Today's eclipse is all the rage, but 1979's eclipse was a much bigger deal in North Dakota

Tracy Briggs, The Dickinson Press, N.D.
·3 min read

Apr. 8—FARGO — North Dakota doesn't top the nation in tourism, especially in the dead of winter. But on Feb. 26, 1979, people from around the nation made the trek here to get a prime seat for the last total solar eclipse of the 20th century.

The path of that day's eclipse ran through Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Quebec.

According to weather officials at the time, Winnipeg was the best place to view it, with the moon blocking 100% the sun's rays.

That's probably why five astronomy students and one professor from Fargo-Moorhead made the trek north for the show of the century.

"It was awesome, powerful! You could feel the strength of it," Concordia College student Philip Hauger told The Forum's Ellen Crawford that day.

Hauger was joined by fellow Concordia students Pete Anfinsen, Jerry Jacobs, David Schultz, and Daniel Lippert, Concordia physics instructor Robert Brummond, and Moorhead State University (now MSUM) student Don Coleman.

The group was prepared to be disappointed because of reports of at least 30% cloud cover, but they were pleasantly surprised.

Lippert told The Forum, "It was a pretty hair-raising experience. Once it started, it went pretty fast."

According to media reports around the region, the eclipse lasted 45 seconds to three minutes, depending on location.

In Fargo-Moorhead, the eclipse peaked at 10:45 a.m. Motorists who hadn't pulled over to watch it might have driven down streets to see school children outside their buildings with homemade pinhole cameras, welder glasses, binoculars or telescopes.

Leaving the classroom in the middle of the school day was more exciting to some students than witnessing history (probably even more exciting than the feeling they'd get when they saw their teacher rolling a film projector into the classroom).

Office workers also left their buildings, some bundled up in jackets, others not. Conditions were fair with temperatures in the 30s. The National Weather Service said clouds blanketed between 50 and 70% of the state, making viewing conditions not quite ideal.

But according to those interviewed throughout the state, they were still "pretty awesome!"

The group that visited Winnipeg witnessed nearly 100% totality, while Fargo reached 96.6% totality and Bismarck hit 98.7%.

The Williston area had totality even higher than Bismarck's and attracted astronomy buffs from as far away as the East Coast.

According to a story from The Associated Press published in The Forum, "Eclipse watchers and solar groupies at Williston, N.D., gathered in snowsuits and parkas in 15-degree temperatures, which fell six degrees more when the sun blinked."

The story went on to report trouble with some felines.

According to the story, "A house cat in Williston grew fitful, then got all hunched up and wouldn't go anywhere until the sun came out."

Thankfully for the cat, the eclipse was over shortly.

The state wouldn't see another eclipse until 2017. With 80% totality in the region, it didn't quite match up to 1979's numbers. This time around, totality is expected to be even less at 50 to 60% here.

But for "solar groupies" looking to visit North Dakota, there is hope. According to NASA, the next total solar eclipse to occur in the contiguous U.S. will happen in August 2044 in Montana and North Dakota. The next to span coast-to-coast is slated for 2045.