Eclipse

I am already making plans for the 2024 Total Eclipse!

The eclipse was fun! I was awed at how nearly everyone was excited even the total eclipse--even in areas where the eclipse was only partial--like Baltimore and Washington. 

It was the astronomic event of the year. Some called it the event of the century, but I think that was overstating the situation a bit.

August 21, 2017 Total Eclipse Path
over South Carolina

I reflected back on a couple of total eclipses that I experienced--I don't really recall the 1979 eclipse, but I do remember the 1972 eclipse. My family was driving towards Prince Edward Island as it happened. I recall briefly seeing the sun and moon coupled together through the clouds. If only we had left one or two days sooner we could have enjoyed totality in Canada. 

I discovered that NASA has an eclipse page! It is called Total Eclipse 2017. The next total eclipse to cross the united States occurs on April 8, 2024! Of course there are a few total eclipses between then and now, but they cross other, more distant parts of the world. Time and Date has a chart of the upcoming eclipses. 

I did wander outside and borrow some eclipse glasses to view the sun and moon together. It was inspiring, to say the least. Viewing the event on TV actually made me want to travel to totality during the next U.S. eclipse, which will include such close cities as Buffalo and Syracuse. There is a map of the path with animation at Time and Date.  

It was clear from the continuous news reporting yesterday that the eclipse was renewing our interest in space and forces that we cannot control. It was fun to watch the reactions of the crowds across America as totality happened. 

I'm planning on being there, next time.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD