Today’s eclipse
Map by Michael Zeiler (GreatAmericanEclipse.com). Click for original.
Today a solar eclipse will cross some of the most populated areas of Mexixo, the United States, and Canada, as shown on the map to the right.
We shall not see such an event in North America again until 2046, and that will only cover a small part of the Pacific northwest. If you have never seen such an event, get your eclipse glasses (essential if you don’t want to go blind), take some time off of work, and go see it today. This link from Sky & Telescope covers about everything you need to know.
The experience is very hard to describe, though I tried when Diane and I traveled to South Bend, Idaho, in 2017 to experience that eclipse. As I wrote,
Totality was amazing. I was amazed by two things. First, how quiet it became. There were about hundred people scattered about the hotel lawn, with dogs and kids playing around. The hotel manager’s husband set up speakers for music and to make announcements, but when totality arrived he played nothing. People stopped talking. A hush fell over everything. Moreover, I think we somehow imagine a subconscious roar from the full sun. Covered as it was, with its soft corona gleaming gently around it, it suddenly seemed still.
Secondly, the amazing unlikeliness of the Moon being at just the right distance and size to periodically cause this event seemed almost miraculous. Watching it happen drove this point home to me. And since eclipses themselves have been a critical event in the intellectual development of humanity, helping to drive learning and our understanding of the universe, it truly makes me wonder at the majesty of it. I do not believe in any particular religion or their rituals (though I consider the Bible, the Old Testament especially, to be a very good manual for creating a good life and society), but I do not deny the existence of a higher power. Something made this place, and set it up in this wonderous way. Today’s eclipse only served to demonstrate this fact to me again.
I am sure your impressions will be unique to you.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Map by Michael Zeiler (GreatAmericanEclipse.com). Click for original.
Today a solar eclipse will cross some of the most populated areas of Mexixo, the United States, and Canada, as shown on the map to the right.
We shall not see such an event in North America again until 2046, and that will only cover a small part of the Pacific northwest. If you have never seen such an event, get your eclipse glasses (essential if you don’t want to go blind), take some time off of work, and go see it today. This link from Sky & Telescope covers about everything you need to know.
The experience is very hard to describe, though I tried when Diane and I traveled to South Bend, Idaho, in 2017 to experience that eclipse. As I wrote,
Totality was amazing. I was amazed by two things. First, how quiet it became. There were about hundred people scattered about the hotel lawn, with dogs and kids playing around. The hotel manager’s husband set up speakers for music and to make announcements, but when totality arrived he played nothing. People stopped talking. A hush fell over everything. Moreover, I think we somehow imagine a subconscious roar from the full sun. Covered as it was, with its soft corona gleaming gently around it, it suddenly seemed still.
Secondly, the amazing unlikeliness of the Moon being at just the right distance and size to periodically cause this event seemed almost miraculous. Watching it happen drove this point home to me. And since eclipses themselves have been a critical event in the intellectual development of humanity, helping to drive learning and our understanding of the universe, it truly makes me wonder at the majesty of it. I do not believe in any particular religion or their rituals (though I consider the Bible, the Old Testament especially, to be a very good manual for creating a good life and society), but I do not deny the existence of a higher power. Something made this place, and set it up in this wonderous way. Today’s eclipse only served to demonstrate this fact to me again.
I am sure your impressions will be unique to you.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
Picture of Melania, President Trump and Barron watching the August 21, 2017 eclipse.
(What some consider the unofficial Space Force logo)
https://t.ly/BFNwV
It was raining here.
Phooey.
So close to total here that I could look at it with just sun glasses at its darkest.
Since I proposed to my wife during the last total eclipse in 2017, we could not miss this event. We rented a house in western NY and waited. The clouds were heavy and I figured that this would be a lost cause with only the darkness to enjoy. Instead the skies cleared at just the right moments to get good views as the moon slowly traversed the Sun’s face. We got a lightly hazy view of totality. The moment is just hard to describe. It is otherworldly. If you have not seen totality, I highly recommend experiencing one. It is worth it.
After seeing this eclipse, I have an idea for a ring for my wife that I hope to have made one day.
I remember during that partial 2017 eclipse how it got surprisingly cooler, temperate wise, when it was at its max.
Joe, I was fortunate in that the 2017 event occurred right outside the house. The shadows on the trees and ground showed the event as it occurred, which I thought was pretty cool. I was surprised at how dark it did get, like late Summer twilight, and how quiet everything was. Well, except for the folks banging drums and blowing horns to scare away the dragon. It worked! I remember that immediately after totality, the only thing I wanted was to see another eclipse! Didn’t get to see this one, but there will be others. Even if I don’t see another one, the one was a lifetime memory.
Joe–
Good deal on the proposal thing’! Great story!
I’ll drop this in here:
July 11, 1991 Solar Eclipse
Baja Peninsula, Mexico
https://archive.org/details/july-11-1991-solar-eclipse
Actually, there is a North American eclipse – in 2044, in Canada and MT and the Dakotas.
The very next year, on August 12, is a long eclipse crossing the country from coast to coast – the exeligmos to the great July 11, 1991 eclipse. The August 12, 2045 eclipse will be the longest the country has ever seen.
Learned a new word today – thanks Catch Thirty-Thr33!
I travelled to South Central Indiana to catch it. Near Edinburgh, IN.
It was fun, and away from the crowds. Only a few people, all very respectful of others. I confess to completely “geeking out” when I spotted the prominences visible around the edges.
Not sure if this link will work.
https://imgur.com/a/efEVQxp
I was lucky enough to be in totality for 2017 and today. It’s very hard to describe the entirety of the experience to people who’ve just seen a partial. It’s cliche but photos don’t do it justice, and there are no words. I feel very blessed to have seen both.
sippin bourbon-
Picture shows up fine! Very nice.
Wayne,
Thanks! Quite an amateur offering, but really it was more fun than anything.
Einstein, Eddington and the 1919 eclipse, a good review of 3 books on the subject.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01172-z
The better 1/2 and I saw the 2017 event on a beautifully clear day in McClellanville, South Carolina. We managed to get the entire family gathered in Sandusky, Ohio for Monday’s event. Clouds started rolling in around noon, but we lucked out and caught the totality through a timely gap. A very good day for this old rascal.
Tom
Have a laugh (But it isn’t funny): https://youtu.be/hQLzROlGqU0?si=aWiZqLRixrK2HAuZ
And here is some more foolishness from someone who sees themselves as a community leader in the Black world. A world that is apparently very different then your and my reality.
https://www.sigma3ioc.com/post/pyramids-and-face-on-mars
Why does anyone take these people seriously about anything that they have to say?
Because they are required to.