On November 14, 2012, I watched without optical aid as the Moon covered the Sun. From the deck of Celebrity Cruise’s Millennium in the South Pacific, the other passengers and I enjoyed 3½ minutes of eclipse totality under a cloud-free sky. Perhaps the most inspiring sight occurred just before second contact, when the Moon’s edge was poised to cross in front of the Sun and began the total eclipse.
Astronomy magazine subscribers can read the full column for free. Just make sure you're registered with the website.