The most stunning feeling when standing in front of a sun undergoing its total eclipse by the moon is how orderly the universe functions. No increase in entropy is noticeable when it comes to the alignment of celestial bodies, expected by scientists way before the event. Causality. Newton’s mechanics with Einstein’s general relativity not even thought of.

When approaching the near-by mining dump which was most promising several hundreds of people joined. There were relaxed discussions about previous experiences with total eclipses. I mentioned the Venus transit of 2012 and Avicenna’s claim of having watched one in 1032. And that I had doubted it.

People who tried a cardboard box camera obscura for the first time were somewhat disappointed of the rather unimpressive result. Many small children trying to make sense of it with proud young parents explaining the cosmic event.

Here where I live, the sun was covered by the moon at about 82%. It wasn’t possible to catch a photo which would show that. There was a slight change of light, everything became somewhat pale.

The next solar eclipse I would attend, I told a young couple with their little son, would be 2034, in March, in Kuwait. The plan was met with incredulous disapproval.

13 August 2026 @ 10:47 UTC+2.

Last modified August 13, 2026.