Eclipse returns magic to the cosmos in Lawton

As the moon’s path arced into the sun’s station Saturday morning, eyes turned upwards.

Check that: protected eyes turned upwards.

The primal call to view the celestial occurrence brings modern humanity back to its roots of wonder.

Bill Fudge is an astronomer. He brought his high-powered, 8-inch telescope to Lawton’s First Baptist Church with the goal of projecting the “ring of fire” eclipse onto a TV screen inside the church to allow all who wished to view the event to do so without risking eyesight. It’s a love he has with, both, people and the cosmos.

“The heavens are truly amazing,” he said.

Sharing his wonder with others is a great joy, Fudge said.

Several people were there with him to watch the moon align in front of the sun. While a stretch between Oregon to Brazil would have opportunity to see the full effect where a bright, blazing border would appear around the moon, in our neck of the woods, it would be a partial but no less aweing sight with 73 or 74 percent of the sun covered making a shining crescent for a short time as Earth’s satellite makes its pass.

If the technology would work. Wifi connection issues meant the live feed of the telescope’s vision wouldn’t transmit inside the church. Fudge said some human activity could have been to blame, as well.

“It’s amazing how having people moving will make a difference,” he said.

Jan Musselwhite pulled out her cellphone and watched the feed of the eclipse’s full effect from NASA’s feed on YouTube.

“I came to watch it on the big screen,” she said, “but I’m watching it on the little screen.”

Carrying her 2-month-old granddaughter Savannah Diane in her arms, Diane Branstetter said it was exciting to share the baby girl’s first eclipse.

“This is exciting,” she said.

There was excitement to be had. A couple dozen people joined Fudge outside and lined up to take turns viewing the eclipse from his telescope’s eyepiece. Those fortunate enough to have brought solar viewer glasses were able to look to the sky without fear of retinal damage.

Jim Meyer held a pair of the glasses so Jean Hausheer could take photos with her cellphone. Others took snapshots through the telescope viewer.

As the moon’s orbit took it into position, the sky overhead exploded bright with light. To glance in its direction without the proper eye protection would be enough to leave one semi-blinded for a short time. But as the moon diffused the solar rays, for a short time, it appeared the daylight’s dimmer switch had been flipped.

Nearby, a couple watching the event from the 400 block of Southwest C Avenue took turns viewing the event through a welder’s mask.

Outside the Lawton Public Library where there was a family-oriented event centered around the eclipse, dozens stood in amazement as they gazed upward. Eyes guarded by his solar viewer glasses, Isaiah Hanson’s jaw dropped as he stood and watched this natural wonder unfold before his eyes.

Fudge said these are the reactions he loves to see. He has an observatory at his home near Lake Lawtonka where he star gazes “every clear night a Dallas Cowboys or OU football game isn’t on.” With a larger telescope and retractable roof, he often has visitors with whom he can shares those natural wonders of the cosmos.

“I love to share its beauty,” he said before repeating his favorite thought. “The heavens truly are amazing.”

You can be sure, when the total solar eclipse sweeps across the Western Hemisphere on April 8, 2024, Fudge will be watching and making sure others have opportunity to see this natura magic for themselves.