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Needing a break from news regarding the impending collapse of our republic, I read up today on the total solar eclipse that will occur on August 21:
On August 21, for the first time in 99 years, a total solar eclipse will cut through the entire continental United States. It’s going to be awesome. If you’re in the bull’s eye center of the moon’s shadow known as the totality — the sky will go dark for a few minutes in the middle of the day, stars will appear, birds will become confused and start chirping their nighttime songs. And it’s all because of a cosmic coincidence: From the Earth, both the moon and sun appear to be roughly the same size.
Most of the country will see a partial eclipse, which is also cool. But for the complete show, you need to be in the 60-mile wide path of the totality.
Unfortunately, I am far outside the “totality.” But reading about the solar eclipse (and watching the NASA video on the subject) led me on a YouTube search for solar eclipse videos. That’s when I stumbled upon a video taken from Alaska Airlines Flight #870 of a total solar eclipse over the Pacific Ocean in March of last year. The flight, which was from Anchorage to Honolulu, was intentionally delayed so passengers could see the eclipse. The view is breathtaking, but what really made my day was the commentary from astronomer Mike Kentrianakis, who was on the flight. Some highlights:
Oh my god!
Oh my god! Oh my god!
TOTALITY! TOTALITY! OH MY GOD!
PROMINENCES!
FULL SHADOW, COMPLETELY ELONGATED!
PROMINENCES!!!
LOOK AT THAT DIAMOND RING! OH MY GOD! DIAMOND RING!!!
TOTALITY!!!
The comments on the YouTube video were not very kind to Kentrianakis’ nerdgasm, but all I could think after finishing the video was, “I wish I could get this excited about something...anything.”
Anyway, break over...back to our crumbling republic...and on to the tops!
Top Comments (June 16, 2017):
From belinda ridgewood:
Democrat in the South wrote a great rant Thursday night in Meteor Blades' Open Thread for Night Owls. More people should get a chance to see it!
From MikeTheLiberal:
judgek has an insightful and cogent comment about the Russian threat in graemer’s diary The GOP’s willful ignorance on Russia. I didn’t know that facts were both stubborn and liberal!
From edrie:
greenbird just succinctly summed up the tRump administration in this comment!
Top Mojo (June 15, 2017):
Top Mojo is courtesy of mik! Click here for more on how Top Mojo works.
Top Pictures (June 15, 2017):
Tonight’s photo quilt is courtesy of jotter!