Once or twice a year, the moon passes directly between the sun and the earth, and casts a fleeting shadow along the path of the eclipse. Only the people who happen to be within a narrow band less than 100 miles wide witness a TOTAL solar eclipse. Along that band, the disk of the moon is nearly an exact fit over the disk of the sun. On April 8, 2024, Cleveland, Ohio was in the middle of that narrow band. Since we knew that this, we were at the ready with our cameras. The photo above is the best shot I got.
As totality approaches, fish and wildlife go crazy. Bees instantly cease all activity. Humans, being smarter than fish and wildlife, go crazy years in advance. Several out-of-town friends visited. We stood on a balcony of our building and watched this fleeting event brought about by the chance of nature.
I find it fascinating that keen observers studying the sky have been able to predict the occurrences of solar eclipses for thousands of years. If you wish to learn more about this eclipse and eclipses in general, considerable information is available at
