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* Words can’t even begin to describe my Southern Illinois eclipse experience yesterday. So, I’ll just let you tell us about your own experiences.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:12 am
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Tops the list of cool things I’ve ever seen in nature. Had a cloudless sky in the Metro East and avoided any bad traffic.
Comment by Vote Quimby Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:15 am
Wish I’d been down south. Barely any sun to eclipse in my neck of the woods. The experience was more like additional cloud coverage.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:19 am
I had to be in Hazelwood when it occurred and while something to see, after reading and hearing from others just 60-100 miles away, I wish I had been more in the zone.
Having said that, traffic coming home was crazy on I55!!!
Comment by LINK Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:20 am
Not sure what I was expecting to see here in Springfield, with the cloud cover it was a little hard to see. Was surprised it didn’t get darker, was at least expecting to see the street lights come on and it look like dusk.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:20 am
I had to be in Hazelwood when it occurred and while something to see, after reading and hearing from others just 60-100 miles away, I wish I had been more in the zone.
Having said that, traffic coming home was crazy on I55.
Comment by LINK Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:21 am
Impressive
Comment by DuPage Bard Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:22 am
Even at 95%, it was amazing how much sunlight there still was compared to the TV coverage of the totality areas. I sat out and watched, listened, and felt the changes as the eclipse progressed and ended. It did get cooler, and a breeze came in as it neared it’s zenith. The birds were really interesting to observe. At the height of coverage, for about 30 seconds, all birds went quiet, and just a few crickets and one hesitant katydid chirped. I am really glad I took time to be in the moments of this phenomenon. Next stop… 2024
Comment by Anon221 Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:23 am
In Murphysboro it was absolutely amazing. Temp dropped, crickets chirped, 360 degree sunrise effect. A feeling of a suspension of reality.
Comment by Saluki Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:24 am
Awe inspiring and just a little frightening to the reptilian part of the brain. Can see how previous generations thought it was the second coming. Clear skies and good traffic in Benton. And best of all, it got the local country station to play Dark Side of the Moon for the first time ever.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:25 am
Going to travel south when this happens again in seven years. Rather disappointing in the Chicago area.
Comment by Because I said so.... Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:26 am
When the corona came out … just wow. Viewed from a little east of Makanda. We lucked out with increasing clouds to see all of totality unobstructed.
Less than 7 years to the next one near here; I hope to see one again.
Comment by X-prof Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:27 am
It rained all morning and I was convinced that the whole thing would be a washout. But, it cleared around 12:30 and we had perfect viewing conditions. I had six pairs of glasses and stood outside the main entrance of the college and shared them with students. By 1:15 we had a pretty good size crowd. All were amazed, although one staff member we nicknamed Eeyore wasn’t impressed.
Comment by G'Kar Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:28 am
Johnston City, Illinois, my dad’s hometown (and where he and mom are buried) had perfectly clear skies overhead for the entire totality. We had a wonderful experience. Spotted Venus and a transiting satellite. Once in a lifetime experience, if I don’t make it to 2024.
Comment by striketoo Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:29 am
Rich - how was Ozzy’s concert? I really, really wanted to go but yesterday was the kids’s first day of school.
Comment by Curl of the Burl Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:30 am
Despite the fact some cloudiness, and only 87% here in Chicago, it was still an astonishing sight. The sun came in and out of the clouds, and honestly I feel that gave an extra beauty to viewing.
A lot of people packed it in after maximum coverage, but I thought it was interesting to continue to watch, as we saw how the crescent bit moved. It gave a real sense of the moon as a moving physical body.
I was on the deck off a high floor of a building on S. Michigan Avenue, so could see how people had gathered. There were huge crowds by the Adler Planetarium of course, and along the edges of the Museum Campus, but people also had just stopped on the streets to gaze at the phenomenon and were gathering at office windows.
The horizon on the lake got misty-looking, the sky darkened to the condition of dusk and streetlights went on, and the drop in the temperature was quite noticeable.
