I am an eclipse chaser. That sounds better than eclipse stalker, paparazzi, or voyeur which are more accurate terms. The shadow projected by the moon onto the Earth's surface is moving at such a speed that you would need a very fast aircraft just to keep up. And by fast I mean super-sonic! So you see there really isn't a chase involved except that you need to be in the right spot at the right time and hope the weather cooperates with your plans. This essay discusses those aspects of eclipse chasing.

If you stay in one place all your life, the chances of seeing a total solar eclipse are quite slim. That is because the shadow projected from the moon during a total solar eclipse traces a narrow path (about 100 miles wide) across the planet. As a consequence, in order to see one or more total eclipses of the sun one must travel to see them. And that is how you become an Eclipse Chaser.

In our modern era of travel virtually anyone can successfully get to the central path of a total solar eclipse at some point or another. Using luxury cruise ships, jet airplanes, and highways it is not as difficult as it used to be for astronomers and nature enthusiasts to see more than one total solar eclipse in their lifetime. I have had the pleasure of seeing over a half-hour of total eclipse time (over ten total solar eclipses to date) and I've met others who have been fortunate enough to see even more. All it takes is the desire to see one (or more). To see who is into eclipse chasing, visit Sheridan William's Umbraphiles records pages by clicking here and locate the Eclipse chasers' observation details. It is an ever growing community.

- Bill Kramer

Part 1
Eclipse Chasing Steps

Part 2
Eclipse Chasing Issues

Part 3
Why?