Image of the eclipse, the diamond ring, and Bailey’s beads provided by Barre Spencer and Patrick White using a Canon Rebel with a 200 mm zoom lens.  Location of photo:  Columbia, SC 

A group of folks from various places met outside of an Italian restaurant to enjoy the solar eclipse together.  We were all surprised how few came to this quaint little town to observe this historic event.  The totality duration was ~ 2 mins  34 seconds, and with perfect weather!    

Very comfortable weather, with very low humidity.  Yes…a perfect day, and only 40 miles away from our house.  We drove some back roads, and crossed over I-85, that was bumper-to-bumper.  It actually looked like a parking lot for as far as the eye could see.

The I-85 event reminded me of the day that Deb and I tried to get on the Santa Monica Freeway, in California.  We actually had to pull an illegal turn at the top of the ramp!  

During totality the sky darkened to a surprising level, but not as dark as a clear full moon night. Venus appeared very bright in the western sky and Jupiter in the southeast.  I could not see any stars….naked eye.  

Both Debbie and I were amazed at the sudden flash of the diamond ring.  (See the image above) 

The temperature drop was very significant.  A weather bureau report from Newberry, SC, only 30 miles away, also in the line of totality, had a temperature drop of 11º Fahrenheit .  

I had always wondered what the temperature drop could be during a total solar eclipse, so now I know.

When the sun began to reemerge, we noticed a shimmering of light waves on the pavement under our feet and all around us, known as shadow bands.  A very interesting phenomenon, that I was hoping we’d see, and we did! 

I’m just sorry that I didn’t video a few seconds of the shadow bands, however, they are forever  stored in my mind.  I can just see them now! 

We drove back through country roads and were home in less than 45 minutes.  What an incredible and memorable day.  

And thanks to John Goss, President of the Astronomical League at that time, sent both Debbie and myself, a very nice and high quality lapel pin.  I wear it often to this day. 

Regarding the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse:  We enjoyed the moment, and the events taking place all around us.

2017 Astronomical League Total Solar Eclipse Lapel Pin:

Note my 2017 eclipse pin only recently.