Quite an experience! I’m so glad I didn’t miss it.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:30 am
Amazing experience in Monroe County. Really cool to watch the last little bit of orange disappear in the glasses. Bugs were making noise and it got noticeably cooler. The whole darkening leading up to it felt very eerie though.
Comment by m Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:31 am
Meh, I was working. But if I had the time, I’d have watched it from outside the closest ER room, so I could gauge the uptick in blindness cases rushing in after staring at the sun. (We don’t need no stinkin glasses)
Comment by PublicServant Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:33 am
watched in Columbia, MO. Was amazed at the amount of daylight the instant the first point of sun appeared after totality. The drive back to Springfield on US 54 took an extra hour, and didn’t see any Missouri plates
Comment by spidad60 Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:34 am
I live in the Metro East and I thought it was pretty cool. What was crazy is that after it was over we had a thunderstorm.
Comment by Newbie chic Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:36 am
It got a tad darker in Chicagoland as I sat and watched out the window of a Naf Naf Grill while I ate my chicken schwarma sandwich.
Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:39 am
The kids watched it just north of Carbondale. They describe nearly 2.5 minutes of total eclipse. The excitement made up for the 7 hour drive back to the hotel in Matoon.
Comment by Jocko Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:40 am
It was spectacular.
It was perfect in Chester.
Saw across the Mississippi Valley. Everyone cheered when it happened. Everyone was so happy. A very beautiful incredible event.
Definately noted that many odd natural events occurred:
360 sunset
Night insects and birds reacting like it was night.
Seeing Venus
Seeing three squirrels with children’s faces speaking German that they were voting for Rauner.
Made that last one up.
Traffic hilariously bad. Total traffic nightmare. Brought back happy memories of daily Chicago commutes. But surrounded by corn.
Happy for all who saw it. Something to not have missed.
Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:44 am
How about that ride home from Carbondale to Chicago? Yikes.
I took the family to the State Fair and we watched the eclipse from Washington Park. I think it was 97% or something close, but I swear, through my glasses, it looked completely covered by the moon. Obviously we weren’t in the actual shadow, which must have been awesome, but the light was really cool, almost twilighty with interesting shadows.
I-55 was a piece of cake on the ride back, faster than normal actually. My cousin was in Carbondale and said it took her 16 hours to get to Naperville via I-57. Hope the shadow was worth it.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:47 am
In the Chicago burbs, it didn’t even happen really. But the television coverage showed the amazing views. I’m sure it isn’t the same as being there. On the very bright side…I still have my eyesight.
Comment by A guy Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:48 am
Amazing! Watched it south of Waterloo in a clear sky. Rooster was crowing. Cicadas were starting up. Flock of birds was confused. Celebrated with MoonPies!
Comment by Tallgonzo Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:49 am
I saw it just south of Springfield — the sky was half cloudy but luckily not the half where the sun was. It became noticeably cooler and some distant nimbus clouds were strangely shadowed but it didn’t get very dark at all. A bit disappointing, but pulled pork sandwiches and a Bell’s Oberon Ale (the one with the sun on it) made it a pleasant picnic.
Comment by IllinoisBoi Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:50 am
Very special. So glad I took the day off to drive to a friend’s that lived in the totality. We had perfect conditions, and it was truly one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. Kind of sort of obsessed for 2024!
Comment by anon Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:57 am
We live in the 99% zone, but at the last minute had a wild hair and drive an hour south to get the full effect. I am glad we did. Stopped at a gas station and got a fountain Ski. Then parked next door at a grocery store parking lot. The small crowd at the Marissa IGA was friendly and talkative right up to the point of totality. Then everyone became silent. Then some “oos and ahs” could be heard. Met some folks who had driven down from Chicagoland. Told them to grab a Ski while they were here. They told me about the new “soda tax” up their way and how much they disliked it and were buying their soda in other counties. Had a great experience. I am looking forward to 2024.
