Total Solar eclipse 2009 in China
In 2009 we visited China with on a trip with the Vereniging Voor Sterrenkunde (VVS) , with the purpose to observe the total solar eclipse on July 22. Sadly, the weather a big bummer and we got a real rain shower over us during totality... It is only 4:30 in the morning when the phone rings for the first time. A feeling of nervousness clings to my stomach. Only when we are washed and dressed, I dare to open the curtains. And it is... cloudy. Even before the agreed time, everyone has taken a seat on the bus. Let's drive! When I arrived at the observation site, my heart sank: it was raining. When our breakfast was finished and the first contact had passed, we could see the partially eclipsed sun through the clouds. We cherished hope and Jan counted down the minutes to totality. Toads crawled away, all the dragonflies disappeared and ducks staggered to their nests. A mysterious atmosphere descended on the observation site. Just before the second contact, the sky became fully c