Beholding the Marvel of the Heavens

There's no doubt that the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017, was one of the most hyped events in the news, especially in more recent weeks, when I started to catch wind of how big a deal it was.

I had heard about it months ago, mostly in newspaper features, like the Travel section, but didn't give it much thought, even as others were making plans way ahead of time.  But then, I encountered a webpage with FAQ's about the solar eclipse, and while I'm not entirely sure what led me to that page, it might have had something to do with my friend Roy mentioning he would be attending a viewing event with his boss, since he lives near where the path of totality started at the Pacific shore and started moving across the United States.  I realized at that time that this eclipse was truly something spectacular, and not just a matter of overblown hype, and I felt bummed that I made no plans to be in the path of totality for it.

The lack of planning on my part became even more problematic for me as August 21 neared, and because I dragged my feet, I was unable to acquire the special viewing glasses so I could at least view the partial eclipse, and I couldn't figure out how to use one of those homemade viewers.

But I tried to make the best of my circumstances anyway, especially considering the Chicago area was close enough to the path of totality that about 87% of the sun would be covered.

On this past Monday, I was in downtown Chicago at the office where I recently started a new job in information science.  Shortly after 1 PM, I decided to take my hourlong lunch break.  The office administrative assistant had spent the morning making homemade viewers, and around the time I started my lunch break, he was setting up the live NASA TV feed in the large conference room.  I went in there, and with the help of a couple of others, I managed to figure out how to project the partially-eclipsed Sun into the viewer, and it was quite interesting to see a little crescent of light.

I then decided to head outside just before the peak of the partial eclipse aroudn 1:19 PM CDT, and joined the flocks of other people assembling on the sidewalk and looking up.  I asked a woman what she could see, and then, after responding to my question, she was kind enough to loan me her viewers for a moment so I could look at the Sun.  And it was quite something to see the moon blocking the Sun and leaving a crescent.  It was cloudy, which prevented me from noticing a distinct change in the amount of sunlight, but the clouds were thin enough to allow me to see the partial eclipse when using the viewers.

Here's a photo I got of the eclipse.  I can sense from looking at the photo that part of the Sun is blocked, but it's hard to say if that's due to cloud cover.  I took all the photos that appear in this blog post.

Here is a scene of the flock of people gathered outside the building where my office is located, at 155 N. Wacker, to view the peak of the eclipse.

Here's another view from downtown Chicago of the sun around the peak of the eclipse, with the Sears Tower appearing toward the background.

I then walked over to Daley Plaza where I heard Adler Planetarium staff were stationed.  I passed flocks of others standing out on the sidewalks and looking up, though it wasn't too crowded wherever I went--unlike at Millenium Park, where a neighbor of mine went and said was packed.  (A viewing event at Scoville Park drew a huge crowd as well, and because the Main Oak Park Public Library is right next door, it was busier than usual, as statistics gathered that day confirm.  But what a great way to bring visibility to the library, even if it resulted in a large number of calls from people wanting to get solar eclipse viewers.)

As I walked around in the Loop, I couldn't help but think about how flora and fauna are supposed to engage in their nighttime behavior when a total solar eclipse happens.  But in an urban area, the real sign of something happening was seeing people head outside and look up, just like clockwork, at the peak moment of the partial eclipse.

I arrived at Daley Plaza, where many others were gathered and looking up.

Above and below are views from Daley Plaza.  Again, I'm not sure if the cloud cover has something to do with why the Sun appears partially obscured.

Then, I noticed it was getting brighter, and I asked a man looking up with viewers if he noticed the moon starting to move away from the Sun.  He then was kind enough to let me use his viewers.  It was quite a beautiful sight to see the partially-eclipsed Sun, though more of the Sun was uncovered than when I looked at it earlier.  Shortly after this moment, people started to disperse, but many still lingered at Daley Plaza, even to pose for photos by giant solar eclipse viewers, which are in the photo below.

Later that day, I watched NOVA "Eclipse over America" on PBS, which included footage of the total solar eclipse from various places in the United States that had viewing events and where scientists were doing scientific work of observations and research.  I was fascinated to learn what they could study about the sun during a total solar eclipse, especially the team that flew two different airplanes in its path to get nearly 7 minutes of viewing it.  Amazingly, there's much we don't know about the Sun, like why it's hotter at the surface than further inside.  And there have been studies done on the sun in solar eclipses going back decades, like the man who reflected the light through a prism and was able to get a sense of what elements the Sun contains.  It was also nice to watch the program and have experts points out features of the total solar eclipse, like the "diamond ring" that appears once the Moon starts uncovering theSsun.  I also gained a good sense of what happens during the period of totality, and see the darkness that occurs.

I was intrigued to see footage of people watching it at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, as well as what looked to me like Willamette University, just across the street from the Oregon State Capitol, two places I went back in May when visiting Roy.

The concluding part of the program really highlighted how extraordinary of an event a total solar eclipse is.  That was certainly amplified by how well the media covered it, like NASA TV as well as social media, which even Cardinal Cupich used to share a message about the eclipse.  This particular event on August 21 was special in that it crossed the United States from Pacific to Atlantic, the reverse of the poetic "Sea to Shining Sea" that speaks of the breadth of this country.  I could sense a bond that millions of people across the country experienced by sharing this great experience that gives us a sense of our place on Earth and our relationship with other celestial bodies, like the Sun and the Moon, and how important the role of the Sun is in our existence on Earth.  Indeed, it brought people together as we paused to see the show nature put on for us and marvel at the wonders of our Universe.  I couldn't help but think of the camaraderie that arose spontaneously, as evidenced for me in how people were kind enough to let me use their viewers so I could view it safely--I am indeed very appreciative of those two individuals.  (And it was also nice that as I walked back to my office, I encountered a classmate of mine from Valparaiso University as she was headed back to her office in the Loop.)

My experience on Monday gave me a better sense of what to expect and how to plan for it.  And so now, I'm ready to channel my eagerness into making all the appropriate arrangements to be in the path of totality for a subsequent solar eclipse.

But even now, day by day, I can appreciate the wonders of nature.  Later that night after I got home, I saw the brightness of lightning flashes as a thunderstorm rolled by.

And when I got off the Blue Line, the clouds started to break and revealed a lovely sunset.

And then I noticed a halo around the Sun, which you can see in the photo below, if you look at the small rainbow-like glimmer of light that is to the far right.

Yes, there are so many chances we have to glory in natural spectacles all around as we take the time to stop and appreciate them.  Then we can join in praise to God, like in the spirit of Psalm 19:1 NIV: "The Heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands."

The view of the Sun appearing over the top of the First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple, and its Sky Chapel, in the Loop, shortly after the peak of eclipse