RECAP: Our live coverage of ‘incredible’ Southwestern Ontario eclipse

London Free Press journalists and our Postmedia colleagues across Southwestern Ontario ventured into the darkness (or near-darkness) as a solar eclipse crossed our skies Monday afternoon. Below is a recap of our live coverage of the celestial event:

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3:58 p.m. Thank you for following our live coverage of this once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. Readership reached levels we’ve rarely if ever seen. We leave you with a look back at how we covered a January 1925 eclipse on our front page, which was unearthed by the excellent Facebook group Vintage London Ontario:

3:40 p.m. In Port Stanley, it got as dark as it usually is at 9:30 pm at the peak of the eclipse. Andrew Crawford, who traveled from Toronto to be in the path of totality, said it was “unbelievable.” He added: “Just life-changing. I came to take photos. . . but I just wanted to stop taking photos because it was so beautiful.”

Leah Exley of London was also in Port Stanley. “It was so beautiful. And seeing the sunset, with the orange and pink – it was so pretty.”

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Reporter Brian Williams was blunt. “It was mind-blowing.”

3:32 p.m. At Erieau beach in Chatham-Kent, the eclipse left many onlookers awestruck. That included James and Lee-Ann MacNeil of Chatham. “It was incredible,” James said. “It’s the greatest thing I’ve seen in recent memory.” And it was an extra special experience sharing it with others, he added. “For a brief second we were all as one.”

Lee-Ann MacNeil was even more impressed. “I think it is the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen.”

3:16 p.m. At Port Stanley beach, raucous cheers begin as darkness descends and the horizon turns blood red. Street lights are on and perfectly visible in the middle of the afternoon. It essentially looks like dusk. “It’s so cool,” reporter Brian Williams said.

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3:15 p.m. In the last minute, a darkness has spread over downtown London. This is . . . honestly it’s awesome. It’s surreal. Sunset, five o’clock early. “Oh wow,” said one onlooker as his peak arrived. “This is so cool.” Skies over the city were expected to be the darkest at about 3:17 pm and the eclipse will have passed by about 4 pm Clearly Hellen Liu was impressed after slipping on a pair of eclipse glasses on Western University‘s campus (Derek Ruttan/The London Free Press)

3 p.m. In downtown London, the skies harken back to last summer’s wildfires, which smell a haze of smoke over Southwestern Ontario. It’s not dark, but it’s like there’s a film between us and the sky. That’s the best way to describe it.

2:55 p.m. Thieves just never miss an opportunity to take advantage of people. Police in London issued a few eclipse-related safety reminders on Monday, including this one: “If you’re viewing the eclipse in a public place, secure your personal belongings.” We’re roughly 20 minutes from the expected total eclipse and at Port Stanley it’s not dark – “it’s like the sky just got dimmer,” reporter Brian Williams says.

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2:50 p.m. Who could be better prepared than this guy?

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2:36 p.m. The eclipse has started in Southwestern Ontario, with the Moon moving in front of the sun, enchanting the crowds at Erieau beach in Chatham-Kent. The slowly growing darkness has it starting to look like late afternoon, according to Postmedia reporter Ellwood Shreve. It’s believed the full eclipse will hit that area 3:15 pm The sun is close to half-covered, he said, and the temperature has started dropping.

In downtown London, the skies seem. . . normal, still.

2:15 p.m. What kind of celestial celebration would it be without an eclipse-inspired beer? Thank you to the fine folks at Forked River brewery.

2:05 p.m. Naomi Bloxam, 7, of London was in Port Stanley with her family for the solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. The paper plate around the solar glasses help kids the glasses in place for safety, and allow extra protection, too.

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1:26 p.m. Among the sun chasers in Port Stanley on Monday were Chase Cassels and Morgan Shaw, who drove more than two hours from Kincardine to grab a spot on the Lake Erie beach for the total solar eclipse. “We’ve been planning this for four-and-a-half years and all the other alternative places have clouds, so Port Stanley won,” Cassels said.

1:01 p.m. The Aziz family from Vancouver traveled to get into the path of totality at Erieau along Lake Erie’s shore in Chatham-Kent. They’ve been planning the trip to Ontario since seeing a total eclipse in Oregon seven years ago. “Once you see it you will want to go again,” Asim Aziz said. “You see the solar system in motion – in real time.”

12:46 p.m. Our Windsor Star colleagues note that lots of myths and legends have revolved around the solar eclipse. Predicting when day would turn into night was one of the ways ancient Egyptian astronomers (later: Greek philosophers) held power over the peasantry (and pharaohs), according to University of Windsor physics professor emeritus Gordon Drake. Read his guest column right here.

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The professor also offers maybe the best description of an eclipse that we’ve read: “In a solar eclipse, the shadow of the moon sweeps across the surface of the Earth as the moon passes between us and the sun. All those standing within the shadow will see the eclipse. As you look up, what you see is the moon completely covering the sun.”

12:31 p.m. A look at Port Stanley’s beach, where skywatchers are starting to gather.

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12:23 p.m. We’re going to sound the safety note once again. Our colleagues with The Ottawa Citizen have pulled together a handy guide on how to watch the eclipse safely. You can read it right here.

12:16 p.m. Old school!

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12:07 p.m. Now this is cool. London International Airport officials say passengers aboard Air Canada flight 8260 “will have the extraordinary chance to witness (the eclipse) from above the clouds.” The flight is traveling from London to Toronto’s Pearson airport.

12:01 p.m. The Ontario Association of Optometrists has been urging people provincewide to be careful when viewing Monday’s eclipse. “Although observing a solar eclipse can be astonishing, it’s vital to safeguard your eyes from potential harm.” They offer a bunch of safety tips here that are definitely worth reviewing as the clock ticks darkness toward.

11:42 a.m. A couple cool facts: It’ll be 2144 when the next total solar eclipse will be visible in London, and today marks the first time Strathroy has been on the so-called path of totality of an eclipse since 1451.

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11:32 a.m. It’s no surprise Port Stanley is going to be jammed. Radio station My FM is reporting parking lots around the Lake Erie beach town were filling up by late morning. Huge crowds are expected at Point Pelee in Essex County, too. But there was room still as no one approached at Erieau Beach.

11:15 a.m. Town of Ingersoll officials are urgently warning citizens after online retailer Amazon issued a safety recall for the eclipse glasses the municipality purchased and doled out to citizens last week. “In light of this urgent situation, it is imperative that we prioritize your safety above all else,” officials wrote on social media. “Therefore, we strongly advise against using these glasses to view the upcoming eclipse.”

11:10 a.m. This map nicely illustrates the path of the eclipse across Southwestern Ontario and on to Canada’s east coast.

11:00 a.m. Here are a few crucial times to remember: The eclipse is expected to begin around 2 pm, the darkness will hit its peak around 3:15 pm and the skies will start to brighten again by 4 pm

10:55 a.m. Hello, skywatchers. Here’s a handy guide to this afternoon’s solar eclipse and – if you don’t have the proper eye cover or just don’t want to go outside – a link to the NASA livestream that starts at 1 pm

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