years before another eclipse follows this same path. We can't all afford to travel. Let alone internationally. And me sitting on my own deck watching that gorgeous sight today...that'll never ever happen again! Something I'll never forget.

[@RetroElijah1982]

Another great video THG, super job

[@lynemac2539]

I don't look up. I look down. The shadows are the best part.

[@matthall-tw3tz]

Hole 14 tee station on the Donald Ross course in Frenchlick, Indiana was a great place to observe the eclipse.

[@frankgulla2335]

Thank you, THG, for the insight and thoughtful review of the 1918 and recent solar eclipse "Mania"

[@gregreilly7328]

Thank you SO much for the eclipse episode! I find it interesting to learn you are in southern Illinois. So much history there. Metropolis is my favorite. But seeing Cairo, a town frozen in time since the depression! Wow! Thank you, again, for everything you do. Learning isn't always drudgery, in the case of the History Guy, it's often very entertaining.

[@tp3521]

SIUC baby!!!

[@Milnoc]

I saw the eclipse in Magog, Quebec, located very close to the centreline. I drove all the way from Ottawa, Ontario to see it. The community has very low light and air pollution. There was only a thin layer of cloud below the sun. Three minutes and twenty-nine seconds of sheer awe! Even the stars came out! Everyone was ecstatic!

[@SHANECatLovinActivistHistorian]

funny how some people say they wont even get off the couch and go outside to see it

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

I was in the right place at the right time for the Eclipse in the UK, in 1999. Huge luck, it was cloudy until a few minutes before totality and remained clear until after. I also remember how the birds stopped singing, how cold it got and the blast of wind as totality ended. The rushing band of light across the ground heralding the end and the big contrast between almost and total, eclipse.

[@HollyMoore-wo2mh]

In Dallas I hear it is supposed to be overcast. I'll let you know later... being what weather forecasters are. 😊 Someone told me the other day that people were traveling here (Dallas TX) JUST to see the eclipse ... my answer - You mean they're coming here ... on PURPOSE? As humans we almost seem to have short term memory problems ...from year to year. Enjoy everyone and watch on tv. The one in 2017 in Texas... all I remember is quiet birds and semi-creepy shadows.

[@charlayned]

It's overcast in Houston now, and we were going to see a partial.

[@HollyMoore-wo2mh]

@@charlayned It starts at 12:23 here.

[@eb7713]

We were in Waxahachie, Texas and the clouds cleared a couple of hours before totality. We drove from Houston where it was very cloudy. It was all worth the drive and we made some new friends in the process. 😊 Wow!!! What a show!!!

[@notinmanitou]

My grandmother used to work at the Battle Creek Moon Journal. Small world.

[@JustFluffyQuiltingYarnCrafts]

Very interesting that many things have not changed in human behaviour when it comes to this wonderful phenomena. Thanks for sharing. ♥️

[@walkercustoms]

We're in Dexter MO, may be going a town over, depending on crowds.

[@kantemirovskaya1lightninga30]

Lucky that for the second time in my like I was in the path of totality-this time in New Hampshire!

[@dianacryer]

We were in the black out zone in 2017. I had no idea that it was actually going to get cold and the crickets and roosters were going to react. It was fun.

[@jamesbrown9736]

Thank you for answering the questions I had concerning the fact that a World War and the start of the Spanish Flu was going whether people still went. They were on my mind at the beginning of your lecture. Fantastic video sir.

[@MRblazedBEANS]

I was in the path of totality perfect for the 2017 eclispe. Salam Oregon was allowing people to camp over night in the parks so my wife and i did that. Everyone had left the town expecting it to be a mad house, we had only 4 or 5 people camping on the park with us and the town was empty. Got to see the eclipse with me wife and it was breathtaking. I hope to see another one in my wife time, my son will be in his 20's by then so trippy to think about.

[@garysarratt1]

We were in Aiken, SC in 2017, right in the middle. There was no wind there, but a little breeze kicked up when it got dark. Today living in Missouri, not too far from the middle; if the cloud cover holds off we’ll see it again.

[@amicaaranearum]

I was near Charleston in South Carolina for the 2017 eclipse, but it rained during the totality. 😭

[@garysarratt1]

@@amicaaranearum That sucks.

[@garysarratt1]

Update: the clouds held off; we saw the 99%’er!

[@ThePaulie02]

​@@garysarratt1 I'd rather be rained out in the path of totality than have a clear sky for 99% partial eclipse.

[@charlesandrews2360]

Thumbs up from Carbondale Illinois where we had a perfectly blue sky to watch the eclipse and marvel with family and a few close friends. (In the voice of THG) Not seeing the sun for more than four minutes, in the middle of the day, was, as they say, a sight to not behold.

[@BenjySparky]

THG,you rock! ❤Peace

[@NickC1966]

I live in the path of totality. Been hearing that the place will have over one million people visit Western NY. It was nowhere near that. Businesses and offices were closed. The thruway signs warned about this day for weeks. The eclipse was very cool but nowhere near the people here than thought would be.

[@kayla_eevee]

I was in Carbondale for my last year at SIU during the 2017 eclipse and it was genuinely one of the most profound things I've ever experienced. I remember tears just pouring down my face for the entire duration of the totality. I would have loved to make it back for this one but I unfortunately wasn't able to.

[@JOHNDANIEL1]

We are in the Comanche Texas Area. My 9200 watts of solar will be hit with a 98% eclipse. Wonder if I should video the results?

[@jasong428]

Id do it. Make a test video to ensure results.

[@ThePaulie02]

Not unless you went to PoT.

[@dennistaylor3796]

A friends friend had a homemade darkened glass in a telescope. It wasn't tempered and when the glass got hot it broke. The telescope magnified the sun and blinded him in one eye.

[@danieldaniels7571]

Who all is making their travel plans for the next total solar eclipse in Spain?

[@jasong428]

I'll be in Holgate Ohio this afternoon and I can't wait!

[@kennyhagan5781]

In 1970 I was shown how to use a stack of old photographic negatives to safely watch the moon pass over the sun by my mom. I still remember it well enough to get misty eyed when one comes around.

[@c07chris]

Nailed the pronunciation of Spokane! Coeur D’Alene is Core Da Lane

[@theoccidilian4896]

A moment to focus on something greater than ourselves.

[@sphexes]

I saw the 2017 at garden of the gods Illinois. Went to Bloomville OH from Toledo to get max totality. Amazing umbraphilia!