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Total Composites DIY Truck Camper: Big Value, Quick Turnaround

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It’s hard to argue that $16,000 is affordable — unless you’re talking about truck campers. That’s the starting price of Total Composites DIY truck camper , a composite habitat for your truck bed that’s a blank slate to outfit as you like. Here’s how it works.

Total Composites truck campers are some of the first that let the owner start from scratch and make it their own. When I was shopping for a truck camper, every one I found was loaded with “features” I didn’t want, like a mid-grade microwave and an expensive air conditioner that only works when I’m plugged in. It’s my goal to never be plugged in.

There were windows where I wanted to put bunk beds. Faux wood paneling was everywhere, a design aesthetic that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.

But the Total Composites camper is a simple composite box with legs and a door. You design and outfit it how you want it, starting with where you put the windows and how many.

I was intrigued by the idea of a thermally efficient truck camper I could outfit myself, one that comes as a blank slate that I could design to fit my budget, style, and needs. With an “affordable” starting price and a quality reputation and warranty to back it up, the Total Composites truck camper seems like an impressive value.

Let’s dive into what this camper is all about.

Total Composites DIY Truck Campers

Total Composites was started by Andreas Schwall, a German expat who relocated to British Columbia, Canada. He was a furniture-maker, a paramedic, and a builder of high-end expedition trucks before moving to Canada to settle down.

“When I moved to Canada in 2001, I managed cabinet shops, I had my own woodworking shop, but the fascination with expedition trucks never left me,” said Schwall. “Everything I could find in the U.S. in the early 2000s was a shitty RV. I wanted to build my own.”

Conveniently, Schwall’s dad, a German plastics engineer, had teamed up with a former Chinese customer to set up a factory in China and build commercial truck bodies to German standards, with German components, for the Chinese market. In 2015, Schwall imported one of his dad’s highly thermally efficient, lightweight kits and modified it into a camper.

He quickly found himself in the import business. Friends, including those from online chatrooms, followed his build and wanted one too. Interest snowballed. Schwall tweaked the truck body design, honing wall thickness and features for campers, not cargo, turning Total Composites into a multimillion-dollar business.

Total Composites: Truck Camper Design

Extensive research, expensive investment.

For the first 6 years, Total Composites stuck to expedition-style campers: large composite boxes mounted on commercial trucks. In 2021, it released its first truck camper that would fit a normal consumer pickup.

“For many years, people had asked me if I could make a truck camper,” said Schwall. “There was no way to adapt the truck boxes we were manufacturing for expedition use into a camper to fit into the bed of a pickup. We couldn’t get the wheel well shape. I turned those inquiries down, until one day I thought, ‘What the heck?’”

Schwall grabbed a tape measure and visited every truck dealership he could find to take bed measurements. Then he sat down to map out how to maximize internal space while maintaining trail performance.

“A lot of Jeep Gladiator and Taco owners have steel bumpers all over the place. And they like to go off road. For the Taco-sized camper, I wanted to build a camper that would let owners close the tailgate and still use a steel bumper with a spare tire,” said Schwall.

“For the F-150 camper, we maximized what we could do with interior and bed size without hanging the camper over the back of the truck. User-friendliness was top of mind. We wanted to be able to slide the camper in without modifying the truck.”

The day he decided to build truck campers was an expensive day for Schwall. To make truck campers, Total Composites had to invest in custom pultrusions, the fiber-reinforced polymer pieces that hold the camper corners together, which was an investment of over $80,000.

“It was a huge commitment to develop it,” he said. “We put the first couple together as proof of concept. With the feedback we got, we tweaked the overall dimensions and landed where we are today.”

Top-Notch Insulation

Besides offering a blank canvas to build out as you’d like, one of the things that sets Total Composites truck campers apart from pop-top or other truck campers is their insulation.

“Out in cold, our campers really shine,” said Schwall. “You need less energy to keep them heated, they stay warm way longer, and there’s no condensation. You won’t wake up with soaked pillows and comforter trying not to touch the camper walls.”

The camper’s structure comes from the bonded fiberglass-covered foam walls. Custom-fabricated fiberglass extruded corners — Schwall’s Pultrusions — give the camper structural soundness without thermal transfer. Because there aren’t structural materials that expand and contract at different rates with temperature changes, there isn’t stress cracking over time. But because there are no structural beams, building out this camper required glue not screws.

