© 2016 Alaska Airlines
Millions of people in Indonesia and some of the foreign space-lovers who came to the country were treated to views of a total solar eclipseon Tuesday(9/3). But the luckiest ones are a few people who got to see the space phenomena from the sky.
Garuda Indonesia Flight 649 and Alaska Airlines Flight 870 were two commercial airline flights which crossed the path of the total solar eclipse. From the comfort of their airplane seat, at the 35,000 feet high, the lucky passengers were granted to witness the extraordinary views of the Sun, Earth and Moon in alignment, forming a relatively rare space event. Thats not something you see every day.
Experience #eclipse2016 from 35,000 feet. Blog: https://t.co/EcI37ckUFd Full video: https://t.co/2WWk3vUpDo pic.twitter.com/gdkrJfemgR
Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) March 9, 2016
Now that's a view of the #Eclipse2016 from flight #870. Photo: Anchorage flight attendants Rachael C. & Sofia S. pic.twitter.com/Sa6qOUysRu
Alaska Airlines (@AlaskaAir) March 9, 2016
To make us even more envious, seeing the solar eclipse from the sky means we wont give a damn to the weather. Watchers had the chance to be above the clouds, so the vision was much clearer. As we may know, yesterday clouds were pretty average thus the view from the ground was obscured.
Some airline passengers on Alaska Airlines flight from Anchorage to Honolulu during the eclipse shared the views with people on the ground.
Alaska Airline flight 870 intentionally delays so passengers can see total #SolarEclipse from the air. Cool!!! pic.twitter.com/qUmY4Oich6
Duangrat (@nok_dg) March 9, 2016
This is what you call an exclusive photo of a total #solareclipse over the middle of the Pacific Ocean. #KOMOeclipse pic.twitter.com/E0F4AXUNKO
Morgan Chesky (@BreakingChesky) March 9, 2016
Alaska Airlines deliberately delayed the flight in order to provide passengers with the best view possible of the total eclipse. Its quite risky for them seeing as people would usually grumble over flight delays (but turns out to be otherwise).
Arranging flights to witness solar eclipses from the air, however, isnt a new idea. Some operators offer special charter flights for the curious eclipse chasers who want to see the event from the nearest spot possible. In 1887, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev flew high through the clouds in a balloon to view a total solar eclipse over Russia.
In the past, it was difficult to see the solar eclipse from the ground as the former Indonesia government prohibited people from seeing it as it was previously considered harmful to our eyes.
Passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight seemed pretty excited to see the big event.
What a view! Passengers on a flight from Alaska to Honolulu got a treat during last night's eclipse. #CBS4Mornings pic.twitter.com/NgebpdVBBv
CBSDenver (@CBSDenver) March 9, 2016
If you failed to rise early in the morning yesterday, dont despair, another solar eclipse will occur again in this year.
OnSeptember 1, another rare phenomena will present the ring of fire with a spectacular display of solar magic. Its an annular eclipse in which the shadow of the moon will obstruct the sun, and can be seen in parts of southern Africa, the Pacific Ocean and other areas.
In 2017, another total solar eclipse will wrap much of the continental United States in the darkness, and its anticipated to be the most impressive solar eclipses in recent time.
(brl/tis)
