Under an uncommon sky: Revisit the total solar eclipse that captivated P.E.I.
The celestial event on April 8 delivered a spectacle, as promised — the last like it here for 55 years
It was a cosmic event talked about for years. But it only lasted, at most, three minutes in parts of Prince Edward Island.
The April 8 total solar eclipse of western P.E.I. was the last here for 55 years. And almost a week later, the consensus of those who witnessed it was that those few minutes were nothing short of spectacular.
Even so, a few moments seems hardly enough to fully take in the excitement of such a rare celestial event, not to mention the extensive and in-depth media coverage you may have missed while basking in the moment's beauty.
Let's take a look back at what led up to last week's eclipse, and how people watching it were affected.
As a bonus, this time around you don't need to worry about putting on your eclipse-viewing glasses.
The build-up
CBC P.E.I. first reported on the total solar eclipse on Sept. 5, 2022.
Of course, it's never too early to give folks a heads up about something that hadn't happened on the Island in 52 years, and that won't happen again for another 55.
But the excitement really started to ramp up as 2024 dawned.
We got tips from Megan Glover with UPEI's physics department on how to safely watch the eclipse and where.
The Island's top doctor, Heather Morrison, also weighed in on safe viewing from a public health standpoint.
In March, P.E.I. schools announced students would be getting out of class two hours early, affording them both the opportunity to get home safely before total darkness enveloped parts of the province, and watch the eclipse at home.
The event was also an educational opportunity for students, not to mention all sorts of Island science buffs and stargazers.
The Department of Education purchased 26,000 eclipse-viewing glasses to hand out to students and staff, hoping to encourage learning and, of course, eye safety.
Teachers taught their pupils about why these celestial events happen, and how to view them safely using things like pinhole projectors and solar-filtering glasses.
Prayer and reflection ... and pets
As the big day approached, CBC reached out to a diverse range of groups that make up P.E.I. for their reflections and thoughts about what the eclipse means.
We learned what the event signifies to different cultures on the Island — members of the Muslim and Hindu communities, for example, said they used the time as an opportunity for prayer and reflection.
In Chinese mythology, the eclipse is seen by many as a "scary event." Traditionally, many people believed it was a dog-like creature trying to eat the sun, explained Yong Zhou, president of the Chinese Society of P.E.I.
Today, Chinese people understand the science behind an eclipse, and see it as a "normal phenomenon," Zhou emphasized.
Speaking of dogs, we also got the perspective — well, sort of — of how pets and livestock might experience the event.
Atlantic Veterinary College animal behaviourist Dr. Karen Overall informed us birds might go silent, cows could think it's milking time, but household pets probably wouldn't notice the sun being darkened by the moon's shadow.
A brilliant day
Of course, the big question surrounding April 8 was whether the weather would co-operate.
CBC meteorologist Jay Scotland pulled whatever strings he could to get us a favourable forecast — and he over-delivered.
As an added bonus to P.E.I.'s clear, sunny skies that day, temperatures also climbed into double digits for the majority of the Island.
As you can tell from the photos, the clear skies drew plenty of photographers and sky-watchers alike.
Even though this big Island event has past — at least until 2079 — you can watch this video featuring P.E.I. photographer Scott Campbell offering tips on how to best shoot our next eclipse, if you are around.
Because, let's be honest, you really want to chase another one now, right?
'Another dimension'
As people began packing into West Prince on Monday to view the phenomenon, CBC P.E.I. was there, speaking to awed Islanders and eclipse-chasing visitors, and locking our camera onto the sun with prime-time seats.
CBC's drone photographer Shane Hennessey even got a birds-eye view of how Islanders reacted, from far above.
Bringing things full circle, no pun intended, we spoke with UPEI's Megan Glover, who gave us one last explainer and her own hopes for the event before it happened.
As the late afternoon rolled around, it was finally time for those few minutes we'd all been waiting for: the eclipse's moment of totality.
At that much-anticipated moment, many described an incredible sense of awe and gratitude for their experience, with one witness describing the sight as "like you're in another dimension," and "peaceful."
P.E.I.'s Lennox Island First Nation also saw the eclipse as an opportunity for teaching.
The Prince County community held a science and learning event at John J. Sark Memorial School so people of all ages cold learn some fun information about the skies.
Eclipse-chaser David Schult already saw previous solar eclipses in Malaysia, Iran, Madagascar and Nigeria while he was teaching overseas.
Now living back in Charlottetown, he was glad a total eclipse had finally followed him home.
In the minutes, hours and days that followed, CBC P.E.I.'s inbox has been filled with your amazing images of the event.
Looking back, many said in retrospect, it did indeed seem like a time of reflection and togetherness — an event that united us all under the same sky of wonderment.
At least for a few minutes.
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