Ring of Fire in Southern Utah

This year to our delight, we were able to witness this year's Ring of Fire. How lucky are we that we live right in the prime viewing area! I LOVE LOVE LOVE astronomy. One of my favorite classes in high school was astrophysics. I remember seeing a partial solar eclipse in my teen years through my Dad's welding mask. I also remember watching a full lunar eclipse in the mountains in Wyoming at my relatives house. So I was EXTREMELY excited when I found out about the solar eclipse that was happening in our area of Southern Utah.

Check out all of those cars!! I've never seen so many!

Don't look at the sun! Unless you have some styling glasses!

We decided to have a picnic on top of the overlook of town. The hills to the east of town  provided a great place to watch. Apparently  many other people thought so too since I counted 67 cars on the overlook! (In the 11 years we've lived here, I have only encountered one other car on the dirt roads of the overlook.) There were so many people! It was crazy!

Side note...Luke got a haircut. I will try not to show my jubilation lest it encourages him to grow it out again. Seriously, it makes him look a lot older. Yikes.

Cory taught the boys how to see the eclipse with the pin hole and through the shadows of crossed fingers.

Doing the pin hole experiment. They even walked around and showed other people how to do it. I was surprised how many people didn't have any eye protection.

Ring of Fire shadow!! It only lasted about 3 minutes.

He wore more cookies then glasses.

We also had the sunglasses. They are an amazing fashion statement as well--probably the same designers that made those lovely boots. However Mark was more interested in the cookies that came with the picnic. 

It really was an amazing experience. It gave me chills watching the power of the heavens manifest itself to us. I really don't think the kids will forget this experience. --ok Mark might only remember the cookies.