On April 8, 2024, the skies above Montréal will showcase an absolutely breathtaking astronomical event: a total solar eclipse! As grandiose as eclipses are, they are only momentary. The moment of “totality,” when the Sun becomes completely hidden by the Moon, only lasts a few minutes. Catching a total solar eclipse is usuallya once-in-a-lifetime event… unless, of course, you make it your life’s calling! That’s precisely what Françoise Boutin and Jean-François Guay chose to do. Françoise is the president of the Montréal planetarium’s astronomy society (Société d’astronomie du Planétarium de Montréal) and Jean-François is a researcher and computer specialist, and they have been chasing total solar eclipses around the globe for years now.
Chasing Beauty
Françoise saw her first total solar eclipse in 2008 in Mongolia. The total solar eclipse expected this spring on April 8 will be her sixth! Jean-François has been chasing eclipses since he saw his first one in 1999. He has seen eleven so far.
“All combined, I’ve witnessed a total of 28 minutes and 34 seconds of that moment of totality. That’s a lot considering these moments only last a few minutes,” he explains.
“The longest moment of totality we ever witnessed was in 2009 in China. It lasted 5 minutes and 47 seconds. We saw it through a hole in the clouds, it was magnificent.”
Every eclipse they’ve seen has been different, but each one of these astronomical events was memorable. Indeed, total solar eclipses are mesmerizing and leave a lasting impression.
“The way the light and shadows change right before the moment of totality makes you feel like holding your breath. The entire landscape changes in just a few seconds,” adds Jean-François. “If you ask me, the most beautiful ones are those that happen low on the horizon [editor’s note: early in the morning or a dusk]. They look bigger and the change in light and shadows is even more striking, even if these kinds of eclipses are shorter and harder to capture on film.”
The magnificent beauty of eclipses isn’t the only thing that fuels eclipse chasers. It’s also all the adventure! Chasing eclipses has taken Françoise and Jean-François right around the world, from Argentina and China to French Polynesia and Australia.
“Talk about a great reason to travel, explore other countries and cultures, and meet other eclipse lovers!”
“Eclipse chasers form a wonderful and very welcoming community,” explains Françoise.
Logistical Hurdles
One can certainly expect a few challenges when chasing solar eclipses, the first being the weather. Winds, clouds, and bad weather can get in the way of how well you can see the sky. Our two eclipse chasers confirm this is true and they’ve seen it all when it comes to weather conditions!
“But bad weather doesn’t always ruin the fun. You can still enjoy an eclipse even in the face of mediocre weather,” says Jean-François.
This was the case when he saw his very first total solar eclipse, in Noyon, France.
“It was cloudy and raining and we missed out on seeing the moment of totality.”
Still, the experience changed him forever… and turned him into an eclipse aficionado!
“Even when clouds obscure your view in the moment of totality, you can still sense it. In the span of just a few minutes, darkness settles in and the temperature drops... sometimes by as much as 10°C! In fact, I might even say that you sense it even more when the weather is bad!”
So, this year on April 8, even if there is a rainstorm or a snow fall, we should still be able to enjoy the eclipse experience!
“Absolutely! As long as you’re in the path of totality. If you’re located just outside the path, you’ll only see a partial eclipse, which isn’t as stunning. Perfect reason to plan a little road trip!
Weather conditions aside, the places where eclipses are visible can also present hurdles, and our two eclipse chasers know a thing or two about that: their travels have taken them into two deserts and even into the middle of an ocean.
“When we travelled to see the eclipse in French Polynesia in 2010, we took plane that had to be chartered to bring a group of us to where the eclipse would be visible, an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean,” remembers Françoise. “It was a beautiful eclipse.
This wasn’t their most exceptional adventure, though!
“Our adventure in Libya was a real logistical challenge. Aside from the difficulties in getting our travel visas, the observation site was far off into the desert, three to four days away from the nearest village. We ended up spending about a week in the desert with guides and police escorts. And we didn’t even have our equipment with us! It arrived a week late, long after the eclipse, because of some hiccups with our flights,” explains Jean-François.
He laughs.
“At least there weren’t any clouds! And unlike the eclipse in Mongolia, we didn’t have to spend days negotiating with the army to get to our destination!”
How to Fully Enjoy the Total Solar Eclipse – Pro Tips
Choose the right eclipse glasses.
Make sure you wear standardized solar eclipse glasses. They should be ISO 12312-2:2015 glasses, like the ones that will be handed out for free at the Science Centre’s official viewing site.
Choose binoculars rather than a telescope.
Aside from eclipse glasses, you can also use binoculars with the same ISO standard filters.
“Binoculars are, by far, the best way to observe an eclipse,” explains Françoise.
“Telescopes are great, but they over-magnify the eclipse and only let you see parts of it. You miss out on the full view,” adds Jean-François.
“Test your camera equipment well before the day of the eclipse. If you haven’t mastered your equipment and the necessary techniques by the time the eclipse starts, you might end up missing it! And if your camera is equipped with a special solar filter, don’t forget to take it off during the moment of totality. If not, you’ll end up with photos of total darkness!”
Same goes for your eyes: you can take off your eclipse glasses or the solar filter on your binoculars during the moment of totality, but only during that moment. It’s extremely important that you protect your eyes during the time leading up to the big moment, and afterwards too.
And the most important tip from our eclipse chasers: enjoy it fully by staying in the moment!
Come experience this incredible event with us! The Science Centre will be a free, official viewing location on Monday, April 8, 2024. People from Montréal and the surrounding areas are welcome to gather in front of the Science Centre to observe the eclipse that will be visible right above the city. It’s an ideal location to fully experience this great astronomical event. Eclipse glasses will be available for free right on site, until supplies last.
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ElisabethGuillet-Beaulieu
Elisabeth Guillet-Beaulieu joined the Montréal Science Centre team in December 2022. She is passionate about nature, the environment and science education too. She now works doing science research and outreach for the Science Centre. Her interests include biology as well and she has a particular fondness for astronomy, chemistry, and video games. Elisabeth has a Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a Master’s degree in environmental science and sustainable development.
