Total Eclipse of 2024

Ever since the total solar eclipse in 2017, I’ve been preparing for the next one, which will occur in the United States on April 8, 2024. I started making plans more than a year in advance for accommodations. You might remember my previous account, where I shared my frustrations about having my Airbnb bookings canceled twice. Fortunately, in the end, everything turned out fine. Feb 29, 2024 newsletter On April 5, I traveled to Dallas with my partner, Mrs. Wizard. I was eager to visit Dallas, the largest city in the United States I had not yet explored, so it was exciting to finally check it off my list. Interestingly, the only cities with Major League Baseball teams that I have yet to visit (just driving through doesn’t count) are Pittsburgh and Tampa. That evening, we took the light rail from our hotel near Love Field to downtown and enjoyed a delightful meal at the Yo Ranch Steakhouse, a place I wholeheartedly recommend.

The following day, April 6, we explored downtown Dallas, including a walk along the entire Katy Trail, checking out an eclipse festival, and visiting Dealey Plaza. Additionally, I toured the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum, which marked my visit to eight presidential museums overall. I also handled two airport pickups at both Dallas airports and headed to Waco for the big event. I plan to share more details about my Dallas adventures in an upcoming newsletter.

After being unceremoniously booted out into the streets by two inconsiderate Airbnb hosts, I had a backup plan of staying at the Super 8 near Baylor University. I booked four rooms there over a year ago with the intention of letting friends utilize them. When the second Airbnb host canceled on me, one of my friends who was also attending the eclipse kindly returned the fourth room.

This artistic display in the sky was crafted using drones.

This photograph was captured during a brief moment of clarity in the clouds, though some of them can still be seen drifting by.

I now have a newfound desire to learn how to walk on stilts!

Fortunately, the opening in the clouds remained intact. As the last rays of the sun slipped behind the moon, the crowd fell silent, collectively in awe of the breathtaking occurrence. At this moment, mere words and pictures fail to capture the essence of the experience. It transcends just the dimming of the sky; in my view, it's a profoundly spiritual moment. For those few minutes, everyone shared the same extraordinary spectacle in the heavens. There are no divides—much like a quote from Led Zeppelin, during this time, it feels like 'all are one, and one is all.'

Totality! Indeed, I managed to capture this shot. Apologies for the slight blurriness; I neglected to bring a remote clicker, so my hand shaking while pressing the shutter affected the image.

Post-event, my group of seven began brainstorming ideas for upcoming total eclipses. The next one in the U.S. will occur on August 22, 2044, although I suspect it might not be as awe-inspiring since it happens just before sunset. A much better date to note for your calendar would be August 12, 2045. The map displayed here shows the trajectory of that eclipse, which will traverse over northern Nevada.

Looking at international opportunities, there’s a good chance to see a total eclipse on August 2, 2027. Luxor, Egypt, seems to be an excellent location for that event.

I’d like to emphasize one last point: To truly appreciate a total eclipse, being located within the path of totality is essential, preferably near its center. If you're just outside that path and witness the moon covering 99% of the sun, the difference in experience is staggering. It's not just 1% less enjoyable; it's more like experiencing a measly 1% of the spectacle. The remaining sunlight peeking from behind the moon still shines with about 10,000 times the brightness of a full moon.

To wrap things up, I extend my gratitude to Baylor University for providing such a fantastic venue to witness the eclipse. True to Texas form, I found the local people to be incredibly friendly, and this kindness was especially evident at Baylor that day.

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