Dallas, TX
An eclipse victory: What it was like at Love Field in Dallas | Astronomy.com
Astronomy Magazine Contributing Editor Martin Ratcliffe captured the chromosphere and prominences during totality Credit: Martin Ratfliffe.
Weather is a one-day event. For all of the analysis of trends, of where clouds or Sun will mark the landscape, anything can happen on any given day. In Texas, the weather prospects for the Great American Eclipse looked bleak. For days, the idea that storms would plague the region of Dallas, or at least thick clouds, seemed a sure thing. And then came eclipse day.
My journey this year was centered on Love Airport, a historic locality known in recent years for the landing site for John Kennedy’s ill-fated 1963 trip to Dallas. Being a history guy, I spent the remainder of my travel day visiting the sites associated with that dark day in November, more than 60 years ago, when the course of the nation suddenly and shockingly changed.
The airport is still very active (we had planes taking off during totality!), and hosts a fantastic collection of aircraft and flight-related artifacts in the wonderful Frontiers of Flight Museum. Our hosts there, led by Abigail Erickson-Torres and facilitated by the energetic Rosalie Wade, assembled a wonderful day that invited some 2,500 members of the public into the grounds to view the eclipse.
The Editor of Astronomy Magazine was not alone, however. We partnered with our good friends at Celestron, and their staff turned out in force, with many people and several telescopes on the ground. The telescopic feed we relied on for potential TV use came from one of the Celestron scopes. Our good pals Corey Lee, Kevin Kawai, Ben Hauck, Stephanie Schroeter, and others were on hand. And that wasn’t all: Partners from The Weather Channel were also there, broadcasting live, with the great meteorologist Alex Wilson taking the lead on camera and a big team led by producer Mike Jenkins coordinating the whole process. I had a wonderful time spending parts of the day on camera with Alex, narrating our experience dodging clouds and seeing the alignment of worlds come together.
But as I said, when I drove to Love Field at 5 a.m. on eclipse day, it looked like a washout. Although I’m a galaxy guy, really most interested in deep-sky objects, as Editor of the brand you get to see lots of events. I had experienced a dozen total eclipses before this one, two of them underneath a solid blanket of clouds. Believe me, that’s not a good way to see an eclipse.
We got an early start on camera. It was an extreme pleasure working with Alex Wilson. She is such a smooth pro that it was effortless to talk about the science, the observations, the meaning of it all as we looked skyward and hoped for the alignment of worlds. As dawn broke, the sky was still sketchy and the forecast far less than great. I recall the network proclaiming that Maine seemed the best place as far as clear skies went. Mexico seemed troubled too. As we looked to the south, past Parkland Hospital on the horizon, walls of clouds seemed to be destined to move our way as the morning continued.
I spent the waning moments of pre-eclipse time in the museum auditorium with a packed house, delivering a lecture on everything everyone needed to know to view and image the eclipse. When I walked out into the field again at noon, with first contact approaching, the situation had changed. Clouds were less dense, and hope appeared. Amazingly enough, as we awaited first contact, we had significant holes and could get a good view of the Sun, some 60° high in the sky. We would see the start of things, at least.
As always happens, people screeched out in joy as the first little bite out of the Sun’s disk became visible. Although we’ve known about solar system motions precisely since the days of Johannes Kepler, it always seems a bit like magic to many people when we count down by the second and an eclipse starts. And then, even with thick clouds visible way down to the south, we had a long, vertical corridor of clear sky that seemed to favor us as totality approached.
It dawned on us that we were going to defy the odds and see this thing. Excitedly, Alex Wilson and I narrated much of what was happening on The Weather Channel, off and on. The rapid darkening of the sky during the final moments before totality always amazes, and we had a rapid cooling of air too. The diamond ring! Glasses off! We had totality and it looked spectacular!
Our Love Field site experienced 3 minutes 51 seconds of totality, and we saw the whole thing perfectly. The corona seemed large, flower-like, and with some pretty good brushes and rays, too, expected from the current cycle of solar activity. We had some nice prominences too, especially one at bottom right (as we faced south), that was incredibly bright near the end of totality. Venus popped out immediately and Jupiter too, after a bit of cloud passed it, and we did not expect to see Comet Pons-Brooks, nor waste time with binoculars searching for it. The chromosphere seemed bright around the Moon’s rim but lacked the color we saw in 2017. It was a beautiful eclipse, however, and we felt very lucky to have seen it so well.
It’s always struck me as funny that as soon as totality ends, the interest in the rest of the eclipse, for the next hour plus, kinda fades away. But alas, everyone was elated, celebrating a great view, and the party started. We had a very happy airport full of people, on a natural high from the experience, and already talking about other eclipse adventures — Iceland, Spain, and yes, the most amazing one to come, Egypt.
I hope that you also experienced a great eclipse. There’s nothing that quite equals seeing the worlds align, and remember that the Moon is inching away from us a little bit every year. We have only 600 million more years to catch total eclipses, and then they will be a thing of the past.
David J. Eicher is Editor of Astronomy, author of 26 books on science and history, and a board member of the Starmus Festival and of Lowell Observatory.
