oregon
“Where before there was light and heat, now there is only a cold,
black hole in the sky surrounded by a ghostly crown. The corona, a
ring of immense pearly tendrils, envelops the darkness and stretches
off into the sky in all directions. It is unimaginably beautiful and only
ever visible during these few precious minutes of totality.”
it’s time
to align
Less than two months from now, a total solar eclipse
will cut a narrow path across the contiguous United
States and give millions of observers one of the most
profound astronomical experiences an individual can
have.
For those in the right position with the right
weather, the hallmarks of night will gracefully
emerge as the Moon’s shadow swallows the Sun and
nudges day aside for a few fleeting moments.
This promise of a surreal spectacle has rightfully
caused anticipation for the Aug. 21st total solar
eclipse to reach a fever pitch. It has been more than
38 years since any part of the 48 states that make
up the contiguous U.S. has been in the path of one
of these epic events.
Unlike the 1979 eclipse that swung across only
five states in the country’s northwest corner, this
summer’s total solar eclipse has a path that crosses
through 14 states and stretches from coast to
coast, which is something that has not happened in
more than 99 years.
Billed by many as the “Great American Eclipse,” this
event will only make landfall on U.S. soil. This means
eclipse enthusiasts from around the globe will journey
here to take in the sight. Although the path of totality
is almost 2,500 miles long, hotel rooms, campsites
and other lodgings in that strip are being rapidly
snapped up. If you are not one of the fortunate ones
who already live in one of these lucky locales, secure
your travel plans immediately!
— Astronomer Tyler Nordgren in “Sun Moon Earth”
Oregon has the honor of being the first state
where the narrow path of totality makes landfall
and begins its coast-to-coast journey across the
lower 48. At Lincoln Beach, which NASA lists as
the first point of contact, the Moon’s shadow will
begin methodically consuming the brilliance of
the morning Sun at around 9:05 a.m. PDT. Just
before 10:16 a.m. PDT, the main event begins in
this coastal locale as the Moon’s shadow engulfs
the Sun for almost 2 minutes. Being right on
the coast would put you among the first to see
the eclipse, but there is increased risk of cloud
coverage in the area so moving inland may be a
better option.
The thin path of totality stretches from one
edge of Oregon to the other but the Moon’s shadow will take less
than 12 minutes to traverse the state. One of the nation’s prime spots for viewing the
eclipse is Madras, Ore., which lies east of the Cascade mountain range. Totality in
Madras starts at 10:19 a.m. PDT and will last just over two minutes. One thing that
makes Madras a standout is its strong potential for favorable weather. On his website
eclipsophile.com, Canadian meteorologist and renowned eclipse chaser Jay Anderson
notes satellite observations show “Madras and its surroundings have the distinction of
possessing the least August cloudiness anywhere along the central line of the eclipse
track.” Several multi-day celebrations will be happening in Madras for the eclipse,
including the Oregon Solarfest and the Lowell Observatory Solar Eclipse Experience.
If you’re looking for a national park to observe from, the John Day Fossil Beds
National Monument in eastern Oregon lies within the centerline of totality. The park
has no entrance fees, but large crowds are expected.
Oregon cities on the centerline of the path of totality:
Aumsville • Detroit • Falls City • Gates • Huntington • John Day Fossil Beds National Monument • Lincoln Beach • Lyons • Madras •
Mehama • Mill City • Mitchell • Monmouth • Otter Rock • Prairie City • Stayton • Turner • Unity • Warm Springs
event spotlight
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