Schwall says it’s a reliable if unconventional system. Total composites campers and expedition boxes are all assembled with a low-VOC, UV-stable, food-safe, polyurethane adhesive that stays flexible for at least 25 years. They sell the same to customers to glue on roof rack mounts, cabinetry, and more.

Total Composites Truck Camper: Who It’s For

So far, Total Composites has about 350 expedition trucks on the road in North America, and around 90 truck campers. Schwall acknowledges that Total Composites Truck Camper isn’t for everybody.

“If you’re most interested in aerodynamics, or you need your truck and camper to fit into a garage, this might not be the right setup for you. If you’re into winter sports, or you want to spend a lot of time outside including when it’s shitty weather, you’ll be comfortable in our truck camper,” he said.

Having previously owned and recently sold a pop-up camper, I’m excited to try one. While on one hand popping the top roadside wasn’t a big deal, it was kind of a pain. If I stopped to get groceries or needed to grab gear from inside, I’d have to lift the roof. In this camper, I’ll be able to throw groceries in the fridge, hop in the driver’s seat and keep going.

Behind the Scenes: Total Composite Manufacturing and Materials

While the panels and corners Schwall uses to make Total Composites campers are made in China, Total Composites truck campers are worlds away from what you’ll get if you order from Ali Baba.

“Buy from us and you get a camper made with German materials manufactured to German standards. We also have a proven track record. You have a service point of contact and someone to talk to when you have questions. And we won’t drop the ball in a warranty case,” Schwall said.

Plus, the company is authentic. He and his staff are avid campers and overlanders.

“We don’t just staple shit together like a regular RV manufacturer,” said Schwall. “It’s really important for people to understand that we live and breathe these products. And we only recommend components we use ourselves. What people get from us is expertise based on experience and a really good product that is a tool for fun and adventure. That is our goal.”

Total Composites offers a 2-year warranty on materials and craftsmanship.

Get a DIY Truck Camper in Just 12 Weeks

There are other DIY campers on the market, including the Scout Toho and Four Wheel Campers Project M . I called both to see how soon I could get one, and the answer was more than a year. Project M costs less — it starts under $10,000 — but it’s a pop-top, has no floor, and lacks the insulation of Total Composites. The Scout is similar in design to the Total Composites truck camper but comes partially outfitted and costs considerably more — starting at around $26,000.

For now, you can pick up a Total Composites camper at a dealership in Washington state or at Total Composites HQ in Victoria, British Columbia. Dealers in California, Washington, Alberta, and eastern Canada are imminent. Delivery time is currently three to four months — considerably less than the current industry norm.

The 5’ Total Composites camper, which fits Jeep Gladiators and Toyota Tacomas , fits inside the tailgate, weighs 510 pounds empty without a door, and costs $15,999. The 7700 Camper, which fits Ford F-150/250, and Ram 1500 /2500, is 795 pounds empty and costs $16,999.

I was impressed enough to order one — especially since I can get one in a reasonable time frame. I’ll start building mine out in May. Stay tuned for a proper review after I spend some time with the Total Composites truck camper.

To get more info or to order your own Total Composites truck camper, go to TotalComposites.com .

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Berne Broudy is a contributing writer at GearJunkie.com.

Broudy has been writing about cycling, skiing, and outdoor gear for more than 20 years. Before that, Broudy spent time guiding hiking and cycling tours in South America, Europe, and the U.S.

Based in Vermont, Berne Broudy is a core user of and expert in outdoor, cycling, and ski gear, as well as overlanding and powersports gear. She has been writing about outdoor products, business, and issues for more than 20 years. She has written and photographed for more than 20 publications and has served as a contributing editor at many of them.

Broudy currently sits on several nonprofit boards in her home state of Vermont. She is an avid mountain biker, gravel biker, backcountry skier, overlander, and adventure traveler.

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Total Composites Buyers Guide

Welcome to the 2024 Total Composites Buyers Guide with four non-slide truck campers classified by price, weight, and capacities.

New Total Composite campers are for sale through build partners in the United States and Canada. Check out the locations of their build partners .

Total Composites has four truck camper models; the Lynx, Wolf, Bobcat, and Wolverine.

To contact Total Composites in Victoria, British Columbia, call 250-477-0375 .  To visit their website, go to TotalComposites.com . For additional information, request a Total Composites brochure .

