The Solar Eclipse Chasers group on Facebook has had a busy week. First, there have been discussions about journey plans and the greatest spots to catch the December 4 photo voltaic eclipse. Then there have been lovers reminiscing and sharing images about their previous eclipse-chasing experiences.
A few umbraphiles (individuals who love eclipses), who made it to Punta Arenas in Chile, took to the group to share beautiful images and provided to satisfy up with different lovers in the space. Another group member shared images of the eclipse stamps issued by the Chilean postal firm.
On the day of the eclipse, the online and on-location eclipse watchers convened collectively in the digital house to debate the deserves of NASA’s stay feed vs that of Lindblad’s or share disappointing images of fog-covered Amundsen Bay in Antarctica (“Life of an eclipse chaser. Win some, lose some,” wrote a person in response).
When he started the group in 2010, UK-based Ian (who goes by his first title) envisioned it as an area the place he can be in contact together with his travelling companions from Polynesia’s Easter Island. Over a decade later, the group has over 8,200 members and is an area for eclipse chasers to make plans and share data, experiences and photographs. As the world tunes in to observe the final photo voltaic eclipse of 2021, we catch up through e-mail with the man working behind the scenes.
How did you get serious about photo voltaic eclipses?
I noticed my first complete photo voltaic eclipse in the United Kingdom in 1999. However, the climate wasn’t type that time. So on the summer season solstice in 2001, I noticed my second complete eclipse in Madagascar. This time, the situations have been good and I used to be hooked. After this, I then determined that it was a pleasant option to journey as a result of it means that you let the eclipse determine the place you’re going.
How did the idea to start out a Facebook group come about?
I started the Facebook group to maintain in touch with my travelling companions who I joined to view the Solar Eclipse on Easter Island in July 2010. We have been a group of people that chased the eclipse to one in every of the most distant elements of the planet.
How has the group developed over the years?
Through the years, folks started becoming a member of and it naturally grew to be a worldwide hub for folks. Numerous folks joined round the August 2017 photo voltaic eclipse. [The total solar eclipse was nicknamed the ‘Great American Eclipse’ because it was visible all along North America in a path spanning from Salem, Oregon to Charleston, South Carolina].
Following that as properly, there’s a regular movement of posts and photographs, and the group turned too huge for me to manage all on my own. So I nominated a handful of key members to assist out and smoothen the admission course of. Nowadays, you will discover a few of the most attention-grabbing eclipse conversations, journey planning and spectacular images on this house.
Have you had member conferences in individual?
For now, my interplay with the group is only online. I take pleasure in the group expertise, however I haven’t deliberate on assembly anybody from it in individual. Maybe in the future I’ll.
What is your favorite eclipse-related expertise?
The expertise in Madagascar was necessary as a result of it kicked off a brand new passion and changed my regular summer season exercise that yr. I additionally fell in love with Madagascar. The 2010 eclipse was particular too. Standing on a volcano on Easter Island and watching the shadow of the moon method throughout the Pacific Ocean was a really particular expertise. I had needed to go to Easter Island all my life, so it was a dream come true.
There is way that I like about eclipse watching. I like watching everybody prepare for the course of, establishing advanced cameras and anticipating the first contact. The wonderment of the eclipse can’t be described and I hope that those that can’t catch one in individual can take pleasure in the photographs shared on the Facebook group.