Teton Total Eclipse
Total solar eclipse and corona Grand Targhee mountain, 8-21-2017 (credit: SWP Media)
Eclipse Day across the USA in August 2017. Special events were planned along the "path of totality" starting on the coast of Oregon, across the Rocky Mountains, through the Mid-west, passing over Nashville, TN, and on to Charleston, SC where it left the country. It seemed like a festival had connected the entire nation to observe the wonder, mystery, and beauty of a total eclipse. Even people who couldn't view the totality were moved by this rare event of the moon passing over the sun and merging.
Every locality along the 70 mile-wide total eclipse path offered various educational and other activities for adults and kids alike. One very special 'vantage point' was available to only a few folks who were able to observe the solar totality from the Grand Teton mountains from either the Idaho or Wyoming side of the range as the eclipse passed over the high peaks.
Grand Targhee chairlift and Tetons mountains in eclipse shadow, 8-21-2017 (credit: SWP Media)
Six hundred lucky astronomy research professionals and other individuals obtained tickets to ride the chairlifts to sit along the rocky ridge line of the Grand Targhee resort at 10,800 feet in elevation; other people trekked to adjacent ridge tops outside the ski area; while some adventurous mountaineers pitched a tent and camped atop Mount Moran in Wyoming's Grand Tetons National Park. They were one of the handful of mountain climbers who reserved a special permit offered by the Teton Mountain Guides in Jackson Hole. They were able to climb the famous peak and watch the eclipse unfold from its 12,605 feet summit. Wherever people were located within the Rocky Mountain zone of the total eclipse were treated to an astronomical wonder under clear blue, midday skies.
Total solar eclipse and corona Grand Tetons, 8-21-2017 (credit: SWP Media)
PBS shared some of the national enthusiasm surrounding the eclipse as well as the science that can be obtained only during such a rare event, the first in over 100 years to cross the entire continental USA.
What was remarkable from all the radio, television, and online commentaries was how the solar eclipse was both deeply personal and very communal. Anyone who saw the totalality of August will likely have decided to view another total eclipse any time it is possible once again. WHB