- Amanda Omoigui
- Apr 8, 2024
It’s been six years since a total solar eclipse in the United States. Today, we had the chance to enjoy an eclipse across the nation. But why are eclipses so popularly recognized? According to the definition given by Nasa, “a solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth that either fully or partially blocks the Sun’s light in some areas.”
And in many cultures and geographical locations, the overlap between the Moon and the Sun is momentous. The eclipse shown today was an example of rare beauty in our natural world. Eclipses, for many, are a thing of awe and a thing of joy. As perfectly described by NASA programmer Ernie Right, by looking at the eclipse through glasses, “you suddenly feel as though you can see the clockwork of the solar system.”
An anonymous commenter described the feeling of the eclipse as “the shadows cast by the eclipse made my world feel like a fever dream…It was something really different.” Through the eclipse, everything looks so much sharper and surreal.
After experiencing the eclipse, middle school student Arya D. described thinking about future plans. “Knowing that another one won't happen for another twenty years has made me savor this solar eclipse. My life will be completely different in the future when the next solar eclipse happens.”
The rarity and nature of the eclipse, as well as the time between the events, makes the experience even more surreal. Between now and the next solar eclipse, anything could change. According to an article by CNN as well as various other news sources, the next total solar eclipse will not be occurring till August 28th, 2044, and for most, till 2045.
As Virginia Tech astrophysicist Nahum Arav described to CBS News, “A total solar eclipse is one of the most spectacular things anyone can see in their lifetime.” But what would be even more spectacular is to see progress and growth over the next twenty years.
Today, after observing something that will soon become a faint memory, it’s necessary to set goals in place for the next eclipse. Our world will be changing and growing. As a society, we will celebrate wins and mourn our losses. But from a more personal aspect, where do you wish to see yourself in twenty years? What do you wish to accomplish?
