Wyant College of Optical Sciences Students, Staff & Faculty Chase the Eclipse
Total Solar Eclipse in Texas
Brian Anderson
April 8, 2024 was the date for the Great American Eclipse, and not only were people from all over the country chasing clear skies, but a number from OSC were also seeking the chance to see it both in totality and as a partial eclipse.
On the day of the eclipse Walter Rahmer, OSC Undergrad and a volunteer NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, brought out the college’s solar telescope and set it up at the bus stop for college residents and the public to enjoy. Walter also took photos using a pinhole camera (see caption). Many came out to enjoy the show, including about ten professors, several staff, tons of students, and even many passing by. Everyone enjoyed the view through the telescope. You'll notice the images of the telescope are red, this is due to the telescope's Hydrogen-alpha filter. And it just so happens this is the same spectrum displayed on Walter's scarf!
Other college staff and faculty who traveled to view the eclipse, but in totality, included Hillary Mathis (Junction, TX), Rachel Lyman (Mena, AR), Amee Hennig (Granbury, TX), and Brian Anderson (Colorado Bend State Park, TX). See a few of their photos below as well! Brian Anderson, Associate Graduate Dean, was able to capture beautiful images of the total solar eclipse that included solar prominences.
Additional viewers of the solar eclipse and their locations were: Valorie Valencia, OSC PhD 1991 (Phoenix, AZ); Arya Fatehi, OSC PhD Student (Tucson, AZ); Jannick Rolland-Thompson, OSC PhD 1990 (Seneca Falls, NY, Cayuga Lake); Jack Jewell, OSC PhD 1984 (Outside of Mazatlan, Mexico) and we will continue to add additional viewers as we hear from them! See their submitted photos below!
If you also traveled to experience the total solar eclipse you can email Amee Hennig to have your name added to the list above! Be sure to send any photos you may have captured of either the partial or total solar eclipse!
Walter Rahmer's Partial Solar Eclipse Taken through a Solar Telescope with a Hydrogen Alpha Filter
Walter Rahmer captures a few of the solar eclipse viewers out to see the show.
Walter Rahmer's Pinhole Camera Captures the Solar Eclipse
Walter Rahmer's Pinhole Camera Captures the Solar Eclipse
Walter Rahmer's Partial Solar Eclipse Taken through a Solar Telescope with a Hydrogen Alpha Filter
Total Solar Eclipse in Texas
Total Solar Eclipse in Texas
Total Solar Eclipse in Texas
Amee Hennig's Family Watches the Total Solar Eclipse in Granbury, TX
Leading up to Totality, Photo taken using a Meade Telescope with Solar Filter
After Totality, Photo taken using a Meade Telescope with Solar Filter
Amee Hennig's Family Watches the Total Solar Eclipse in Granbury, TX
Leading up to Totality, Photo taken using a Meade Telescope with Solar Filter
OSC PhD Alumna, 1991; Valorie Valencia; Backyard Partial Eclipse through a Strainer in Phoenix, AZ
Arya Fatehi, The Crowds on Eclipse Day Outside of OSC, Tucson, AZ
Arya Fatehi, The Crowds on Eclipse Day Outside of OSC, Tucson, AZ
Partial Solar Eclipse through a Hydrogen Alpha Telescope, by Arya Fatehi
Jannick Rolland-Thompson's view of the solar eclipse in Seneca Falls, NY, Cayuga Lake.
I recently returned from Mexico, the trip motivated by the solar eclipse. Tina and I based in Mazatlan, due to excellent lack-of-cloud forecast and ambiance. But as the time drew near, the forecast in Mazatlan was not so good. So I rented a car and we set off w/ another couple. Our attempt to drive east from Mazatlan to the other side of some mountains (for clearer-sky cloud forecast) was stymied by a major accident/incident that closed the main highway in the middle of the mountains. After waiting motionless for >40min in a tunnel, we found out there was a turnoff just on the other end of the tunnel to get onto the old road. It was scenic but extremely winding and thus very slow. We ran out of time, so observed from the middle of the mountains (over 7,000ft elevation) under varying highish clouds. We were roughly midway between Mazatlan and Durango. Had issues with clouds and camera but at least got a decent photo. - Jack Jewell, OSC PhD 1984
A wide-angle shot to show our view, which has added surrealism due to compensating for underexposure. Venus to the sun’s right is visible, as is Jupiter further away to the left and a bit down, and more-difficult to see. - Jack Jewell, OSC PhD 1984