Just after First Contact at 1:08:51
The eclipse started in Clemson at 1:08:24. First Contact occurs when the Moon's disk first begins to cross the Sun's disk. The Moon would move from right to left across the sun. When the Sun's disk is regarded as a clock face, first contact would occur between 1 and 2 o'clock. Since I did not have an equatorial tripod, my camera was rotated a bit, so that in this picture the Moon's disk can be seen as a very small "bite" between 2 and 3 o'clock.
Just after First Contact at 1:08:51
About one quarter of the way to Totality at 1:32:10
There were 88 minutes and 46 seconds between First Contact and Totality. I selected this and the next two pictures to be at approximately 22 minute intervals. This picture was taken about 22 minutes after First Contact
About one quarter of the way to Totality at 1:32:10
About one half of the Way to Totality at 2:13:20
This picture was taken about 44 minutes after First Contact
About one half of the Way to Totality at 2:13:20
About three quarters of the Way to Totality at 2:24:58
This picture was taken about 66 minutes after First Contact
About three quarters of the Way to Totality at 2:24:58
Just before Totality at 2:37:00
Totality was to begin at 2:37:10. This picture was taken 10 seconds earlier and shows the small crescent just before. I believe that the dark spots in the crescent might be the interference of mountain silhouettes on the edge if the Moon's disk.
Just before Totality at 2:37:00
Start of Totality at 2:37:26
Once Totality had started, I quickly removed the solar filter from my camera and switched it to automatic and took this picture. The full corona is visible. The small white dot on the upper left of the picture is the first magnitude star Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. It is actually located closer to the Sun, but because the Sun's gravitational field bends light, it appears to be further away. If I had the ability to accurately measure Leo's location, I could have proved one prediction of Einstein's general theory of relativity.
Start of Totality at 2:37:26
The Diamond Ring Effect — the end of Totality at 2:37:26
Totality ends when the Moon starts to leave the Sun's disk. The first bit of line shines through a valley silhouette on the edge if the Moon's disk This is known at the "Diamond Ring Effect". I was taking pictures in burst mode in an attempt to get a picture of the diamond ring. This is the result.
The Diamond Ring Effect — the end of Totality at 2:37:26
The first crescent after Totality at 2:40:26
After Totality ended I put the solar filter back on and reset the camera to manual settings. This picture of the crescent after totality was the first picture I took.
The first crescent after Totality at 2:40:26
About one quarter of the way to the end the Eclipse at 2:59:29
This picture was taken about 20 minutes after the end of Totality
About one quarter of the way to the end the Eclipse at 2:59:29
About one half of the way to the end the Eclipse at 3:20:03
This picture was taken about 40 minutes after the end of Totality
About one half of the way to the end the Eclipse at 3:20:03
About three quarters of the way to the end the Eclipse at 3:39:17
This picture was taken about 60 minutes after the end of Totality
About three quarters of the way to the end the Eclipse at 3:39:17
Just before the end the Eclipse at 3:59:51
This was the last picture I took. The departing moon's disk can be seen leaving the sun's disk between 8 and 9 o'clock
Just before the end the Eclipse at 3:59:51
©2017 Edward E Cragg