The wonderful thing about celestial mechanics is that they’re mathematically precise; there’s no doubt as to when things are going to happen. Heavenly events can’t be stopped or delayed by events on Earth, bad weather, or a collective lack of interest. They’re coming whether you’re ready or not. I first became aware of an impending solar eclipse several months before it happened from people who pay closer attention to these things than I do. Eclipses happen all the time around the world, but this one would be different: it would take place in my backyard. Not only would there be an eclipse in a place easily accessible to me, but it would also be a total eclipse, the most spectacular sky show of all.