1998 Total Solar Eclipse Photos

Here is a sampling of the scenes from my first total solar eclipse experience in Oranjestad, Aruba, on 26 February 1998. I hope it provides a sense of what the eclipse experience was all about.

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Early morning on 26 Feb 98 in Oranjestad, Aruba
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

E-day did not start out promising, causing some to make the wise decision to stay on the Fascination in hope of clear skies.

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Waterfront viewing site for the AL
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Waterfront viewing site for the AL as viewed from deck of the Fascination.

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The Fascination docked in Oranjestad
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The Fascination docked in Oranjestad on E-day morning to drop off those wanting to see the eclipse from Aruba. It then sailed for the centerline and returned later that evening.

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Eclipse chasers set up at the AL site
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The weather did improve to mostly clear skies by 9 am at the AL viewing site in Oranjestad.

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More eclipse chasers set up at the AL site
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The eclipse enthusiasts set up their equipment. The area marked with tape was Fred Espenak's elaborate set up.

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Doug gets set up
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Doug gets his equipment ready during early morning sunshine.

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Eric in front of the Fascination
©1998 Photo by Doug Holmes

Eric is in front of the Fascination at the AL site as it sails out to the centerline.

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Eric gets his camera ready
©1998 Photo by Doug Holmes

Eric gets his 35mm camera ready for the eclipse. The moon's shadow approached the AL site from the southwest horizon, seen here.

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Ken Willcox readies for the eclipse
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Our eclipse trip director Ken Willcox sets up his impressive equipment at the AL site.

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Clouds move in during partial phases
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

With filters on, some view the partial phases leading to totality while others hope for the clouds to move out

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Clouds move in
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Worried eclipse chasers watch the clouds move in.

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More clouds move in
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The eclipse enthusiasts try to watch the partial phases through pesky clouds.

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Aruba TV reports at AL site
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The local Aruba television station reports on the eclipse from the AL site, interviewing eclipse chaser Olivier Staiger who loaded images of the eclipse onto the Internet in near real-time.

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Dark clouds move in
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The weather takes a turn for the worse with dark clouds before totality.

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Eric among a sea of cameras
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Eric is among a sea of cameras with filters awaiting totality.

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Eclipse enthusiasts view the partial phases
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Eclipse enthusiasts grab a view of the partial phases through a break in the clouds leading up to second contact.

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More viewing the partial phases
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Periodic breaks in the clouds leading up to second contact allowed us to watch the eclipse progress. All hoped the clouds would move out!

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Fred and others watch the partial phases
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Fred Espanek and others watch the partial phases.

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Really dark clouds!
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

These were probably the darkest clouds we saw--they really dampened even the most optimistic spirits.

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Partially eclipsed sun
©1998 Video by Eric Pauer

This image was captured by my Sony 8 mm camcorder through a Thousand Oaks ND-5 Solar Filter about 30 minutes before second contact. The time was reset using WWV via shortwave shortly before the eclipse.

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Clouds act as a filter
©1998 Video by Eric Pauer

One interesting effect of the clouds during the partial phases was that they sometimes caused an interesting filtering effect on the partially eclipsed sun. This is an image captured by my Sony 8 mm camcorder without a solar filter. Remember you must NOT view the partial phases directly with your eyes without proper filtering!

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Deep partial phase of the eclipse
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The moon covers most of the sun before second contact (shot with Thousand Oaks ND-5 solar filter).

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Solar corona during totality
©1998 Video by Eric Pauer

The solar corona was captured by my Sony 8 mm camcorder about 1 minute after second contact.

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Diamond ring at third contact
©1998 Video by Eric Pauer

The emergence of the second diamond ring at third contact signals the end of the total solar eclipse, as captured by my Sony 8 mm camcorder.

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Partial phase of the eclipse
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

The bite from the moon into the sun is still very evident before fourth contact (shot with Thousand Oaks ND-5 solar filter).

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Colander shows crescent suns
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

A colander shows many tiny partially eclipsed suns after totality.

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Nancy and Doug after the eclipse
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Nancy and Doug are quite relieved after clouds moved out in time to witness the total solar eclipse in Aruba.

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Dress shows eclipsed suns
©1998 Photo by Eric Pauer

Nancy uses her dress to create many tiny eclipsed suns.

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Eric after the eclipse
©1998 Photo by Doug Holmes

Eric relaxes in Oranjestad after seeing his first totality.

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Happy eclipse chasers celebrate
Photographer unknown!

Our table of ten eclipse chasers and our waiter Wilson celebrate a successful eclipse viewed from both Aruba and the Fascination.

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Eric relaxing on the Fascination
©1998 Photo by Doug Holmes

Decked in a souvenir eclipse hat and shirt, Eric relaxes on the Fascination, the day after the total solar eclipse in Aruba.