Total Composites Lynx 7′

The 2024 Total Composites Lynx is a hard side, non-slide, short bed slide-in truck camper with a price of $17,959 USD (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Lynx 7′: dry weight, 606 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,106 pounds

Total Composites Lynx 5′

The 2024 Total Composites Lynx is a hard side, non-slide, short bed slide-in truck camper with a price of $17,200 USD  (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Lynx 5′: dry weight, 540 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,040 pounds

Total Composites Wolf 8′

The 2024 Total Composites Wolf 8′ is a hard side, non-slide, long bed slide-in truck camper with a price of $19,365 USD (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Wolf 8′: dry weight, 895 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,395 pounds

Total Composites Wolf 6.5′

The 2024 Total Composites Wolf 6.5′ is a hard side, non-slide, short bed slide-in truck camper with a price of $18,260 USD (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Wolf 6.5′: dry weight, 795 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,295 pounds

Total Composites Bobcat 8′

The 2024 Total Composites Bobcat 8′ is a hard side, non-slide, flatbed truck camper for long bed trucks with a price of $26,000 USD (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Bobcat 8′: dry weight, 990 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,490 pounds

Total Composites Bobcat 6.5′

The 2024 Total Composites Bobcat 6.5′ is a hard side, non-slide, flatbed truck camper for short bed trucks with a price of $25,000 USD (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Bobcat 6.5′: dry weight, 903 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,403 pounds

Total Composites Wolverine 8′ Flatbed

The 2024 Total Composites Wolverine 8′ is a hard side, non-slide, long bed truck camper for flatbed trucks with a price of $27,000 USD (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Wolverine 8′: dry weight, 1,058 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,558 pounds

Total Composites Wolverine 6.5′ Flatbed

The 2024 Total Composites Wolverine 6.5′ is a hard side, non-slide, short bed truck camper for flatbed trucks with a price of $25,900 USD (empty shell) . For further information on this model, check out the Introducing Total Composites Announcement .

*Total Composites Wolverine 6.5: dry weight, 970 pounds + stuff, 500 pounds = 1,470 pounds

Truck Camper Dry and Wet Weights

Truck camper base dry weights have been provided by the manufacturers.  Be aware that (a) each manufacturer has different standards and options that are included or excluded from their base dry weights, and (b) very few truck campers leave the factory without additional options.   Make sure to add the weight of additional options for your truck and camper matching calculations. 

The Truck Camper Magazine Buyers Guide uses a standardized equation to calculate truck camper wet weights. Starting with the manufacturer’s base dry weight, the equation adds the full fresh water weight, full hot water heater weight, full propane tank weight, battery weight, and 500 pounds for stuff.

All dry weights (empty shell only), specifications, capacities, and photographs were provided by Total Composites .  Click here for a Total Composites brochure .

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In this episode of the 101, Bryan Rogala introduces us to his latest project: building out a Total Composites slide-in truck camper . These come in multiple sizes to fit any truck, and they’re the ultimate blank canvas for creating a four-season adventure rig. Follow along for more videos and an article documenting his efforts.

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Demand for Total Composites Truck Camper Shells Continues to Skyrocket

There’s a growing trend in the red-hot truck camper marketplace and Canadian-based Total Composites started it all—DIY interior design and construction using a camper shell as the starting point. The trend started in 2021 when Total Composites released several truck camper shell models that made DIY interior design and construction possible. Now several truck camper manufacturers, including Overland Explorer Vehicles, Bison Overland, and Scout, have gotten into the “shell game” by releasing truck camper shell models of their own. No doubt, other manufacturers will soon be getting into the game as well.

Deference, of course, must be given to Andreas Schwall of Total Composites who saw the potential of selling standard camper shell models. He developed a love for exploration at an early age and toured Africa several times by motorbike, car and backpack. Later, he started working for an expedition truck builder and soon began dreaming of building a truck camper rig of his own. Schwall’s first rig, built to a standard not seen previously in the North American market, was the beginning of a business that now has over 450 unique expedition rigs using Total Composite campers. These rigs can be seen on roads today in Europe, South America, Africa and, of course, North America.

Today, the Total Composites catalog consists of four truck camper shell models: the Lynx, a slide-in made for mid-size trucks like the Toyota Tacoma; the Wolf, a slide-in made for full-size trucks like the Ford F150; the Bobcat, a full-size flatbed for 6.5-foot and 8-foot beds; and the Wolverine, a flatbed with a rear kickback for full-size trucks. In total, eight different sizes and lengths are offered by Total Composites.

