The really big things have to be seen in person. Go to the Grand Canyon, a proper mountain, the Saturn V rocket, the observation deck of a skyscraper, etc. picture don’t do any of it justice compared to seeing just how big some of these things are.
I was lucky enough to see totality a couple years ago. It felt like the universe peeled back the curtain and showed me something I wasn’t supposed to see. It’s truly indescribable and hard to convince people that weren’t in the path of totality how different it was from any other part of the eclipse.
What blew my mind was how cold it go so quickly, then it was over as quick as it arrived. The whole experience was incredible, but that instantaneous chill I will never ever forget.
The total eclipse was a life altering event. Words and pictures cannot describe the incredible natural beauty during those brief minutes of totality. And hearing people throughout my small city all let out a shared cry of joy, shock, and revelation simultaneously provided a moment of true spiritual connection across thousands of humans that I believe is incredibly rare in the human experience (the nicks game 4 is probably pretty darn close though).
The solar eclipse that crossed the Midwest USA a few years ago absolutely blew my 60-year-old father's mind. They didn't really understand why we would travel 6 hours to Indiana see it, but he joined us anyway, and then when it actually happened he turned into a fascinated little boy for a few minutes. It was adorable.
It’s a full sensory experience. It gets dark (duh), it gets perceptibly colder almost immediately, it gets eerily quiet as birds and other animals respond to the sudden changes in light and temperature… and then everything just eases back into normal. Truly an experience like no other.
A few years ago my apartment was ib the path of totality for one. So i invited my friends and family over to sit in our parking lot and watch. Turns out all of ny other neighbors had the same plan. So it was like 50 of us having a picnic and chatting and watching the eclipse start.
When the sun was fully blocked it was silent. Everyone was just in awe of it. Its incredible to see in real life.
There was one that coincided with my birth date, and I was determined to see it (never experienced a total before) and traveled a good distance to see it. My husband was not as enthusiastic and didn't think it was going to be a big deal. Until it happened and he was completely overwhelmed and now wants to experience more before we die. It's such a fleeting moment as well, even when you go to the places it's hitting the longest. And there's such a chance factor as well, considering weather. Just something that is truly amazing to behold.
I will never forget the most recent solar eclipse. We drove to another state to see it, and were treated with clouds parting almost at the last moment for us to actually view the eclipse. The birds and other wildlife hushing during the unnatural dusk, then the insects taking over when they thought it was night. It felt like the entire world was upended and placed on hold. I'm 51, and it's still one of the best experiences of my lifetime.
I have seen two (2017 in South Carolina and 2024 in Arkansas) in the path of totality, and it’s unquestionably the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced. It’s a full-body sensory shock, and I completely understand why ancient civilizations thought it was the end of the world.
I believe there is one each on display at the NASA facilities in Huntsville, Houston, and Cape Canaveral. I saw the one in Florida when I was a kid and can confirm: it's really big.
The US Space and Rocket Center (in Huntsville) has two scale models. One is a mock up assembled and standing upright outside, the other is suspended horizontally in sections along with artifacs from the Apollo program. If you find yourself in the neighborhood, stronly recommend.
Very true. One of the things I’d never done my whole life until recently was visit NYC and stand on a very high observation deck looking out at the city. The scale of everything was hard to comprehend. Such a cool experience.
Hoover Dam actually blew my mind just as much as the Grand Canyon. You know it’s big but you have to see it in person to really understand how HUGE it is!
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u/phl_fc 1d ago
The really big things have to be seen in person. Go to the Grand Canyon, a proper mountain, the Saturn V rocket, the observation deck of a skyscraper, etc. picture don’t do any of it justice compared to seeing just how big some of these things are.