[JKCalhoun]

Glad others were photographing it. I was just there for the ahhhhs. It's a kind of a religious experience for me and, though it was my second, I knew from the first one that I ought to just ignore the phone and just take in the experience. No regrets.

I'm old enough that it's questionable I'll be around in 21 years for the next one in the U.S.. Only my middle daughter has not yet seen one (wife and the other two daughters are good). If I am lucky I'll be alive to join her for it.

I have to say, bit off topic, I'm fairly pissed off that I didn't get "my Halley's comet". Or rather, I got it, but it was crap. I suppose I could live to be 97.... (I am not sure if Mark Twain was lucky or unlucky with regard to Halley's.)

Anyway, Hale-Bopp was a treat, I have to confess. I suppose I am fortunate for that.

[maskedinvader]

I ditched the phone, camera, telescope all of it. In 2017 when I saw it the first time I think I wasted precious seconds fiddling with the gear trying to get the best shot. This time soaked all of the time and gave my eyes a visual treat ! totally worth it. No regrets whatsoever. Anyone reading this and hasn't seen one yet, I would advise to prioritize viewing it with your eyes a bit more than trying to capture it , its just very hard to capture the visual effect of experiencing totality.

[derwiki]

I went into it with that attitude, but my dad talked me into bringing the whole camera setup. I’m glad I did: I enjoyed experiencing the whole thing, and wouldn’t have given that up—but taking some killer photos was the cherry on top, and I’m really glad I did it. YMMV, and I’ve done a ton of astrophotography, so maybe this was more up my alley than for most folks.

[llamaimperative]

It really is the most mystical experience I’ve ever had. Also was my second time and also decided not to even attempt to photograph it.

Glad you got to experience it with many of your loved ones!

[al_borland]

It was my 2nd, but my first without cloud cover, so it was my first time seeing it.

I told myself going in I wasn’t going to get destructed taking pictures. I decided to only bring my phone, with the thought being that other people would take and share much better pictures than I could ever get.

However, in the moment I still reached for my phone and took some shots. About halfway through I had this, “what the hell are you doing, stop taking pictures as enjoy this” thought. So I just marveled at the last half.

I’m glad I was able to check it off my bucket list, but hope it’s not the last one I see.

[echelon]

I'm jealously hoping for Betelgeuse.

[kevindamm]

And around for Oumuamua, too