“It really caught us by surprise how big the demand was for our truck camper shells, said Schwall “Since our introduction in 2021, we have teamed up with eight commercial partners building and outfitting our truck campers. Sales have increased by more than 50 percent each year. Our partners usually sell out before our shipments of panels and FRP pultrusions arrive. For 2024, we are looking to increase our partner network in order to serve our customers even better.”

All four models can be purchased from a Total Composites partner company with the interior completely outfitted and built or as an empty shell for DIYers. The big advantage of going with a shell model, of course, is the low weight—the Lynx weighs only 580 pounds, perfect for today’s mid-size trucks, which offer a meager payload rating as low as 900 pounds. We featured the Lynx recently at the 2023 Overland Expo West in a rig built by Bear Adventure Vehicles. The camper is an impressive work of art.

The advantages of building-out your own interior using a camper shell are obvious, the most important being low cost and layout customization. Sure, cookie-cutter floorplans, like those offered by other companies, have their advantages, but being able to tweak a floorplan to make it even better cannot be overlooked. A DIYer can add or delete anything they like or dislike. Downsize the dinette? No problem? Make the bathroom bigger? Sure! How about doing away with propane altogether? Absolutely! As a matter of fact, one popular trend is doing away with propane altogether and go electric using lithium batteries, an inverter, and induction cooking.

Yet, Total Composites offers more than just a simple shell with four walls, a roof, and a floor. What really sets Total Composites campers apart from its competitors is its cutting-edge design that completely eliminates condensation. As anyone who has owned an RV or truck camper knows, condensation is an unavoidable part of RV ownership. In cooler weather, moisture forms on windows and walls, which can lead to mildew, mold, rot and corrosion. However, Total Composites has solved this problem with a unique technology that prevents the thermal transfer that causes these issues, keeping its campers dry and comfortable regardless of the temperature outside.

Total Composites four season capability was recently put to the test when it teamed up with Arctic Trucks to create a 6×6 expedition vehicle with massive, 44-inch tires for a trip through the Canadian Arctic to the magnetic North Pole. Traveling in temperatures below -36F and in extreme off-road conditions, the camper passed the ultimate test of insulation and durability. As a matter of fact, the expedition vehicle will soon be shipped to Antarctica for more exploration, making the Total Composites camper the first ever truck camper rig to reach both poles. Look for a feature article on this rig soon here at Truck Camper Adventure.

Although most travelers are unlikely to encounter such extreme weather conditions on their truck camper adventures, the materials and construction are the same in all Total Composite truck campers.

To purchase your own Total Composites truck camper, contact a Total Composites build partner to find the perfect match for your next truck camper adventure.

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Updated on: April 8, 2024 / 8:55 PM EDT / CBS News

Millions across America gathered on Monday and watched in awe as the moon covered the sun during a total solar eclipse . 

More than 31 million people live along the path of totality, and many more  flew or drove to witness the spectacle in person. The path of totality started over the Pacific Ocean before crossing parts of Mexico. It crossed into the U.S. in Texas and continued northeast across more than a dozen states before it passed into Canada. 

The next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous United States won't be until Aug. 23, 2044.

The longest duration of totality during Monday's eclipse was 4 minutes, 28 seconds, near Torreón, Mexico, according to NASA.

One of the first stops in the U.S. was Eagle Pass, Texas. The state was a major hot spot for eclipse viewers. Before the event, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, known as ERCOT, which provides solar service to 90% of the state, warned the eclipse would affect solar production in Texas between 12:10 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. CDT.

As the eclipse began, and the moon began to cover the sun, the sun had a crescent shape. Gradually, more and more of the sun is covered until the eclipse reaches totality. During totality, viewers in many places were able to see a corona, the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere.

Couples also exchanged vows during a mass eclipse wedding in Russellville, Arkansas. The event was called the Total Eclipse of the Heart festival. Hundreds of couples gathered for the special event.

People also took to the skies during the eclipse, boarding special flights along the path of totality. Delta offered flights from Austin to Detroit and a second route from Dallas to Detroit. Passengers were given specialized glasses so they could safely view the eclipse.

Southwest Airlines also offered eclipse flights, with glasses provided to passengers. 

Some viewers donned red, green and blue to see the eclipse. As the moon blocked out the light of the sun, it changed how people saw the colors, NPR reported. Colors with longer wavelengths looked darker while colors with shorter wavelengths had "a chance to shine."

Viewers also headed outside in big crowds to catch the eclipse outside the path of totality. Many watched in New York City, where there was a partial eclipse covering nearly 90% of the sun. 

