Stella!!
How we react to celestial events is a primary source
My family and I got to see 95% of the sun get blocked out by the moon yesterday in central New Hampshire, while our extended families, on either side of Upstate New York, saw things go pitch black at 3:30 in the afternoon. I marvel at not only the celestial event itself, but at the ability of astronomers of being able to predict the exact moments of eclipses decades in advance. Plenty of people took the opportunity to do something unique and in some cases spiritual during the total eclipse, but most of us in and near the path of totality just watched and enjoyed with full scientific knowledge that is was simply nature on display.
A few days ago I picked up a book about the Bayeux Tapestry as I’ve long been interested in the late 11th century embroidered scroll which tells the story of Duke William of Normandy’s successful invasion of England in 1066. I was reminded that Halley’s comet is included in the first third of the piece—though in that time it was thought to be a bright star—soon after Harold Godwinson is shown ascending to the throne.
As you can read in the text, the appearance of the comet was understood to be a dark omen; a message that Harold’s taking of the throne was in defiance to God or some supernatural force, and justified William’s conquest to come.
Earlier today, while cleaning out a closet at school, I came across a piece of the The (Sacramento) Daily News from 1985 (don’t ask why or how I have this). It’s focus? The reappearance of Halley’s Comet. How perfect, especially the day after the eclipse!
I shared this coincidence with a student with whom I had just been talking with about the eclipse. After looking over the four page layout about the approaching comet-mania, including charts and maps indicating the best ways to view the celestial event, she quickly concluded that nature will happen no matter what, but the way humans react and respond to them is a reflection of how societies evolve.
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In fact, this paper indicates that people’s response to the comet as a wonder of the universe was actually a pretty new way of seeing it. It reports in more than one place that 1910’s comet appearance sparked panic and even murder! Not that everyone was running around thinking the comet was going to crash and destroy, but the wholesome graphic showing best viewing angles is emblematic of the post-Space Race period, not the coal age.
I’m reminded of President Kennedy’s address at Rice University in 1962:
“No man can fully grasp how far and how fast we have come, but condense, if you will, the 50,000 years of man's recorded history in a time span of but a half century. Stated in these terms, we know very little about the first 40 years, except at the end of them advanced man had learned to use the skins of animals to cover them. Then about 10 years ago, under this standard, man emerged from his caves to construct other kinds of shelter. Only 5 years ago man learned to write and use a cart with wheels. Christianity began less than 2 years ago. The printing press came this year, and then less than 2 months ago, during this whole 50-year span of human history, the steam engine provided a new source of power.
Newton explored the meaning of gravity. Last month electric lights and telephones and automobiles and airplanes became available. Only last week did we develop penicillin and television and nuclear power, and now if America's new spacecraft succeeds in reaching Venus, we will have literally reached the stars before midnight tonight.”
All told, humans have only recently understood and therefore enjoy events such as these. The medieval European reaction to their “Stella” was maintained to some extent by laymen until just about 11:45 pm JFK time.
Everything, including how people react to celestial phenomena, is a Primary Source.
Everything is a Primary Source is evolving into a nonprofit organization. Check out everything-history.com to learn more about our projects, how you can get involved, and to make a financial donation.
