The 105-year-old eclipse chaser from Fort Worth witnessed 12 solar eclipses in his life and he’s ready to watch his 13th on April 8.
When Laverne Biser packed up his bags and headed for Maine to witness his first eclipse, it all started in 1963, according to CBS News.
His love for this rare celestial event has taken him places he’d never visited before. Moreover, he’s been taking photos of them ever since.
“That’s my pride and joy because it’s hard to take,” he said. “You had to put your camera up to a black sky… you hope you’re going to point it in the right direction.”
One of his favourite photos he’s taken was during a solar eclipse in Williston in 1979, South Dakota.
“We’ve travelled all over the world to see them,” Biser said. “You see one, you want to see them all. They are so pretty.”
Though, what makes this eclipse so special is that it’s right here in his backyard.
“With glasses, watch the whole thing, but take them off when it goes total. Look how pretty it is. You’ll say, ‘Oh… I want to see more of these,'” Biser said.
There is a risk if you will not be wearing glasses right before and right after the sun is completely covered, so it is important to keep safety first.
Dr. Thomas Hughes is a UK-based scientist and science communicator who makes complex topics accessible to readers. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
