The windows had been meticulously cleaned inside and out as if they were the finest lenses. The result was a wonderful eclipse seen under crystal clear skies at 41,000 ft. There are skeptics who think that experiencing an eclipse from a plane is a poor alternative to ground observing. To them I would say that it sure beats being clouded out. In addition, the edge of the moon s shadow can be seen and photographed dramatically on the surface and clouds far below.
Telephoto shots on a tripod and videos are successful.
But most important, the awesome beauty of the sun s intricate corona can be savoured in all its glory. No photo can do the corona justice. Many veteran eclipse chasers don t waste time with photos but spend every possible second looking at the corona. The June 30 corona was as beautiful as any I ve seen. Near the north pole a brilliant coronal arc curved one solar diameter downwards.