'It does kind of put you in your place': Calgary comes out to catch glimpse of solar eclipse
Thousands of Calgarians flocked to the University of Calgary on Monday to get a glimpse of the solar eclipse.
While only about 40 per cent of the sun was covered in Calgary, it was still a special glimpse of the celestial dance going on every day, of which most of us are unaware.
Astronomers from the U of C's department of astrophysics, along with members of the Royal Astronomical Society (RASC), set up telescopes and viewing stations and distributed about 500 pairs of eclipse-safe glasses.
Damiloju Lawal was there with his mother and two sisters.
"When you think about it, how they are two very large celestial bodies and they kind of seem small from here but in reality, they are much bigger and grander I can probably imagine, it does kind of put you in your place," said Lawal.
"You realize that you are kind of this small being on this rock floating in the cosmos of space."
Thousands of Calgarians flocked to the University of Calgary on Monday to get a glimpse of the solar eclipse.
Scientists value eclipses for their ability to provide insight into the workings of Earth's nearest star.
Despite being omnipresent in the daytime sky, there are still solar mysteries to be solved.
For U of C astronomer Jeroen Stil, that includes why the chromosphere, which is above the solar surface, is hotter than the layer below it.
"What we teach in astrophysics is that every layer further out in the sun is cooler than the layer below and that's how heat trickles out to the surface. But somewhere in the chromosphere, that trend changes and changes very rapidly," said Stil.
"Why that happens is actually still not well understood."
While Calgary only saw 40 per cent of the sun blocked by the moon, other portions of North America were in the path of totality.
The first landfall of the eclipse was on the west coast of Mexico.
Calgarian Mark Sikstrom headed to Mazatlan to catch it in all its glory.
"It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said Sikstrom.
"The difference between a partial eclipse and a full eclipse is the difference between a kiss on the cheek and a big hug."
Mike Foreman took this picture of the partial solar eclipse from Springbank, in Rocky View County Alberta, on April 8, 2024. (Submitted: Mike Foreman)
Calgarians who got that "kiss on the cheek" with Monday's partial eclipse but are looking for the "big hug" of a solar eclipse will have to wait.
The next solar eclipse is in 2026.
It's been dubbed the "Fire and Ice" eclipse because it is only visible on land from parts of northern Greenland, Iceland and portions of Spain.
For those able to wait a couple of decades, Calgary will be in the path of totality of a total solar eclipse in August of 2044.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza, prompting Israel to say it would send a delegation to negotiate – though it warned the proposal remained far from the 'necessary requirements.'
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to quash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Manitoba Court of Appeal dismisses Peter Nygard's appeal of extradition order
The Manitoba Court of Appeal has dismissed Peter Nygard's application for a judicial review of an order to extradite the former fashion mogul to the United States, where he faces sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer's disease
For the first time, researchers have identified a genetic form of late-in-life Alzheimer’s disease — in people who inherit two copies of a worrisome gene.
B.C. court date set for 3 accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three suspects accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year are scheduled to appear in court in Surrey on Tuesday.