Comment by Blago's Hare Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 9:59 am
===How about that ride home from Carbondale to Chicago? Yikes.===
Including a food stop, it took me about 7 hours to get home from the Ozzy show. But I never regretted going.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:01 am
I live a fairly short drive straight North of Carbondale and the eclipse was only 97% in my front yard but it was unbelievable and indescribable in many ways. It was like nothing I experienced before and will perhaps never see again. Amazing.
And I feel fortunate that I was not stuck in the northbound traffic on 57, 51 or 127. In spite of what many had to contend with going home, I doubt any regret that they made the effort to be a part of this remarkable experience.
Comment by illini Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:05 am
I was in the 92% zone. What I noticed most was the shadows. Usually, shadows from trees are rather hazy and indistinct. With the eclipse, they became very distinctive and crisp in their outline. It was more like a spotlight was shining on them, instead of diffused light.
Comment by Aldyth Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:06 am
Viewed the eclipse lounging by the pool in Marion. We had a perfect view and it was spectacular. Awesome!!!
Comment by Southern Illinoisan Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:07 am
Went to Eldorado, it was something else man, just utterly incredible. Not just the views, but the cooling down and the buzzing of the insects starting.
Comment by Precinct Captain Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:12 am
On kinkaid lake. One of the most amazing natural occurences I have ever witnessed. Didn’t have far to travel, but County Line Rd. bumper to bumper from Willisville to 154(about 6 miles). Maybe a few to many people geared up which watered the crowds down. But overall, the sun shone bright on southern Illinois.
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:17 am
Rich. How was Ozzie? He showing any signs of age?
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:22 am
Surreal experience from a friend’s cookout in cornfield county just north of DeSoto. Other than what others have described during the totality, the reaction from the kids was one of my favorite memories now too.
Comment by Jed Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:25 am
BDD, Ozzie doesn’t look a day over having crawled out of his grave after 20 years.
Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:26 am
Our family traveled to St. Genevieve, MO, just across the Mississippi River from Chester. Oldest son took some amazing pictures. All I could write on Facebook was “Wow, just wow.”
Comment by Retired SURS Employee Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:26 am
The universe just baffles me…really felt a part of a great cosmic soup yesterday…
Comment by Loop Lady Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:26 am
We drove down to near Fulton, MO, asked some very nice farm folk if we could park on their land. So we were alone, and it was one of the most moving things I’ve seen. Photos and videos do not capture what it’s really like. My wife took a great photo of my rapt gaze upwards as the western sky was brightening at the edge of the shadow.
Comment by RIJ Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:28 am
Word. Had I known you and Rich were coming down, I could have bought them pork rinds I been telling you.
Comment by blue dog dem Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:29 am
It was worth the 47 year wait!
Comment by RIJ Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:30 am
===Ozzie doesn’t look a day over having crawled out of his grave after 20 years===
And his voice is still pretty darned strong. I was amazed. Man, what a moment that was.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:34 am
Drove from Springfield to rural Monroe County. Beautiful sight. No clouds. Had telescope for better viewing. Just an awesome sight. Can’t wait for 2024.
Comment by Steve Rogers Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:35 am
We had clouds but were able to see it for spans of time. It felt like being in a fantasy novel in some ways. People all over our street were out looking, some groups sharing just one pair of glasses.We had someone walking by and asking when the eclipse was. We told her it was happening as we spoke and let her look through our glasses.
Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:37 am
I saw Sabbath’s last show in the Chicago area last year and Ozzy looked and sounded pretty darned good - especially given what he has gone through in his 70 or so years.
Comment by Curl of the Burl Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:39 am
Totally awesoome
Comment by dr. reason a, goodwin Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:44 am
Last minute tickets to Carbondale event at SIU. Didn’t have any expectations, but WOW! It was breathtaking, incredible, like nothing I’ve ever experienced in my long life. Everyone was so friendly, generous, and happy. People from all over the world enjoying a once in a lifetime experience. The 8 hour ride home (should have been 3.5) was brutal but worth every moment.
