WINDSDAY WONDERS
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell
(@RHCLambengolmo)
Editorial Associate: S. A. Sonnenschein
Vol. 3, No. 26: April 24, 2024
Celebrating National Poetry Month
Episode 4: The Sky’s the Limit!
Introduction
By Skylar
Sonnenschein, Editorial Associate
This week, we turn
our attention to the celestial bodies and their movements across our night sky.
The moon waxes and wanes through different phases each month, but always shines
bright and glorious in the sky. The sun's light brings heat and energy to our
planet, providing the vital nourishment we need to survive. And as for the
stars, they shine with their own unique brilliance, each displaying their own
unique colors, patterns, and beauty when the skies are clear and dark. They can
be a source of wonder and inspiration for us all.
“Darkness in the Daytime:
The Great American Eclipse of 2024”
By Valerie Parmandil & Carolyn McNealy, Staff
Writers
For centuries,
people have marveled at the beauty and majesty of the celestial sky. One of the
most remarkable and enchanting phenomena in the sky is the total eclipse of the
sun. This phenomenon occurs when the moon completely covers the disc of the sun,
resulting in a temporary, total darkness of daylight. Totality is an incredible
sight to behold and a rare and wondrous experience.
A total solar
eclipse can occur anywhere on Earth, but totalities occur infrequently in any
particular location. Because the shadow of the moon is narrow, total eclipses
are only visible in a small area at any one time. The path of a total solar
eclipse is the portion of the earth’s surface that is eclipsed by the shadow of
the moon during the event. The path of totality for a total eclipse varies in
width, typically between 16 to 75 miles wide.
The most recent
total solar eclipse to be visible from the United States occurred on April 8,
2024. The duration of the totality was about four minutes, and the path of
totality spanned over 4,000 miles, from Texas to Maine, along the narrow path,
and stretched across ten states. It was the longest total eclipse to pass
though the country in 100 years and was the first solar eclipse to travel
through the continental U.S. since 2017.
Total solar
eclipses are special events because they combine the awe-inspiring majesty of
the sun and the wonders and beauty of the moon. During a total solar eclipse,
the sun becomes a halo, allowing for an unobstructed view of the moon, whose darkened
surface can be seen by the naked eye. Unlike other astronomical occurrences,
total eclipses are safe to observe with the naked eye only during totality,
when the moon covers the sun completely. Please do not attempt to look at the
sun without protecting your eyes before totality!
Total solar
eclipses are fascinating astronomical phenomena that have held a sense of
wonder and mystery for people throughout history. The experience of totality
can often be a spiritual and enlightening experience, with many people
experiencing emotions of excitement, joy, awe, and wonder while viewing the
eclipse. The total solar eclipse that crossed the United States on April 8
undoubtedly caused an outpouring of emotion as people marveled at the
once–in–a–lifetime celestial event.
It was a
fascinating experience to witness the totality of the 2024 total solar eclipse.
The best location to experience a complete darkness is in the path of totality,
where the sun will become fully covered by the moon for around 4 minutes. The
first contact between the moon and the sun begins where the moon only begins to
block out a slice of the sun. This part of the event is known as
"annularity" because the circle of the sun, or "annulus,"
is not fully obscured by the shadow of the moon.
After a certain
period of time, the moon will continue to pass in front of the sun, until the
entire disc of the sun is eclipsed by the moon. This part of the event is known
as "totality." The total eclipse begins when the sun is entirely
engulfed by the moon's shadow during this phase of the event, and it ends when
the sun begins to reappear as the moon moves away during the
"egress."
The total solar
eclipse is a unique celestial phenomenon, but it's not the only kind of
eclipse. An eclipse of any kind indicates when the moon passes directly between
the earth and the sun and blocks out the sun's light. The three types of
eclipses are total solar eclipses, partial solar eclipses, and solar annular
eclipses.
An eclipse of any
type is a unique solar eclipse in which the moon casts a shadow on the earth,
with varying degrees of coverage depending on the type of eclipse. Eclipse
viewing can often inspire awe and fascination in people, particularly for
totality. The unique experience of seeing the sun being eclipsed by the moon is
a rare occurrence and a once-in-a-lifetime sight. Totality occurs when the sun
is completely eclipsed and the moon’s shadow completely covers the sun,
creating a temporary darkness of daylight.
The April 8 total
solar eclipse passed through the central and eastern regions of the United
States. This total eclipse was nearly 40% larger and lasted slightly longer
than the 2017 eclipse, which crossed through North America from West to East
Coast. This path covered more area, with a higher probability to view the total
eclipse in its path. The path of totality for the eclipse was four times
longer, with a path that passed through more states, compared to the 2017
eclipse!
The duration of
totality in the path of totality varied, depending on the exact location.
Places closest to the center of the path of totality experienced totality for
the longest period of time. Totality ranged from approximately 2 minutes and 40
seconds to over 4 minutes at the very center of the path of totality. The
longest duration was experienced somewhere near the middle of the path in
southern Illinois and southern Tennessee.
