But they still have the power to move us in ways that are unlike any other astronomical event. Some eclipse chasers, including people who study these occurrences, say they are addicted to basking in the moon’s shadow, the feeling of simultaneously being engulfed and overwhelmed. That may be why most of us tend not to engage with those thoughts too much, until something like a solar eclipse happens, and we’re forced to reckon with the awesomeness of space. Not everyone will be able to experience the eclipse next Monday — only those lucky enough to live in its path or travel to it. I’ve assembled a few songs that give me a feeling that I imagine is similar to that of totality.

Source: New York Times August 14, 2017 20:03 UTC