Categories: astronomy-space
Date: 28 August 2007 23:44:10
Wonderfully visible from Sydney last night: clear skies, a warm night and with the eclipse occuring early in the evening. And what a sight it was. NASA was taking the chance to look for explosions caused by meteoroids crashing into the Moon .
I find such events fascinating: not only for their beauty, but for the simple fact they exist. It is a strange and wondrous thing that the apparent size of the moon and the sun from earth are the same, so that we can have solar and lunar eclipses from our position here on earth. Were we a bit further out, or the moon a bit bigger, or the sun a bit smaller, total eclipses of the sun or moon would not exist. As a Christian, I no doubt see God's hand in this, in ordering the universe thus and in placing me in this time of history, for the moon is receding in distance from the earth so, at some point in the future total solar eclipses will no longer occur as the moon's apparent size will be to small to completely cover the sun.
I also find the history of eclipses interesting, particularly how our ancestors, before computers, were able to predict eclipses. We may be technologically more advanced, but I do wonder if at times we have lost the wonder and the knowledge of the movements of the heavenly bodies. Also interesting is the various meanings they applied to them. Astronomy is something I find truly fascinating.
I had a nice talk with our priest last night. It's been a while since I have been able to talk to him. We are, I am, blessed to have him as a parish priest; he has been, and is, a great help to me, and it is a blessing to be able to talk to and seek advice from him. May God grant him many years.