Franklin Matters: Franklin.TV: Eclipse, It Happened!

Sunday, April 14, 2024

Franklin.TV: Eclipse, It Happened!

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/14/2024

Major networks covered the eclipse – live – from several locations across the U.S. TV stations along the path of totality had their own local news teams weighing in. Good coverage. Lots of fanfare and cheers. Then – on to the next news cycle.

Franklin.TV was also covering the eclipse – at the precise centerline of totality, four miles North of St. Albans, Vermont. Precise? Within a hundred feet or so, in the Champlain Country Club’s parking lot. This is where the more seasoned and serious eclipse trackers headed. For some, this was their third. Others, their fifth. We interviewed several as they set up computerized tracking systems. We learned much about eclipses, the science, and the humanity as well.

“Lots of folks headed to the park in downtown St. A’s . That’s gonna be a mosh pit. This is exactly where you want to be.” (Good advice.)

The experience of totality is quite literally other worldly.

While Sun and moon may be small against the sky, the vast scope of it completely envelopes you because the entire sky

A 360-degree wraparound ecliptic ‘sunset’

above becomes as dark as a new moon night. (Only a new moon can eclipse the Sun.) Then, the unexpected. We were on somewhat higher open ground at a golf course. While we were centered in the deep cone of totality, the far horizon all around us was still lit, and we experienced a glorious, 360-degree wraparound ‘sunset’ effect.

Our new friends – the eclipse chasers went silent, some had tears of joy. We were all totally together in the moment. They’re also providing some additional images. Our eclipse special will be completed later this year. What might we reveal? For now, we’ll just have to keep you in the dark.