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Quirks and Quarks·QUIRKS & QUARKS

Bob McDonald is on the road to the total eclipse

We speak to eclipse chaser and sometime radio host Bob McDonald, on his way to Wyoming to experience his sixth total eclipse
CBC News ·
Tourists watch the sun being blocked by the moon during a solar eclipse in the Australian outback town of Lyndhurst, located around 700 kilometres (437 miles) north of Adelaide December 4, 2002. The town is one of only four in Australia where the 26 second-long full eclipse of the sun could be seen and occurred during celebrations for the Year of the Outback. The shadow path of whats called totality, where the 'diamond ring' effect becomes visible, can be seen on a path that is just 36 kilometres wide. REUTERS/David Gray
(David Gray/Reuters)

Bob McDonald has the summer off from Quirks & Quarks.  And one of the things he's doing on his summer vacation is travelling to Casper, Wyoming to stake out a prime viewing spot for this summer's total solar eclipse.  

Portrait shot of Bob McDonald, host of CBC Radio's Quirks & Quarks.
Bob's chased five eclipses in the past, on several continents.  He says the experience is one of the great ways to feel a connection to the astronomical world - and a remarkable visual and sensory experience.  It's also a great party, as he'll be joined in Casper by thousands of other sky-watchers.  In fact some estimates suggest that as many as 20 million people may watch from under the 100km wide strip that will see a total solar eclipse.  

In Canada most of the country will see a still spectacular partial eclipse ranging from 90% of the sun being covered in Victoria to closer to 70% coverage for most of the population of the country.  

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