The eclipse of a lifetime
As I write this, I’m preparing for an adventure. I’ll soon be headed to Santiago, Chile, and then on to Antarctica for the Dec. 4, 2021, total solar eclipse. I’ll be proud to report on the activities of Astronomy magazine’s tour group in an upcoming issue. We’ll catch 44 seconds of the Moon blocking the Sun in one of the most exotic locales on the planet.
I’ve been fortunate to see quite a few solar eclipses, even though my first love has always been deep-sky objects — clusters, nebulae, and galaxies. Nonetheless, solar eclipses bring something very special. When the inevitable approach of the Moon to the Sun’s disk blocks out daylight, the situation becomes almost spiritual. Seeing the geometry of the solar system align so precisely, right on cue, gives rise to emotions in many first-time viewers. I’ve seen people cry, dumbfounded, in the eclipse path.
An even bigger event is coming to the United States in 2024. The total eclipse two years from now will swing northeastward from Mexico through Texas, the Ohio Valley, and up the Eastern Seaboard. In its path live more people than have ever witnessed a single eclipse before. This event will no doubt be the most-viewed eclipse in history — that is, unless the whole United States is clouded out. (Shame on me for even bringing that up!)
Michael E. Bakich’s story “First look at the 2024 total solar eclipse” (page 24) provides all you’ll need to know to plan for this majestic event. Michael is an experienced and keen eclipse-chaser, and an authority on the subject. The practical advice, maps, predictions, and how-to observing tips in this story will set you up well for viewing a grand event that you will absolutely not want to miss. Not even a deep-sky guy wants to do that.
Get ready soon. It’s never too early to plan for a spell in the shadow of darkness.
Yours truly,
David J. Eicher Editor