Total Eclipse of the Sun

First of all, Happy 90th Birthday to our Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. His birthday wish is for people to do an act of service for someone else.  He has lived his life serving God and others.  He is a wonderful example to emulate.  Happy Birthday President Monson!

Isn't it interesting that on President Monson's 90th birthday there is a highly anticipated celestial event?  Coincidence?  I don't think so.

Today was the much-anticipated total solar eclipse.  I didn't really think much of it -- I don't watch the news so I don't get all the hype -- but I know much of America was on pins and needles waiting for the celestial event.

My nephew, Elijah, is very much into astronomy and was super excited for the big event.  Thankfully he has a grandfather who is a welder and had some lenses everyone could look through.  So, his mother dropped him off early this morning and he and Grandpa found the lenses and cleaned them up and set the bench up for perfect viewing.

Grandma and Elijah

While testing the welding hood/lenses, Elijah came running in the house all excited saying he could see the moon starting to eclipse the sun.  So we all went outside around 9:30 AM.  It took about an hour for the total eclipse to occur.  Where we are, the sun was totally eclipsed except for a very small portion of the top.

This picture was taken at 10:38 AM.  I believe this is when we had the total eclipse.  This was the best picture we got.  This was taken through a number 11 welding lens.  We probably should've turned the exposure down.  You could see it really good through the welding lens.

  This is an unfiltered version of the total eclipse. This was taken seconds before the above picture.

Grandma and Elijah enjoying the eclipse.  Elijah is using a number 12 welding lens in the welding hood.

Interestingly, it got really cold when the sun was totally eclipsed.  The cold lasted several minutes. 20 to 30 minutes I would guess.  It also got ominously dark.  Not like nighttime just everything became darker in color.  These pictures don't do it justice.  But these landscape pictures were taken during the total eclipse.

It really did look darker than the pictures portray. But the cold was the most surprising aspect of it.  The temperature change was quite dramatic. I was actually glad I left my blanket on during the eclipse.  The temperature gradually increased as the Moon continued on its path across the sun.  It was downright hot when it was all over.

Another picture of the eclipse.  This one almost looks like a diamond ring. The eclipse was totally gone by about 11:30 AM. So it was about a two hour ordeal from start to finish.

Elijah said it was the best experience of his life.  I'm so happy Elijah was able to witness the eclipse.  I know it meant the world to him.  I'm sure when he becomes an astrophysicist he will still remember watching the total solar eclipse at his grandparent's house when he was 11.

Thankfully, for Elijah, the weather cooperated.  There was not a cloud in the sky.  And thankfully Grandpa had welding lenses on hand for people to use to enjoy the total eclipse of the sun.