It’s a show that always gets rave reviews: Spectacular, gut- wrenching. Nobody who’s seen a total solar eclipse wants a refund. And that’s not surprising. Having been eclipse astronomer for three expeditions into the moon’s shadow, I’ve firmly joined the ranks of the addicted. Pack the bags, take the second job, put an extra mortgage on the house--whatever it takes to position yourself precisely beneath the moon and sun.
It isn’t easy. The shadow of our nearest celestial neighbor barely reaches Earth. Most people find themselves outside the narrow black umbra where noon turns into the twilight zone. Instead they gaze upward from within the much wider band that sees a partial eclipse, the kind that will occur in Florida on April 29. But partial eclipses are like partial vacations; they’re not really satisfying. You can’t even look at them without eye protection, like number 14 welder’s goggles. No, it’s ...
