Eclipse Sky Continental Capers Travel Center Inc. Southern Africa 2001 June 18-29 Home Pages Solar Eclipse Cont. I n the minutes just before totality, the Moon's shadow can often be seen approaching from the west as a chilling column of darkness extending from heaven to earth . Eerie, faint shadow bands may also flutter over the ground and walls. Twilight Glow Over the Caribbean during the 1998 February Total Eclipse.
Actual darkness varies from eclipse to eclipse.
The size of the shadow, your location in the shadow, coronal brightness, the altitude of the Sun, weather conditions, etc., can all be factors. However, unlike a single, lingering western glow of a setting Sun, an eerie light may surround the horizon. See sections below on planets and star visibility. The Western Sky During Totality Over Mana Pools. Saturn Saturn will be more difficult to spot.