Celestial inscriptions
Description
The phenomenon of a total solar eclipse has captivated human beings for millennium, often stirring a unique spiritual experience within its viewers. Witnesses claim to be intensely moved by the occurrence, and many contemporary “eclipse chasers” constantly travel across the globe to engulf themselves in the euphoric moments of totality. Before the advent of modern technology, both lunar and solar eclipses alike were quite terrifying, as they occurred unexpectedly and without warning. Eclipses induced fear rather than awe and wonder. Now that we possess the equipment to accurately track the Moon, Sun, and Earth, astronomers can pinpoint past eclipses as well as predict them far into the future. In fact, this practice has become so accurate that the date of Christ’s Crucifixion is estimated to have fallen on Friday, April 3, 33 AD1. Now that frightfulness has been removed from the equation, eclipses stand to provide an awe-inspiring as well as unifying experience. Just recently, the United States buzzed with collective anticipation; the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 cast a deep shadow from coast to coast2. Even those not the in the path of totality took time out of their day to witness a partial eclipse. Schoolchildren and adults alike came together to see these three celestial bodies align with magnificence. While a solar eclipse is a beautiful occurrence, spectators must take precautions to prevent permanent eye damage or blindness. The younger portion of the population is likely to have never experienced such a thing, thus there is a clear demand for education on safe eclipse viewing practices3. In reconciling the unique psychological effects, physical limitations, and dangers associated with watching a solar eclipse, architecture as a collection of geographical and spatial resources will offer a unique setting for eclipse anticipation and totality. The challenge to such a proposal lies in the paradoxical frequency of solar eclipses. A physical response thus requires a combination of mobile and stationary elements. Temporary vessels will be deployed in several locations as the schedule of future eclipses unfolds. Static structures and inscriptions scored into the earth serve as a memorial to the fleeting event, allowing the architecture to educate beyond the lifespan of the eclipse. These interventions serve to impress upon the occupant the enormity of such a celestial alignment.