Chasing the total eclipse: amateur astronomer heads south to 'path of totality'

It's a total eclipse of Garry Dymond's heartas the St. John's amateur astronomer is headedto the U.S. to catch the best view of the first total eclipse to cross the country coast to coastin 99 years.

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Dymond says it's a thrill of his lifetime, and worth the trip to Wyoming since it's in what is called the "path of totality" the best place in the world to see the sun, moon and earth align perfectly.

"This is the thing in astronomy right now, especially amateur astronomy. People are crazy about total eclipses," he says.

Astronomers refer to it as "the Great American Eclipse," so for the member of the Royal Astronomical Society in St. John's, it has to be seen in person.

Wyoming is one of 14 U.S. states between Oregon and South Carolina that will actually experience a total solar eclipse,where the moon completely blocks the sun.

The demand for viewing sites in the total eclipse area was so great that Dymond had to make reservations for Wyoming a year in advance.

The wind starts to pick up. The hair on the back of your neck starts to stick up.- Garry Dymond

He said he's bringing plenty of equipment with him to view and record the eclipse like a specially-equipped telescope and digital camera.

Experts are reminding anyone who plans to watch the solar eclipse to wear proper protective eyewear.

For Dymond, this is the third time he will seean eclipse and he said it's an amazing phenomenon.

Best seen first-hand

"You'll see bits of the sun being bitten out, eaten away bit by bit. Then just before totality, you'll see these shadow bands, like snakes on the ground,"Dymondtold the St. John's Morning Show Friday.

"The wind starts to pick up. The hair on the back of your neck starts to stick up."

Dymond added that actually witnessing an event like this is better than a second-hand account.

"You can talk about it and see photographs but that's why people come back and back,"he said.

The eclipse isexpected to start Monday afternoon at 3:29 Newfoundland time, with maximumcoverage of the sun an hour later, although people in this province will only see about a 40 per cent eclipse.

In St. John's, the Johnson Geo Centre is hosting a solar eclipse viewing party and live streaming NASA's coverage of the eclipse Monday from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The event, hosted in conjunction with the local chapter of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, is weather-dependent.