“We Live Inside the Sun.” Who Studies the Universe Changes How We See the Universe
On Wednesday, the small slice of humanity which is scattered across rural Russia, northern Spain, eastern Portugal, Iceland and Greenland will experience (and, if we’re lucky, actually see) a total eclipse of the Sun. In Siberia, this ethereal dance will
On Wednesday, an extremely rare total eclipse of the Sun will be visible to a small group of people scattered across various locations in Russia, Spain, Portugal, Iceland, and Greenland. In Siberia, the phenomenon will occur shortly after dawn, while in Reykjavik, it will happen in the late afternoon. Valencia, Spain, will witness the celestial event just before sunset, above the horizon.
This will be the first total solar eclipse visible across continental Europe since 1999. Total solar eclipses occur roughly every 18 months, but they are rarely observed due to Earth's mostly water-covered and arid landmasses, meaning most humans have never witnessed one. The eclipse will provide an opportunity for a diverse group of participants, including gay friends from Valencia, a Mormon family from Salt Lake City, and the author, to come together and share a unique experience.
The event will remind observers of the subjectivity and positionality involved in perceiving the universe and the universal nature of existence itself. Two recent books, Invisible Rainbows: The Unseen Universe Beyond Our Senses by Alfredo Carpineti and The Edge of Space-Time: Particles, Poetry and the Cosmic Dream Boogie by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, explore the awe-inspiring connection between the universe and its observers.
Both books emphasize how understanding the cosmos depends on who is allowed to study it and help readers navigate the intricate relationship between the self and the universe.
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