Look to the Heavens

The longest lunar eclipse in almost 600 years will occur November 18–19. The near-total eclipse (with 99% of the Moon’s disc covered by the Earth’s shadow and just thin sliver exposed to direct sun) is expected to last 3 hours and 28 minutes and will be visible in North America, parts of South America, Polynesia, eastern Australia, and northeastern Asia. Though lunar eclipses aren’t particularly rare celestial events, the fact that they lift our eyes, together, to the heavens to contemplate processes off of our planet, provides a glimpse into the universal quality of humankind which proves the validity of the post-geopolitical, post-empire world which we strive to build.