You can find out
the exact duration for your location, and the date and time for totality in
your area, with an Eclipse Calculator on eclipse2024.org. The duration of
totality of the April 8 total solar eclipse varied between two and four minutes
depending on the exact location, and the length can be determined using the
Calculator.
So, whether you
live near the center of the path of totality or near the edge of the path of
totality, a total solar eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime celestial event. During
totality, you can experience the night sky in the daytime for the brief
duration of the eclipse. The sun's disk will appear with a thin ring around it
during totality, creating a halo effect and making the sun's corona visible to
the naked eye.
During totality,
the sun’s corona can be viewed during the entirety of the event. The corona is
the outermost part of the solar atmosphere and can’t be seen normally. During
totality, the darkness allows for the corona to become visible. In addition,
the appearance of the corona is very colorful, and it includes various shades
and hues. Some people think that the corona is breathtaking in its beauty
during totality.
To sum up, a total
solar eclipse is a unique celestial event that occurs when the sun is
completely obscured by the moon. The duration and path of totality vary for
different eclipses. The most recent eclipse to pass through the continental
United States, the April 8 total solar eclipse, was visible across ten states.
The duration of totality varied between two and four minutes depending on the
exact location of the eclipse.
“Between the Darkness and the Light”
By Jerusha Emrys, Staff Writer
“We are grey. We stand between the darkness and the light, between the
candle and the star.”
à Mantra of the Minbari Grey Council from Babylon 5
The shadows deepen in a summer day,
And a chill fills the air.
The great wheel in the sky is cloaked
In a velvety cloak of grey.
The moon, like an eye, shines through,
Its bright beam, piercing the veil.
And a gentle mist has drifted down,
Like a whisper, a silent prayer.
The birds, the insects, the trees,
The land, the earth, the sky,
Each life here, both great and small,
Feels the darkness, feels its call.
And as light is slowly restored,
A sense of peace, a hope, arise.
As we look to the heavens above,
We remember our place in the skies.
For the earth is connected
In all living things, like a string.
And though the shadows pass us by,
Remember, you and I belong.
And as the world embraces the sun,
Feel the light shining within,
And remember, you and I are one,
In both the darkness and the light.
And just as day follows the night,
There is no darkness but a gift,
Of time to ponder and explore,
Of reflection and of rebirth.
And as life embraces our time,
Remember, darkness is not fear;
It is only an opportunity
To grow in love and to hold near.
Love the darkness, for it comes
To embrace and to set free,
And when the sun is shining,
Remember, in you I see me.
Urania, the Muse of Astronomy, observes an eclipse of
the Sun while wearing eclipse glasses. 😊 (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)
“De Profundis”
By Jerusha Emrys, Staff Writer
In the depths of the night sky,
I glimpse a grand array,
A panoply of stars in the sky,
The night's celestial display.
The stars glimmer and dance,
Scattered across the sky,
Each one a radiant gem,
A gleaming reminder of beauty, life and joy.
Let us look up to the stars,
And marvel at the splendor.
Let the night sky shine bright,
In the depths of our hearts.
Let the night sky shine bright,
In the depths of our soul,
And we shall look up to the stars,
And behold their heavenly glow.
Let us look up to the heavens,
And cherish its radiant light,
It is but a reflection
Of our own innate divinity and wonder.
“Urania, the Muse of Astronomy”
By Anika Joshi, Staff Writer
Guiding the world with wisdom and insight.
She shares the message of the stars,
Reminders of our place in the cosmos and God's divine plan.
She plays her flute and prays in her temple,
Leading worship and praising the One true Deity.
A luminary and an inspiration to us all.
“The Music of the Spheres”
By Anika Joshi, Staff Writer
Of stars and planets and galaxies;
Of solar systems and moons and comets and asteroids.
Our universe is a symphony of light and darkness,
Of matter and energy and gravity and space;
The harmony of the heavens,
The music of the spheres.
“The Moonlight”
By Alyssa M. Brooks, Staff Writer
The pale moon beams down from high overhead,
Shining with a soft, soothing white.
Its moonlight glimmers on the tranquil, wide ocean,
Making the waves dance under its light.
It blankets the sky like a thin sheet,
And paints the world in delicate hues.
The moonlight is magical, wondrous,
And makes my heart swoon with its beauty.
Alyssa, the author of the foregoing poem, is watching
the full Moon on the eastern shore of
the Pacific Ocean. Please watch for future contributions by Alyssa to
our blog! (Image Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)
Weekly Words of Wisdom
By Skylar Sonnenschein, Editorial Associate
A waxing Moon symbolizes new
beginnings, a shining Sun represents warmth and light, and twirling stars
convey a sense of mystery and wonder. The celestial bodies remind us of our
connection to the Universe, and the cycle of beginnings and endings that keeps
life's wheel turning.
Stoic Proverb of the Week
From an Anonymous Contributor
“The one who
angers you controls you.”
– Seneca the
Younger (4 BCE-65 CE)
Sophie’s Adage
By Sophie Fairgate, “The Quotemaster”
“Words are powerful, so use them wisely.”
Editor’s Note: Be sure to read next week’s blog entry to learn more
about Sophie, our new Quotemaster! 😊