Restaurants across Dallas-Fort Worth are doubling down on their patriotism for the Fourth of July and America’s 250th birthday, firing up limited-time deals and celebratory menus that range from elevated, reservation-only experiences and skyline dinners to casual fast-food specials, family meal packs, and grab-and-go treats designed for star-spangled celebrations. Special props to those that have found a way to work in “1776” and “250.”
Here are the DFW spots offering patriotic specials and deals. (Note: This list will grow as more are announced closer to the holiday.) For a list of top 4th of July events and fireworks, go here.
Black Sheep Coffee is celebrating America’s birthday over Fourth of July weekend with $4 matcha drinks from July 3-5. The special is good for small Iced Vanilla Matcha, Iced Blueberry Matcha, and Iced Strawberry & Cream Matcha drinks, with a $1 upgrade to a 16-ounce medium. The offer is available in-store and through the app at all four DFW locations.
Cantina Laredo is bringing back its patriotic USA ‘Rita for the Fourth of July weekend. Available July 3-5 at the Addison and Frisco locations, the festive frozen cocktail puts a red, white, and blue spin on the restaurant’s signature Casa ‘Rita with layers of Blue Curaçao and strawberry purée.
USA ‘Rita at Cantina LaredoPhoto courtesy of Cantina Laredo
El Chico is spicing up Independence Day weekend with Family Meal Packs available July 4-5 at its Rockwall location only (503 Interstate 30, Rockwall). Options include Family Fajitas ($73.99) with chicken, steak, or both; Family Tacos ($47.99) with 12 tacos and sides of rice and refried beans; and Family Enchiladas ($49.99) with a choice of beef, cheese, spinach, or chicken enchiladas, all serving six to eight people.
Ford’s Garage, the Plano burger and craft beer restaurant inspired by the heritage of the Ford Motor Company, is celebrating America’s 250th with a patriotic meal deal available July 1-4: an American Standard Burger, fries, and select draft beers or a soft drink for for $17.76, in tribute to the nation’s founding in 1776.
HTeaO tea shops are celebrating the Fourth of July with a pair of patriotic summer specials. Through Labor Day, the tea chain is serving a limited-time Blue Razzler Energy Refresher topped with vanilla cold foam and red, white, and blue sprinkles in a commemorative America’s 250th cup. From July 1-4, participating locations will also offer three gallons of freshly brewed tea for $17.76, a nod to the year the United States declared its independence.
JD’s Chippery is celebrating Independence Day with festive Fireworks Cookie Cakes, available in a variety of sizes and cookie flavors with hand-decorated patriotic designs. The bakery’s Preston Royal location is also hosting a daily Cookie Happy Hour through July 31 from 5-7 pm, featuring a buy-one, get-one-free cookie deal.
JW Steakhouse at the JW Marriott Dallas is marking Independence Day with a four-course dinner for two on July 4. Priced at $195 per couple, the menu includes buffalo bison cigars and shrimp ceviche tostadas, a toasted farro salad with Fredericksburg peaches, a pepper-crusted tomahawk steak with charred cipollini onions and black garlic truffle purée, and chipotle chocolate cake with Garrison Brothers bourbon cherry sauce. Optional wine pairings are available for an additional charge.
Kessaku will offer a Fourth of July experience with limited window seating atop The National in downtown Dallas. Guests can reserve exclusive window tables with a $250 deposit, securing panoramic skyline and fireworks views from one of Dallas’ highest dining destinations.
Luckys Diner on Oak Lawn Avenue is celebrating Independence Day with a Stars, Strips & Sausage special available July 1-4. The $10.49 meal includes a grilled sausage plate with potato salad and pinto beans, with the option to add a slice of apple pie.
Monarch is marking Independence Day with Stars, Stripes & Skyline, a Fourth of July celebration atop The National on July 4. The experience features a prix-fixe dinner priced at $150 per person (with a $55 children’s menu), served from 5:30-10 pm, along with optional window seating for fireworks views. The menu will include dishes such as wagyu filet, wood-grilled branzino, hamachi crudo, hearth-grilled lamb ribs, and a shared s’mores dessert. Monarch is also offering a limited-time gift card promotion over the July 4 weekend: purchase a $250 gift card and receive a $50 bonus card for a future visit, available July 4-5.
Nothing Bundt Cakes is celebrating America’s 250th birthday with a lineup of festive cakes and patriotic-themed desserts. Seasonal offerings include a patriotic decorated cake, Fireworks and Freedom Bundtini toppers, and the return of S’mores Made With Hershey’s through July 19, featuring chocolate cake with milk chocolate chips, marshmallows, and graham streusel. From July 3-5, Bundtastic Rewards members can earn 250 bonus points on any purchase as part of the holiday promotion.
Nothing Bundt Cakes are getting patriotic for the 4th.Photo courtesy of Nothing Bundt Cakes
Sonic is celebrating America’s 250th with a limited-time America $2.50 Menu available through July 12. Participating locations are offering fan favorites for $2.50 each, including the returning Red, White & Blue Slush Float, Jr. Double Cheeseburger, All-American Hot Dog, and medium onion rings. The chain is also serving drinks in limited-edition commemorative cups.
