2009.07.22 Total Solar Eclipse

I went to Hang Zhou, an ancient city in China, to watch the total solar eclipse on July 22. In the morning of the eclipse, I went to the roof of the Sofitel hotel, which has a nice view of the West Lake, set up my camera (with a Celestron solar filter), and began taking videos. It was a bit cloudy initially but the sky had began to clear up. As the eclipse progressed, the day light became dimmer at an accelerating pace. At the moment of totality, the sky rapidly became dark blue as if it was sunset. And in a matter of seconds, just as the last ray of the silvery sun light was about to disappear from the sky, the iconic image of the total eclipse emerged. And in an instant, the silvery sun ray was gone. It was stunning. Right there I felt the motions of the celestial bodies. It was amazing.
The sudden brightness in the video was when I removed the solar filter. From that point on, what you see in the video was what I saw happening in the sky.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• total
• solar
• eclipse
• 2009
• July
• 22

[jamie82499]

How did you see the eclipse? I hear the sun can blind your eyes.

[halgarth]

@jamie82499 Before it reaches 'totality', i.e. the moon completely blocks the sun, it is too bright and yes the sun can blind your eyes. You will need to use a special 'solar filter' used in astronomy or a high grade welding glass to filter the sunlight. I watched the onset of the eclipse through a solar filter and had another solar filter covering the camera lens until it got within seconds of totality. It is safe to look where the sun is during totality.

[philiprockz]

its a blackhole!!!lol joke but it is amazing

[halgarth]

@philiprockz - Lol. It would be even better if it was. Then again, I still want to enjoy the sunshine on the beach.

[jamie82499]

Does it really happen that fast?

[halgarth]

@jamie82499 - The video is segmented but each segment is real-time. You can tell one segment from another. It took 2-3 hours from the time when the moon began to cover the sun to the time when the moon completely cover the sun ("totality"). When it is within a few minutes to totality, where the sun was would still be very bright, but all around you looked like early evening. Then in a matter of seconds, the silver-looking sun ray disappeared and the iconic image of solar eclipse emerged.

[RedBullBeadles]

if i woke up at 12 aclock at noon and the sun was gone.... i'd die!

[jettigger77]

hahaha funny dramatic music

[hottie101472]

I would love 2 actually eye witness an eclipse and there is supposed 2 be one in 2017 that i will be going to the border of Georgia 4!!

[AssassinBabe1]

its so beautiful