Lawmakers also enjoyed the eclipse. U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer was spotted in eclipse glasses at the U.S. Capitol. Before the eclipse, the White House posted a short video of President Biden wearing his eclipse glasses and encouraging Americans to enjoy the view. "But don't be silly, folks — play it safe and wear protective eyewear," the message  said .

Viewers also enjoyed seeing the skies darken as the moon covered the sun in Canada. The eclipse passed through Canada before exiting continental North America off Newfoundland.

An eerie glow appeared as the moon blocked out the sun during totality, briefly plunging daylight into darkness.

Some were able to take in the view from stadiums. Players looked up ahead of the game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Fans also enjoyed the eclipse experience ahead of a game between the Miami Marlins and the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium, which was pushed back until after the eclipse .

The eclipse also caused traffic jams in some areas. 

Some people made sure their pets got in on the fun. Here, a dog looks at the view through eclipse glasses in New York City's Bryant Park.

The eclipse's path of totality stretched from Mexico, across 15 U.S. states and finally into Canada. The photo below shows the view from Magog, Quebec, Canada, as the 2024 eclipse neared its conclusion. 

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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These solar eclipse 2024 photos from our readers are absolutely amazing (images, video)

The total solar eclipse of April 8 is over, meaning we can now marvel at the incredible videos and images taken during the event.

On Monday, April 8, a total solar eclipse swept through the skies over North America, delighting and astounding millions of onlookers who had traveled from across the globe to take in this incredible event. And our own space readers got in on the act, too.

The sun was completely obscured by the moon across what is known as the "path of totality," which was approximately 115 miles (185 kilometers) wide and 10,000 miles long (16,000 kilometers).

 This 2024 total solar eclipse path crossed the four Mexican states of Sinaloa, Nayarit, Durango, and Coahuila before passing over 15 U.S. states, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. 

The path of totality then moved through Canada, with the total eclipse seen in seven Canadian Provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. 

Related: When is the next solar eclipse?

NASA estimated that 31.6 million people live in the totality path in the U.S. alone. With so many people on the path of the eclipse, and many more traveling to join them, it is unsurprising that there are a plethora of astounding images of the most striking astronomical event of 2024.

Space.com reader Rajat Kumar Pal captured an incredible composite image of the total solar eclipse from Stow, Vermont. 

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"In this image, a lot of things are going on: first, obviously the eclipse itself, second almost 40 % of cloud cover, making it difficult to get a clear picture of the solar disc as well as the corona. and other features; and third, a constant for fiddling around with the exposure as clouds interfering with the intensity of light from the eclipsed sun!" he wrote.  "Above all, it was an amazing experience to watch it with my wife, Sudakshina, who experienced this after a long time (her last eclipse experience was when she was a kid, and she forgot most of it).

"It was a beautiful and surreal experience, and experiencing it with my wife is something special!"

Totality awesome!

The first region to experience totality during the total solar eclipse was Mazatlan, Mexico, where the moon completely covered the sun at around 11:10 local time (14:10 EDT/18:10 GMT).

One region in the U.S. where the eclipse reached totality on April 8 was Indianapolis, Indiana. Onlookers who gathered at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway caught a glimpse of a flash of light as the last sunlight streamed past the moon just before the totality, a phenomenon also known as a " diamond ring ."

The total eclipse of the sun reveals aspects of the sun that are usually obscured. This includes layers of the sun's atmosphere. The corona , the outer solar atmosphere, and the chromosphere, the sun's inner atmosphere. 

This image was captured from Bloomington, Indiana, and shows a pink layer around the dark disk of the moon, which is the chromosphere .

Related: The solar eclipse is over! Here's what to do with your eclipse glasses

Not to be left out, the corona also made several special appearances during the total solar eclipse, unobscured by photons from the photosphere . This image captured from Russellville, Arkansas, on April 8, shows the corona as white "streamers" extending out from the dark lunar disk.

Space.com reader Silvia Lobo was also able to capture an incredible view of the corona, with hints of the chromosphere at the bottom of the lunar disk from Saranac Lake, New York. 

Space.com reader Jackman Maine caught an image of the totality over a rural landscape. 

The solar eclipse looks particularly fierce in a "miracle" image taken from Kimball Bend Park in Central Texas by Space.com reader Justin Maune. They said, "I just took this photo a few hours ago. I traveled 30 hours from So Cal to Texas to see this. 

"The clouds were looking terrible. Overcast. And then it cleared. Like a miracle, 10 minutes before totality, the sky was clear, and I was able to snap this pic."

