mundial + eclipse.


 {astrophotograps by Miloslav Druckmuller}

Not only does today mark the end of the World Cup, but there is also a total solar eclipse. But the two events conflict a bit. I've known about the eclipse for ages, and many of us here thought we would have to cross the border to Calafate (Argentine-side) to view it. But really that's just because Argentina markets itself well and has a Chamber of Tourism. Most places around here you can pitch a cat and it'll land in Argentina, but the mentality, culture and so on between Chile and its neighbor couldn't be more different.

So, at the last minute, we decided to stay home and drive out to the steppe to view the eclipse. The town of Puerto Natales hugs the sound with a view of the fjord and Patagonian Andes jutting up out of the sea.This of course conflicts with our World Cup viewing plans. Looks like now we'll mosey over to the local pub to catch the first half of the game and then head for higher plains. Since the eclipse will start around 3.45 p.m. and the sun's already sunk by 5 (it's winter!), we have to seek some higher ground. 

  
When I was a wee one I vaguely remember making some sort of pinhole projection device from a paper towel roll carton as a class project, so we could view a partial eclipse. But other than that fuzzy memory, this will be my first eclipse. (Serkan's seen a few umbrae in his time luckily accompanied by huge eclipse parties in Turkey.)

Have you ever seen a total eclipse?

18 comments:

Anna Walker said...

I would love to see an eclipse! That was such a hard decision to make...ha I don't know what I would have done.

debra@dustjacket said...

Oh wow, that last pic looks like a flower.

Thank you for your comment on my post at Trish's :)
xxx DJ

Claire Kiefer said...

So I have to be one of the last remaining people who couldn't care less about the World Cup. Hate to admit it, cause it looks like it would have been so fun to follow, and I love the idea of all countries participating in one big spirited event like this. But I just don't care, try as I might. My friend Meagan and I just got back from lunch, and I have to say that my only WC related thought was that I was annoyed that it was hard to get a seat at the brewery because everyone was there watching the game! ;)

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

Wow I had no idea it was even an eclipse. Thanks for sharing :)

stylenuggets said...

Wow-eclipses photograph well. Thanks for visiting my blog. Following you now!

jules @ The Diversion Project said...

we had a luna ecplipse here in oz the other weekend but i missed it! these images are stunning.

orange sugar home said...

this is fabulous. so cool that we can communicate thousands of miles apart. All I remember of total eclipses were words from a science teacher that you could go blind looking at it. Truth? I suppose you didn't go blind. :) thanks so much for visiting osh!! come again.

Closet Fashionista said...

Sooo cool!! I think I've seen one, but I can't remember...haha
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

ALFIE said...

i saw a solar eclipse once. i might have been in 6th grade. i remember to view it, we had to stretch old film negatives over our eyes. it was so so cool.

Joyti said...

I haven't seen one...my parents say its bad luck and you're not supposed to look at them. I suppose I don't believe in luck, but I can't go against the tradition of not looking at them.
Great pictures, love the 'waves' coming out of the darkened sun.

Mariska Meijers said...

Never seen the eclipse and the Dutch lost against Spain still having a great start of the week!

Ashley said...

Oh my goodness, how incredible! As much as I adore football, I would have to forgo the finals for a solar eclipse! I have never seen one, and I can only imagine how beautiful it would be.

koralee said...

Oh how amazing! I am so loving these images...hope you were able to have a good view of such a great wonder...Happy Monday. xoxoxo

Micaela said...

how amazing and for me (having been born in Madrid), a way to celebrate the end of the World Cup! ;)

i have never seen one but here's a funny-ish story:

the night of the midnight showing for "eclipse" (my favorite book in the series), i was outside in the backyard with my momma and auntie and i said out loud, "man oh man, i should be watching Eclipse" and my filipino auntie goes, "why is there one out tonight?" looking puzzled and up at the sky.

me and my Mom were laughing out loud at my Auntie's expense :) but if you know my crazy aunt, it was that much more humorous.

i hope you enjoyed the REAL eclipse :)

Eileen said...

I saw an eclipse when I was in fourth grade. Our teacher made a point of making sure we watched. It was pretty cool.
That last picture is amazing - looks like a flower.

Jessica said...

wow those pictures are amazing. I've seen an eclipse once in my life ! They are pretty incredible to witness !
Love your blog xo

Connie @ Sogni e Sorrisi said...

What a great experience that must have been! Amazing photos.

I'm sad the World Cup is over. It's always a fun time--even if your team (and by your I mean mine) loses early.

heather said...

@anna, it was totally worth cutting out of the pub + game a little bit early.

@claire, i've never watched so much world cup in my life, but football (erm, blush, soccer) has always been my favorite sport to watch. plus the community aspect is so fun!

@orange, no, i didn't go blind, but you totally can! no looking directly into the sun, although it's so tempting...

@alfie, i read about the film negative tactic. that sounds way more fun than the cardboard pinhole projector type thingies we made in school!

@indie, it is definitely bad luck to look at them! but more scientifically because you can go blind. still, if it's cloudy and dusk like it was for us yesterday, it's probably not as dangerous. we looked at it askance, and could actually see the shadow of the moon covering the sun. you wouldn't ever want to do that normally tho! it was the clouds and setting sun that made it possible.

@micaela! ha! love your story. i'm so outta touch with most pop culture down here that i probably would have been right there looking up at the sky with your tia!

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