Chasing Shadows: The Totality

I have always been captivated by space and it is the reason I choose to study physics and astronautical engineering and am pursuing a career in the space industry. As soon as I found out there would be solar eclipse over North America in 2024, I started making plans with my family.

I was in high school when the last solar eclipse was over the United States and I was lucky enough to drive up to North Carolina to witness this rare spectacle. This year the destination was Indianapolis, Indiana.

The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, renowned for its thrilling races and vibrant atmosphere, was set to host a once-in-a-lifetime event: the total solar eclipse. In a whirlwind of anticipation and excitement, I embarked on a lightning-fast journey, taking a red-eye from LAX to IND, touching down in Indianapolis on Monday at the crack of dawn at around 5 am. With scarcely a moment to spare, I hit the ground running, fueled by adrenaline and the promise of an unforgettable experience as I had plans of heading back to LA that very night.

Arriving at the Speedway, running on a couple of hours of sleep, I was greeted by a buzz of excitement. Fellow eclipse chasers from near and far had gathered, their eyes filled with wonder and anticipation. As the moon began its slow journey across the sun, casting its shadow upon the earth, the atmosphere was electric with anticipation.

We donned our eclipse glasses (free from Speedway!) and gazed skyward as the world around us was plunged into an ethereal twilight. The air grew cooler and for a fleeting moment, time seemed to stand still.

As the moon fully obscured the sun, revealing the ethereal corona in all its glory, a collective gasp and cheer swept through the crowd including my dad who started chanting “USA”. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated awe—a reminder of the beauty and majesty of the cosmos.

But the eclipse was more than just a celestial phenomenon; it was a shared experience, a bond forged between strangers brought together by a shared passion for exploration and discovery. In that moment, as we stood beneath the shadow of the moon, we were united by a sense of wonder and humility in the face of the universe's grandeur.

As the sun emerged once more from behind the moon's shadow, casting its warm rays upon the earth, I couldn't help but feel a profound sense of gratitude—for the beauty of the natural world and for the privilege of bearing witness to such a momentous event.

While plane delays and missed connections hampered my plan of getting back to LA that same night, I had an unforeseen adventure of getting stuck in Dallas with my brother for a night. The next morning we had a lengthy journey of plane hopping back to LA. This was not what we had planned for but made the most of this unexpected ending.