Diamond rings and other eclipse things

Space.com reader Kim DeCew described the eclipse as "an incredible experience" and caught some incredible images from Hico, Texas, including the diamond ring picture below, to prove it. 

The diamond ring effect around the lunar disk wasn't the only diamond on display during the eclipse; some literal stones were also on show. The jubilation felt during this astronomical event was elevated in Tiffin, Ohio, during the "elope at the Eclipse" event when over 100 couples tied the knot during the totality. 

Congratulations to the couples wedded at the event, but if their wedding song wasn't "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Bonnie Tyler and Jim Steinman, it's a real missed opportunity!

A phenomenon associated with the diamond ring (the eclipse variety that is) are Bailey's Beads, droplets of light that represent sunlight streaming through the valleys, craters, mountains and rough terrain of the moon. 

Space.com reader Sudakshina Chakrabarty captured an impressive image of Bailey's Beads from Stowe, Vermont.

Outside the path of totality, skywatchers caught many fascinating images of the partial solar eclipse these regions experienced. One striking example was this image taken in New York. 

X user and Architectural Photographer Alex Farmer captured incredible time-lapse footage that showed the skies darkening over Cleveland, Ohio. 

When it all went dark for the 2024 total solar eclipse in Cleveland, Ohio. pic.twitter.com/l4w9ZZAy3c April 8, 2024

The solar eclipse brought out many amateur photographers taking images with nothing more than a cell phone, arguably demonstrating how advanced cell phone cameras have become.

On such eclipse watched was the son of x user leftbob, who caught some fantastic images with their phone. 

"I completely underestimated how cool it would be to see the eclipse in totality. The strange hue of color as it got darker, how cold it got, and the brilliance of the corona when it appeared," Leftbob wrote . "It was amazing. My son took these pics with his phone!"

I completely underestimated how cool it would be to see the eclipse in totality.The strange hue of colour as it got darker, how cold it got and the brilliance of the corona when it appeared. It was amazing. My son took these pics with his phone! pic.twitter.com/zilv04qlKD April 9, 2024

The eclipse from the air and beyond!

Answering the question " what does the eclipse look like from an airplane " passengers departed Dallas Fort Worth International Airport on the Delta Airlines flight from Dallas to Detroit glimpsing the eclipse through airplane windows. 

Rather than taking a location-based approach, the European Space Agency (ESA) went a little higher even, imaging the eclipse with its Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16). GOES-16 captured stunning timelapse footage of the shadow of the moon gliding over the surface of Earth, showing this event from a cosmic perspective. 

The ESA shared the footage on its ESA Earth Observation X feed writing: "Blink and you'll miss it... These images by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-16) captured the moon's shadow cast on Earth's surface moving across North America from 16:00 to 23:00 CEST."

Blink and you'll miss it 🌑☀️A total solar eclipse swept across North America yesterday, blocking out the Sun for a few moments.A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth and, for a short period, blocks the face of the Sun, save for a visible… pic.twitter.com/lNSCuT7jSC April 9, 2024

Also taking a more out-of-this-world approach to the total solar eclipse was the crew of the International Space Station (ISS). On its X feed , NASA shared video footage of the moon's shadow projected on Earth during the eclipse. 

Ever seen a total solar #eclipse from space?Here is our astronauts' view from the @Space_Station pic.twitter.com/2VrZ3Y1Fqz April 8, 2024

— Which places on Earth witness the most solar eclipses?

— How the supersonic Concorde jet broke the record for the longest total solar eclipse in history

— Historical incidents of viewing total eclipses near the edge of totality

If the above images have you eager to do your own spot of eclipse watching, the next solar eclipse is visible from Greenland, Iceland, the Atlantic Ocean, and Spain on Aug. 12, 2026.  

Eclipse chasers not keen on traveling outside North America, will have longer to wait. The next total solar eclipse will happen on March 30, 2033, and will be seen in Alaska. 

Following this, the U.S. states of Montana, South Dakota, and North Dakota, and areas of Canada will experience a total solar eclipse on Aug. 23, 2044 . Then just under 12 months later, on Aug. 12, 2045, a total solar eclipse will be visible over California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida in the U.S. as well as in the skies of the Caribbean and South America.  

Submit your story photos! If you capture a photo of the April 8 total solar eclipse or any of these strange effects and would like to share it with Space.com's readers, send photos, videos, comments, and your name, location and content usage permission release to [email protected].

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: [email protected].

Robert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter @sciencef1rst.

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