My 5th Solar Eclipse
My 4th Successful Total Eclipse in a Row
My first Island Eclipse

I was waiting for this one a long time! My previous eclipse was in India in 1995. To suffer through 1996 and 1997 with no eclipse was almost too much to bear. When February 1998 finally came along, I was more than ready for another dose.

Your basic island paradise.

The Aruba eclipse is special for so many reasons. The island is a Caribbean paradise and the eclipse was in February! A perfect destination for winter-weary Canadians. Plus, in the two years prior to this eclipse, I had managed to convince my entire family and a bunch of my friends to come with me. To share such an inspiring cosmic event with the people closest to me was unforgettable. And on top of all that, Aruba was where I began filming my documentary about eclipse chasers called Hooked On The Shadow.

eclipseguy in Aruba with Hooked On The Shadow producer Jon Link.

It was really easy to co-ordinate an eclipse chase on Aruba because the island is relatively small and the Aruba Tourism Authority did everything they could to help out. This eclipse was the biggest tourist event in the history of the island - so they took it seriously. After four or five days of getting used to the weather, I selected an observing site at the southern tip of the island - a place called Baby Beach. This location was reserved for serious astronomers and I was able to get access for my team.

Eclipse chasing with friends and family is the best!

We arrived early in the morning to stake out our private beach front. In no time we had shade and food and we didn’t let the early hour keep us from enjoying Amstel’s custom made Eclipse Beer!

Kudos to Amstel for making an eclipse beer.