La Nuit: Part 2

The Chatfield Eclipse Expedition 1999

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Chatfield Eclipse Expedition
Left: The eclipse expedition awaits totality

From left: Nigel Chatfield, Peter Davis, Chris Chatfield

Photo © Les Chatfield 1999

By now the clouds were extensive altocumulus, with dark cumulus masses in the west and ragged cumulus fragments drifting under the altocumulus. When the Sun was about half covered the light became flat and grey, noticeably dim, and this slowly intensified as the Sun became crescent. A chilly breeze sprang up. As the Sun became a narrower and narrower crescent, the clouds in the west turned intensely dark and of an indescribable deep slate-blue colour, and we could see the shadow flooding over a high cloud layer towards us. "It's going!" someone shouted. Then - totality.

[ La Nuit: Part 2 ] La Nuit: Part 3 ] La Nuit: Part 4 ]