Other ships respond in kind. Applause, cheers, oohs and ahs fill the air. A brief look around reveals a dark milky blue sky with a 360 degrees twilight horizon. Much closer to us than in the Caribbean. The eclipsed sun shows a brightening on western edge.
Totality is about to end.
The exit diamond ring bursts forth. Again it is very brief. The moon's shadow is seen galloping away on the eastern horizon. A post-eclipse tape recorder analysis gave the totality duration as 2 min 21 sec. I turn to collect myself.