When the moon passes over the sun and blocks it in what appears as a black hole, the world is adorned in darkness. The corona surrounding the darkened sun is hard to catch, as this phenomenon does not pass over the same places every time. After seven years, this solar eclipse passed over the United States right over Oklahoma and momentarily ended daylight.
Depending on where you are, even if the eclipse is visible in the country where you live, sometimes the path of totality can be missed. It’s a very thin margin. The path of totality is the signature eclipse visual. The dark moon over the sun, white surrounding its circumference shining as if ethereal. However, if you don’t plan correctly, it’s extremely hard to catch. Not only does this sight last just a few minutes, but you have to be in that path of totality.
On April 8th, 2024, totality passed over central America and quite a few things spawned from it. Regarding conspiracies, it did tend to get a bit out of hand. Words and ideas of the solar eclipse opening a portal spread like wildfire. People also theorized the world would go dark for three to five days once the eclipse hit full totality. With the wild and unexplainable, unrealistic reasonings are always spread.
The solar eclipses happen quite a few times every year but rarely do they ever pass over the same place often. In fact, the average frequency for any random point in the world is about 400 years. Oklahoma is not guaranteed totality when the next one in the U.S. occurs a long time from now. All we can hope is that this one inspired those who watched it, and those who didn’t, to seek it out. Though it seems hard to catch, it’s possible! Predictions and dates are always up.
This year, this total solar eclipse was so sought out that Oklahoma was expected to see anywhere from 17,000-66,000 visitors all for a few seconds of a phenomenon. This might partially be attributed to the fact that the next time a total solar eclipse passes over the United States will be in approximately 20 years from now. Specifically, August 23rd, 2044. Many of us will be old, with our own lives. We may have an opportunity to see it, but similarly, our opportunity may also be quenched with adulthood and the responsibilities that come with it.
We as a society and as humans are attracted to what we don’t understand. What lies beyond space that we can’t see, and what we can see yet have no explanation for. Perhaps that’s why, when the moon eats the sun, we go as far as to spend money just to watch in awe. Maybe that’s why the world continues to enrapture and tempt us in all its enigmatic sights.
