The Eclipse

It's one of the universe's most precise demonstrations of perspective and positioning. The sun is a magnificent 865,370 miles across; the moon, our cosmic companion, is a more modest 2,159 miles: a ratio of 1:400.8. Their distances, relative to Earth, also dance around the 1:400 mark. When these values align, we get one of the most awe-inspiring shows we know of: a total solar eclipse.

What we can only deduce is exceedingly rare, these brief moments that have brought awe to many a culture remind us that, no matter how infinitesimal you or what you do may seem, perspective and positioning can magnify your impact beyond what is intuitively possible. The combination of this ratio in size and distance, with the Moon's orbital tilt and our species' existing in a specific window of time for these values to align is required for us to experience this event. Even Earth herself will not be home to total solar eclipses forever as the moon slowly drifts away.

Why Astronomy?

As a child, the endless expanse that stood on our doorstep enthralled me. So pretty were the lights I saw flickering in the sky: a waltz of stars and planets, comets and meteors. What I knew seemed so familiar, but what lie in that sea of black held a distinct uncertainty.

I would drag my family to attend astronomy meetups where I had the opportunity to get a more vivid look at what I had seen as just dots in the sky. Local astronomers would bring their, to me at least, massive telescopes and point them at the various points-of-interest in the sky.

Through this and many other such events, my love of what lies beyond grew. I am humbled by the possibilities and the grandeur of it all. My only hope is that one day someone might find what I have done with my little life in my neck of the woods of some benefit.

Often in our lives, I find we forget to look up. So focused are we with where we are headed, the beauty of now is so frequently forgotten.

Blotting Out the Sun

The phrase started as a business idea: I wanted to make shirts for the eclipse. From there it evolved into the personal branding I use in most of my projects. It was one of the first designs I was proud of. It was one of the first projects I put my all into. I felt it communicated who I feel I am.

In the logo you'll see a few things. Besides being a 'B' on its side, it also represents the glasses frequently seen to view eclipses. The blue-to-red gradient, while being my favorite gradient and meshing into purple (my favorite color), combined with the glasses also alluding to the old-school 3D glasses you would see at the movies. It reminds me to view the situation from different angles. One eye provides vision, the other provides depth.

The Next Eclipse

I saw my first total eclipse somewhere in rural Wyoming on 2017 Aug 21. My second in a tiny town called Poplar Bluff, Missouri: the destination of my first solo road trip to see the total eclipse of 2024. I drove 1,000+ miles.

Today I look forward to hopefully seeing more eclipses in my lifetime. The next one in the United States will be in 2044, but there will be more between now and then at various locations. Maybe I'll travel to Iceland or Spain next year. Maybe I'll explore Morocco or Egypt in 2027. I guess time will tell, but I'll certainly be trying my best.

This site exists as an archive and observatory—a place to document work, track evolution, and preserve the moments that shaped my life. Not with the goal of bringing darkness, but with the hope that little me might touch those who I cannot see.