Episode CXCIV: Total Eclipse

Meg and I made last-minute plans to travel back to Dallas for the total solar eclipse. My parents were kind enough to watch the kiddos for a day while we flew there and back (in just 18 hours!)

Photos throughout the eclipse taken with identical exposure settings

First we took a red-eye flight (11:59 pm - 5:00 am) to DFW. We stopped by my lab to pick up some items from my lab members who have remained at SMU. We then had brunch at our favorite Tex-Mex location (Torchy's Tacos).

Then on to the main event: total solar eclipse!

We found a nice grassy area near DFW airport and camped out. The moon slowly made its way across the sun. Clouds floated in, threatening to block the view. We cheered them to move along. And they did!

Selfies - before and during totality

The totality lasted for ~4 minutes, and was worth the trip! Darkness fell. Street lights activated. Birds flew away. Motorists got out of their cars.  

One minute the sun was a tiny fingernail-sliver of light, the next minute it was blacked out. Suddenly we could see the corona, the sun's outer atmosphere, which is usually invisible due to the sun's brightness. 

Total eclipse, corona visible

After watching the sun return back to its normal self, we walked over to DFW to board our return flight, bringing us back home in time to put the kids to bed. There was a long TSA line full of people with eclipse T-shirts and solar viewers in their pockets.

Time lapse of us enjoying the eclipse. Bursts of 10 photos taken every few minutes. Identical exposure settings throughout.