[Annie Dillard's 1982 essay 'Total Eclipse' is available to read in advance of today's solar eclipse here.](https://web.archive.org/web/20170820214111/https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2017/08/annie-dillards-total-eclipse/536148/) [Alternative link in case if removal](https://archive.fo/wbGxl) One of my all time favorite essays.