Monday - April 08, 2024 Arrive 9:00AM - Depart 1:00PM (Daily Diary Synopsis)
We are going to see the total solar elclipse today!
On April 8, 2024, much of North America will experience a solar eclipse: a cosmic alignment of Sun, Moon, and Earth, in that order. The Moon's shadow path will make landfall on Mexico's Pacific coast, cross the United States from Texas to Maine, and exit North America via Newfoundland, Canada, continuing into the Atlantic Ocean.
We were going to have breakfast on the veranda but alas, it was a tad too cold!
Champagne is served!
Lox and bagels, Paul's favorite breakfast!
...and the rest of breakfast!
Fruit anyone?
Calories galore!
Our destination is ahead 200 miles.
We are in our cabin 90 ft above sea level.
The crew brought the fire extinguishers in case I overheat the machine!
The Captain told us the exact location we wold be going and we will be "station keeping" meaning he will keep the ship as stable and stationary as he can so we could see the eclipse without motion!
We are just minutes away!
It was bright out and we were still!
Testing the solar glasses
These lenses were solid black and when looking out to the sea with them on, the sea was BLACK as midnight!
I tried the iPhone camera through the lenses and it sort of worked1
Pour champagne and lets watch the eclipse!
The Captain placed us in position where we could stay in our room and watch the entire event!
We are just seconds away from the beginning. We can start to see the planets and stars in the sky at noon!
Look carefully and you can see a sliver now covering the Sun!
Look to the right of the Sun and you will begin to see stars shining at noon!
The eclipse is now underway!
Did You Know? - The term eclipse is most often used to describe either a solar eclipse, when the Moon's shadow crosses the Earth's surface, or a lunar eclipse, when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.
However, it can also refer to such events beyond the Earth–Moon system: for example, a planet moving into the shadow cast by one of its moons, a moon passing into the shadow cast by its host planet, or a moon passing into the shadow of another moon.
A binary star system can also produce eclipses if the plane of the orbit of its constituent stars intersects the observer's position.
As the moon covers 90% of the Sun, the day goes away!
Our lights came on automatically as it got darker and darker.
The Sun is gone!
Via telephoto lens it is quite an event!
It was am amazing experience
As the Sun comes out, the rays are reflected by the Moons mountains and it forms a ring!
Daylight is slipping back in after the Moon passes the Sun!
No shadows on the floor at high noon!
We saw several stars and planets in the sky!
People on our side of the ship had wonderful views.
It's almost like morning.
We decided to upstairs on the 18th floor where it was quiet and read plus Mary wanted to do her needlepoint. We passed by the trough on the way.
Mary visits the Dolphin.
Mary decides its a girl!
The needlepoint gets underway.
Did You Know? - The roots of needlepoint go back thousands of years to the ancient Egyptians, who used small slanted stitches to sew up their canvas tents. Howard Carter, of Tutankhamen fame, found some needlepoint in the cave of a Pharaoh who had lived around 1500 BC.
Needlepoint, type of embroidery known as canvas work until the early 19th century. In needlepoint the stitches are counted and worked with a needle over the threads, or mesh, of a canvas foundation.
We had a marvelous view of the ocean and the nice waiter brought us drinks!
Mary had us busy in the spa all the time1
My feet were being pampered!
Mary enjoyed the pedicure!
We await David's arrival!
David was a wonderful travel companion and we dined with him many evening!
They swapped stories!
"Are you sure??"
David is a super photographer and got some outstanding pix of the eclipse!
Even on "at sea" days we get our walking in!