Comment by Fax Fan Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:48 am
Woke up to rain and saw clouds in the forecast. Was dreading making the trip down to totality zone despite the fact that I only live 35 minutes away.
Made the trip anyway. Almost no traffic getting in. We drove down to the Monroe County Fairgrounds. Looking back we could have stopped at any point before the MOnroe County fairgrounds and assured ourselves an easier exit. The trip home was about 3 hours for what is usually a 1 hour trip. Half of that was waiting in the queue at the fairgrounds.
The eclipse was nuts! The bugs and birds seemed to have stopped for several minutes around 1:05, but by the time of totality, I could hear several of each again.
People all around were cheering during totality. Was shocking how I could see the light dancing around the mountains on the moon with my naked eye. The plasma and its color was something to behold. I’m ready to book my trip for 2024. I think i have a longer drive for that one
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:48 am
all you can do is describe that amazing site of the sun’s outer rays ringing the moon because unless you are a good photographer, that light blob in the photo does not show the glory. the 360degree sunset effect was strange. shadow is different from darkness. it was worth all the eclipse chasing. and the after traffic (come on Illinois road construction!)
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:53 am
I watched from my own backyard in Springfield. The cicadas got so loud. Interesting crescent-shaped shadows. High school girls two doors down, watching on the backyard deck, cheered when the sun became mostly covered. I got a few pictures with my cell phone. Wouldn’t have missed it. Looking forward to 2024. I’m having a hard time right now with the “no caps” rule and the “no exclamation points” rule. The eclipse definitely deserves both capital letters and exclamation points.
Comment by Deputy Registrar Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 10:55 am
“It felt like being in a fantasy novel in some ways.”
That comment and seeing all the people looking in their glasses yesterday reminded me of the John Carpenter movie “They Live” with Rowdy Roddy Piper–the sequence where he looks through his “Hoffman” glasses and what sees she is well worth the rest of the movie.
Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 11:26 am
==(come on Illinois road construction!)==
I was astounded how many projects STARTED 8-21
Comment by JohnnyPyleDriver Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 11:42 am
Carbondale for me. Beautiful. Interesting. Did not translate to a description I can say or write. Did not translate to iPhone pics.
The part I did not expect was the strong feeling of community and fellowship that seemed to come over everyone.
I will travel to see another one whenever the opportunity arises. I wish I could have been at the Ozzy event! (Way off topic but I deeply regret that I never went to see Ozzy when Randy Rhodes was alive.)
Comment by Freezeup Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 11:49 am
Saw it from my sister’s house in Herrin. Totality was, indeed, awesome. Hope I’m still around for the 2024 version.
And yes, the drive back to Champaign was a nightmare. Stayed away from I-57, and drove back roads through parts of Illinois I’d never seen before, but it still took us 5 1/2 hours for a trip that normally takes 2 1/2. But yes, the difference between 99% and totality is major, and was worth it.
Comment by jdcolombo Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 11:54 am
Saw it in Chesterfield, MO. Well worth the trip.
Read where 99% totality is 10,000 brighter than 100% totality, and my observation agrees. A truly amazing site.
Will definitely find a place in totality on April 8, 2024 for the next one (although I am not in a hurry, since I’ll have just turned 50).
Comment by HJohn Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 11:54 am
The experience of actually seeing a full eclipse (and its waxing and waning) was amazing. Seeing the totality, though less than 3 minutes, was breath-taking. Worth 16 hours on I-57? Yes, but painful. Can’t wait for April 2024. Thank you Marion IL.
Comment by Diogenes in DuPage Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 12:30 pm
Saw 1.5 hours of cross-country TV coverage on NASA Channel from the ground, balloons, jet planes and the space station, supplemented by 95% totality in my driveway. The best TV was from Oregon.
