As long as you want to experience “the most supernatural of natural phenomena”, as the total solar eclipse is described, you might as well opt for the astronomers’ favorite site, the Astrolab of the Mont-Mégantic national park, located in the heart of the area of totality.
• Read also: [EN DIRECT] The solar eclipse amazes Quebec
Like me, 2,500 crinqués gathered on Monday to witness the “rarest and most grandiose of natural spectacles”, in these places designated as the international dark sky reserve.
As luck would have it, while some of the best locations like Niagara and Texas had overcast skies, the one above Mégantic was a perfect blue.
In a festive atmosphere, scientists and amateur astronomers were amazed, it goes without saying.
- Listen to the column by Karine Gagnon, political columnist at JDM and JDQ via QUB :
In memory of Hubert Reeves
Benoit Reeves, son of the great astrophysicist Hubert Reeves who died last fall, wanted to be at Mont Mégantic for this observation, the fifth to his credit. He had traveled from Paris expressly to experience it. His father had sponsored the construction of the park, and his first telescope is on display at Astrolab.
Photo Martin Chevalier
“I think if we have good weather, it’s because my father is up there saying: “It’s okay, you asked me two weeks in advance, I had time to work.” It’s extremely rare for the weather to be this nice.”
Mr. Reeves also wishes to take advantage of his visit to Quebec to propose that the Astrolab bear his father’s name in the future.
Family observation
The Mont-Mégantic Observatory, built in 1978, could not be better located, right in the center of the area where the stars were perfectly aligned.
Coming with his wife, their two sons, one of whom lives in Japan, and his two granddaughters, Ghislain Pinard, from the Rimouski Astronomy Club, happily shared his telescopes with the visitors.
An amateur astronomer, he had organized the activity for two years. He had the chance to experience a first total eclipse in 1972, in Amqui, a moment that changed his life.
“We understand living it, it’s so special to see that, and to think that it takes such a perfect alignment of the stars. And the diamond ring, which you can see in the seconds before the eclipse, it’s incredible how impressive it is.”
- Listen to the column by Karine Gagnon, political columnist at JDM and JDQ via QUB :
Magical moments
During the four minutes of darkness, cries of joy erupted from everywhere, people applauded. Near the Sun, we could then see Venus and Jupiter.
Alongside me were students from the physics department of Cégep de Chicoutimi, who left at 6 a.m. to be at the forefront of the phenomenon. “It’s a very special moment, it seems like all humans are connecting to experience this,” exclaimed Pierre-Luc Larouche, one of their teachers.
Thought for children
The Société des establishments de plein air du Québec (SÉPAQ) had been working on organizing the event at Mont-Mégantic Park since 2017. The Ministry of Education, whose directives were anything but clear, would have benefited from be also forward-looking…
In December, the places available in Mégantic were gone in a few days. People came from as far as France, Germany, from all over Canada and the United States, Marie-George Bélanger, park manager, explained to me.
It’s impossible not to have a thought, after experiencing these memorable moments, for all the children attending Quebec schools which have closed their doors. What a missed opportunity to let children experience such a significant event.