SOLAR ECLIPSES AND SARM (1)
By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe
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April 2024 will be a wonderful month because the 15th Global Astronomy Month will be graced by the most beautiful celestial phenomenon, a total solar eclipse, which will be visible to a large number of people in Mexico, USA and Canada, who will photograph it, film it or simply admire it.
But the most sensible way for human nature to express its feelings about such a phenomenon is poetry, and in this respect the Romanian Society for Meteors and Astronomy (SARM) has developed a special program in the last three decades, which I will summarize in a short series.
It all started in 1996, when NATO itself (in collaboration with the Paris Observatory and the Astronomical Institute of the Romanian Academy) organized in Romania a world workshop dedicated to the study of the total solar eclipse of 1999.
On this occasion, the participants received a SARM folder with the following astropoem:
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TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE
By Andrei Dorian Gheorghe
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1
In an egocentric enthusiasm,
the Moon tries
to camouflage the Sun,
disturbing the gift of light.
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2
Under the Moon's shadow cone:
“Advantageous speculations!” -
thinks the astrologer.
“A horror labyrinth!” -
thinks the ignorant man.
“A tender syncope
in the Universe!” -
thinks the astronomer.
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3
Why is the Moon's orbit
so inclined,
a suspended cane
to the ecliptic plane?
Five degrees of astral secret.
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4
Captive light,
scared stars,
crazy planetary passions,
an illusion of the moment:
the victory of the darkness
for the glory of the impostor-satellite.
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5
What a delusion...
to hide the light
in a confined territory!
The infinite didn't observe anything!
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6
But us, the dependents
on Terra's protection?
The eclipse is fright, colour
and a sacred show.
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7
Helios is surprised:
a small sabotage
in space's order.
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8
Pay attention,
subjects of the sovereign-star.
The Solar Crown
never disappears!
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9
Run, Moon, run
to another celestial place!
Your betrayal
was discovered!
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10
The Father of our solar system
shakes the shadows.
Again and again,
more and more,
the explosion of cosmic love!
#poetry
#eclipse#GAM2024