Comment by OldIllini Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 12:38 pm
I was working out of state, but in the path, out west. Saw it (with glasses) and the sight was amazing. Temp dropped, darkened but not like nighttime (we were about 93%). Absolutely incredible.
And, socially, people who might not usually talk to one another were doing so, huddling together to share glasses, and so forth.
Comment by Mongo Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 1:12 pm
The viewing was great at the WSRC in Sparta. Quite the surreal experience. Camping on-site was awesome and the Calibre Bar and Grill on-site topped it all off with some great pulled pork.
Comment by ~pfft Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 1:42 pm
Most amazing thing I have ever seen
Comment by Publius Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 1:57 pm
Up north the wind stopped and started back up 10 mins later cool to see
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 2:01 pm
I got goosebumps at Moonstock.
Comment by Present Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 2:09 pm
Traffic was brutal, but it seemed like everyone kept their cool throughout. Drove Highway 37, and got to see lots of towns for the first time.
Towns north of the full eclipse were stunned by the volume of business they got after the event.
Comment by Downstate Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 2:12 pm
Took my 5yo grandson, and just the 2 of us watched it in a quiet spot between Tamms and Elco. He was amazed, and so was I. To me it was great to avoid the crowd and be off to just ourselves. He is saving his glasses until the next one.
Comment by SOIL M Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 2:57 pm
As a downstater, just wondering if anyone had any stereotypes shattered (or reinforced)? Any observations of culture and community you want to share? Surprised by how darn far south of I80 it was? Good on you all who came, and praise to those who took alternate routes and saw terra incognita.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 4:09 pm
We decided for western Kentucky on Sunday morning after reviewing the weather forecasts. We were lucky to find a room in Evansville, but had to agree to both Sunday and Monday nights.
Due to construction on several routes leading south across the Ohio River and lane closures on the bridge, itself, left us (mostly me) with growing despair as what should have been a remaining trip to the centerline of just over an hour took just over three hours. Once through all the construction, there were no delays the rest of the way.
We found a quiet parking lot with a couple of shade trees and still had almost an hour before first contact. A few others joined us before totality and we were all able to share this special experience together.
In the last several minutes before totality the quality of the lighting was indescribable — I reached for words that just were not there. Even “unworldly” fails to do justice.
And when the moment of totality arrived and one could safely remove the safety filter glasses, there it was, a hole in the sky. As others have noted, we all turned around, looking at a 360 degree “sunset”.
It did not get quite as dark as I expected, only about that of mid-dusk. Venus and a few stars could be easily seen, both just a few minutes before/after and during totality.
Just after totality ended and everyone processed the experience, most bid their farewells and departed as traffic began to choke the streets. We packed up and plotted our escape through a less obvious route. We travelled through some truly gorgeous Kentucky countryside and crossed the Ohio east of the construction.
As we returned to the hotel to gather the rest of our bags, we decided to take it easy and avail ourselves of the second night we had to pay for anyway–and from reading all the other tales of traffic woes, I’m glad we travelled I-57, route 127 and I-55 this morning rather than yesterday evening.
Cheers, everyone, and here’s until 2024 (exclamation).
Comment by Hieronymus Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 4:16 pm
drove down to Chester, also a sweet spot, and it was cloudless and wonderful. With my two brothers who flew in from the west to join me for the eclipse. Only aggravation was how crowded I-55 was on the way home…
Comment by Capitol View Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 4:17 pm
Watched from Goreville. Absolutely amazing! Magical!
Comment by up2now Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 6:55 pm
Watched from near downtown Du Quoin. It was spectacular! Completely clear skies provided a stunning view of the entire eclipse, and the image of the glowing corona surrounding the blackened sun is going to be stuck in my mind’s eye for years. The cicadas started their racket precisely at totality and stopped in unison 2 minutes later. Bring on 2024!!!
Comment by DQ Cards Fan Tuesday, Aug 22, 17 @ 8:46 pm