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SOLAR ECLIPSE

There was at the same time something in its singular and wonderful appearance that was appaling: and I can readily imagine that uncivilised nations may occasionally have become alarmed and terrified at such an object.
- Francis Baily (1842)

Some people see a partial eclipse and wonder why others talk so much about a total eclipse. Seeing a partial eclipse and saying that you have seen an eclipse is like standing outside an opera house and saying that you have seen the opera; in both cases, you have missed the main event.
- Jay Pasachoff (1983)

On occasion the Moon will pass briefly in front of the Sun and cast its shadow on the Earth. Through a great cosmic coincidence, the size of the Moon as seen from the Earth appears to be just about the same size as the Sun; the Moon just blocks the light from the Sun's surface but leaves the light from the Sun's outer atmosphere visible thus creating a beautiful total solar eclipse.