Annular Solar Eclipse

After deciding not to travel three hours up the coast to Coos Bay in Oregon that would supposedly offer the best views of the annular solar eclipse, I stayed put in Crescent City, California. I was rewarded with the most magical view of the eclipse, on the beach, right in front of our trailer.

With hot steaming coffee in hand and wrapped up warm and cosy in a blanket, I made the short walk to the beach and found a beached log on which to sit as I waited first for sunrise and then the solar eclipse.

It was a cloudy morning but ever so still, the waves were gently lapping on the shoreline in quiet anticipation. The birds were still and quiet. Some on one leg, some on two, resting, facing east, watchful, as if praying in some unspoken ritual.

The sun rose and peeked its cheery head through the clouds. And then the astonishing phenomenon began ever so slowly, with the moon passing between the sun and earth.
An annular solar eclipse is when the shadow of the moon does not completely cover the disk of the sun leaving a bright glowing ring, or annulus, around the sun creating a startling contrast of light and dark.  The eclipse took a good hour from start to finish. 

Even though it was cloudy and I did not get a really clear view, the clouds added magic and mystery, color and contrast. It was breathtaking. 

All photos were taken with my trusty iPhone 13 Pro Max.