Unless you've been literally living under a rock, you know that this past Monday a solar eclipse passed across the United States. My family and I were about 45 minutes outside the path of totality, so we decided to drive to Lincoln, Nebraska, to see the total eclipse. We even went to a lecture at our local college the Friday before so we could truly appreciate the entire eclipse and know what to look for/what to expect. I would definitely suggest doing some research on eclipses, if you have not done so already, because they truly are an incredible phenomenon.
We spent our time in Holmes Lake Park. One tip if you ever watch an eclipse is to pack snacks. We tried to order Jimmy John's but they were so backed up we decided to just not get anything and starved the whole time.
Another thing I strongly suggest is to go to a place, like a park, where there are other people watching the eclipse, and talk to them. We met people from Minnesota and Colorado, who had all different kinds of reasons for being there, and it was very fun and interesting to experience the eclipse with them.
Once totality hits, make sure to take off your glasses, or else you'll miss the whole thing. There are a few things you can take note of once totality begins. One thing to notice is how animals react. There were dogs all around us at the park, including our own, and sometimes they will react in interesting way. Another notable thing is how people react. As I looked around during the eclipse, most people were cheering, taking pictures, or just staring in awe. Another thing to look at is the sky, obviously. It was cloudy when we saw the eclipse, but if there's a clear sky, you may be able to see the stars or planets. Also, notice your surroundings. In Holmes Park, the lights started to come on, as if it was night. Lastly, of course, look at the eclipse itself, because it truly is a beautiful sight.
I also suggest not taking pictures of the eclipse itself, unless you have special equipment to do so. The pictures will not look as cool as it looks in real life, the sun could potentially ruin your camera, and there will be plenty of great photos on the internet afterwards. If you want to take photos during the eclipse, I would suggest taking photos of your surroundings or your friends/family. One man in the park was walking around taking photos of all the different groups of people in the park, and how they were observing and reacting to the eclipse. I'm sure he got some interesting pictures.
If you ever get the opportunity to see a total eclipse, I strongly recommend doing so! It is an amazing and potentially once in a lifetime experience.
