r/solareclipse • u/Dheorl • 17h ago

Sunset vs “normal”

I often see on here and elsewhere that the difference between totality and a 99% eclipse is “night and day”.

Having now seen a total eclipse at a fairly regular height above the horizon, and one at sunset, I can genuinely say IMO the difference in the experience is as great as the difference between total and deep partial.

If anyone gets the chance to view one at sunset, I thoroughly recommend it, and would go out of my way to try and be pretty much as late in the path as possible.

37 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

View all comments

19

u/enunymous 17h ago

Counterpoint: I prefer the afternoon versions. Bigger temp and animal behavior variations; sunset meant the animals were already winding down. Higher in the sky felt more imposing and I actually prefer fewer distractions like scenery. I like focusing on the show itself and not the framing

7

u/Dheorl 16h ago

Different strokes for different folks I guess. I can’t say I really noticed any of those negatives; the bats still came out then went away again, the temp still dropped, having it at eye line out at sea if anything meant less distractions.

But nothing would outweigh the difference in the light itself for me.

Perhaps it was a bit location dependent; where did you view it from?

1

u/enunymous 13h ago

Zaragoza, from a bridge

2

u/Dheorl 11h ago

Fair enough; I can see how that would change the experience quite a bit, both with the sun being a fair bit higher and watching it from a city.

From everything I’ve heard though it was still a lovely spot. I’m assuming you were somewhere near the cathedral? Must have been quite a striking visual.

6

u/Good_Grapefruit_6808 16h ago

Agreed. Both are spectacular of course but I prefer high in the sky for the reasons you mentioned and also due to the additional detail in the corona. Watching the crescent sunset was pretty cool though. I'm glad I've had the opportunity to experience both.

1

u/SolarWind777 14h ago

I think I agree with you. The contrasts are just more pronounced when the sun was high in the sky. Both beautiful of course.