45 Years in the Making: Tim Yaworski’s Chase for Total Solar Eclipse
| My 45 year quest had come to a triumphant end. With the help of the Seestar I have a beautiful image of the eclipse that hangs on my wall to constantly remind me of that epic day.
Tim’s journey with astronomy began more than five decades ago, when he was an enthusiastic 13-year-old looking up at the night sky. Over the years, he witnessed many remarkable celestial events—but one remained frustratingly out of reach: a total solar eclipse.
His first attempt came on February 26, 1979. Then a Grade 12 student living in British Columbia, Tim took a few days off school and travelled to Seattle for his closest chance to witness totality. But torrential rain covered the sky. Instead of seeing the eclipsed Sun, all he saw were the city’s streetlights switching on as darkness fell during totality.
Fast forward to August 21, 2017 for the Great American Eclipse. Tim was living in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, about a 12-hour drive from the path of totality. Unfortunately, he was unable to leave the city that day. So he led a public viewing event where more than 1,200 people experienced the 70% partial eclipse through his equipment.
Then came April 8, 2024—and this time, Tim was determined not to miss it.
He booked flights and accommodation in Ottawa, giving himself the flexibility to search for clear skies anywhere between Niagara Falls and Quebec. A full year before the eclipse, he began planning his photography setup and regularly practising every shooting sequence.
His original equipment list was extensive: multiple cameras, lenses, a refractor telescope, an astronomy camera, a star tracker, a GoTo mount, several tripods, and two large protective cases. Capturing the eclipse was becoming almost as challenging as reaching it.
Six months before the event, Tim purchased a Seestar S50 for astronomy outreach. At first, he admits, he saw it as more of a toy than a serious imaging instrument.
That impression quickly changed.
After months of testing it alongside his traditional refractor setup, Tim found that the Seestar delivered comparable solar image quality and tracking performance—at a fraction of the size and weight. At last, instead of travelling with several oversized equipment cases, Tim carried one compact camera bag, the Seestar S50 in its foam case, and a single checked suitcase.
On eclipse day, Tim and his wife drove three hours from their hotel and arrived at the shore of Lac Memphrémagog in Quebec’s Eastern Townships. A cloudless blue sky stretched above them. By the time the eclipse began, they had been joined by 14 other eclipse chasers from Montreal, Ottawa, New England, Bulgaria, and Italy. Sixteen strangers stood together at the end of a dock, united by the same extraordinary moment.
After 45 years of waiting, Tim finally stood beneath the Moon’s shadow and witnessed the celestial event he had spent a lifetime chasing. With the help of the Seestar S50, he also captured a beautiful image of totality—one that now hangs on his wall as a permanent reminder of that unforgettable day.
Thank you, Tim, for sharing your inspiring journey with us. Your story reminds us that some moments are truly rare, so never miss the chance to experience them when the opportunity comes. 🌑☀️