The Statler in downtown Dallasis celebrating Independence Day and America’s 250th birthday on July 4 with all-day dining, drink specials, and rooftop festivities across its venues, including Overeasy, Scout, and Waterproof. Overeasy is offering breakfast specials like BBQ Brisket Benedict, Red, White & Blue Pancakes, and Firecracker Omelets from 7 am-2 pm. Later in the day, Scout and Waterproof will serve classic American fare such as burgers, ribs, and smoked sausage alongside themed cocktails like Uncle Sam’s Punch, Star Spangled Spritz, and The Patriot. The celebration culminates at Waterproof with a rooftop pool and fireworks watch party from 7 pm-1 am, featuring a $35 cover charge, live entertainment, and patriotic frozen treats and cocktails.
Editor’s note: See World Cup standings and scenarios updated in real time
The Socceroos live on at the 2026 World Cup.
Australia and Paraguay played to a 0-0 draw on Thursday night, which was good enough for Australia to secure second place in Group D and advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. Paraguay is likely to advance as a high-ranking third place team, but nothing is confirmed at the moment.
SHOP: Australia round of 32 World Cup tickets
Australia will head to Dallas where they will play their first elimination match on Friday, July 3 against the second-place team from Group G.
While we don’t yet know Australia’s opponent, we know the location, date and time of the match, which means tickets are already available. Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Australia World Cup tickets in Dallas.
Shop Australia Round of 32 tickets
Australia round of 32 World Cup tickets
As of publication, the cheapest round of 32 ticket to see Australia in Dallas on Friday, July 3 is $937. Any ticket for less than $1,000 at this point in the tournament is a steal considering most other prices.
Australia Round of 32 opponent
As the runner-up of Group D, Australia will take on the second-place finisher from Group G. Australia’s opponent will be finalized on Friday, but given the current standings it could be any of the following four teams:
- Egypt
- Iran
- Belgium
- New Zealand
Shop Australia Round of 32 tickets
Australia World Cup schedule
- Australia vs. Turkey – WIN 2-0
- Australia vs. United States – LOSS 2-0
- Australia vs. Paraguay – DRAW 1-1
- Friday, July 3 – Australia vs. Group G runner up at AT&T Stadium in Dallas (round of 32) – Shop tickets
World Cup Group D Standings
Shop Australia World Cup tickets
Editor’s note: See World Cup standings and scenarios updated in real time
Ivory Coast is headed to the knockout round at the 2026 World Cup.
With everything on the line Thursday afternoon, the Ivory Coast played perhaps its best match of the tournament so far to lock down second place in Group E and advance to the knockout stage of the tournament. Ivory Coast will head to Dallas where they will play their first elimination match on Tuesday, June 30 against the second-place team from Group I.
SHOP: Ivory Coast round of 32 World Cup tickets in Dallas
While we don’t yet know Ivory Coast’s opponent, we do know that it will either be France or Norway, meaning either way the African squad will have to defend against one of the best goal scorers in the world.
Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Ivory Coast World Cup tickets in Dallas.
Shop Ivory Coast Round of 32 tickets
Ivory Coast round of 32 World Cup tickets
As of publication, the cheapest round of 32 ticket to see Ivory Coast in Dallas on Tuesday, June 30 is $895, making this one of the cheapest tickets for the round of 32.
PRODUCT CARD
Ivory Coast Round of 32 opponent
As the runner-up of Group E, Ivory Coast will take on the second-place finisher from Group I. Ivory Coast’s opponent will be finalized on Friday, but given the current standings it will be either France or Norway.
Shop Ivory Coast Round of 32 tickets
Ivory Coast World Cup schedule
- Sunday, June 14 – Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador – WIN 1-0
- Saturday, June 20 – Ivory Coast vs. Germany – LOSS 2-1
- Thursday, June 25 – Ivory Coast vs. Curacao – WIN 2-0
- Tuesday, June 30 (Round of 32) – Ivory Coast vs. Group I runner up at AT&T Stadium in Dallas – Shop tickets
World Cup Group E standings
Shop Ivory Coast World Cup tickets
-
Indianapolis, IN2 minutes agoMan’s body found in White River in downtown Indianapolis
-
Pittsburg, PA5 minutes agoSouth Side Street Fest adds more metal detectors and ID scanner to speed up lines
-
Augusta, GA10 minutes agoAugusta Pride celebration moves to fairgrounds amid Broad Street construction
-
Washington, D.C17 minutes agoStates show their stuff: The Great American State Fair opens in D.C.
-
Cleveland, OH20 minutes agoColt Emerson Leads Mariners Past Guardians In Return to Ohio – WHIZ – Fox 5 / Marquee Broadcasting
-
Austin, TX24 minutes agoPaxton says Austin energy code breaks state law
-
Alabama32 minutes ago2019 Alabama Prison Escapee Now Facing Florida Charges For Walnut Hill Machete Carjacking : NorthEscambia.com
-
Alaska35 minutes agoMan with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska’s primary ballot, judge rules – WTOP News
