Hello to everyone under one sky! I am looking forward to the "Total Solar Eclipse in Arkansas" in 5 days. The RV's are arriving to capacity, and it looks like we may have a good turnout except for the workers at "Arkansas Neuclear One" energy plant that are facilitating the deactivating one neuclear core, and the activating of another in the bi-annual process of changing out the cores of radioactive materials. They arrived with others who are just here for the eclipse and I am not sure how many workers will actually be able to see the event, but all of their family will be here and are welcome to view it with me, and get some advise and training in the science of eclipse and the protective mesures needed to view the event. I have plenty of new solar viewing glasses to hand out to those who do not have them so they can enjoy the eclipse with me.
The weather is calling for scattered rain and clouds, so we may be viewing the eclipse in vane? Hopfully I am full of hot air and can blow the clouds away? If not we are stuck and that just the way it is. Cant be everywhere at the same time unless you are Superman, so "it is what it is"! It will still be fun even if we have to chase clouds to see it and get pictures, so I hope we get something out of the experience if even to make new frends at this lifetime event.
I would also like to anounce that as of today, I am the new "National Coordinator for the United States" with the "Astronomers Without Borders". I am honored to be part of the team that will promote AWB and advance its membership, so that we can also advance the knowledge of astronomy to the masses, especially to those areas in the World who do not have the opportunities to view or even own a telescope.
Thats why we are "Astronomers Without Borders", traveling and teaching the science of astronomy and how it reflects on life and its value in the yearly seasons, time schedule for planting crops, expecting rain and snow, and the time it takes to grow old and pass away. Astronomy is considered the first true science because of its past, and the implications on the life of the average person. Everyone is educated in the time of day, the seasons, and when to expect abundance and hardships due to the weather and the time of the season. So astronomy is just as important today as it was in the past, and even the novice needs to know a little about astronomy and the time of day to be able to function and to make their lives better.
To close, I am proud to be a member of "Astronomers Without Borders" and its new, and first "National Coordinator for the United States of America". I look forward to working with all of the staff, its members and affiliates, and all of the other AWB National Coordinators in countries all over the world. We have a mission to teach astronomy all over the world, and to help the less fortunate people who cannot afford the education, or to even enjoy the ownership of a telescope, which can advance their knowledge of the science of astronomy and their future chances for a career in a science related field.