The physics department is probably the most eccentric one at Rhodes. Every Halloween, they hold a Pumpkin Drop—which consists of physics majors dropping various-sized pumpkins from the top of Rhodes Tower and calculating how fast they fall—at least, from what I’ve heard. The other day, the physics major who’s also the president of Astronomy Club sent out an email suggesting that we meet atop Rhodes Tower 4am on November 8th to observe the lunar eclipse—the final total one until 2025.
I went, with two friends, all bundled up in the chill of the November dawn. On the rooftop stood groups of sleepy students, and physics majors were busily adjusting the telescopes skyward. The sky was dark and clouded, and they were trying to zoom in on the reddish orb half-concealed behind the clouds. From the several students standing near us I heard snatches of the national anthem. To be fair, it was a Tuesday.
I ended up taking a photo by pressing my phone camera lens into the telescope—and capturing this cloudy, rosy moon. But it doesn’t really capture the odd, delirious ambience of that moment. The campus was very still, the students marveled at the night sky, at the tiny red moon showing its face for the last time for three years. I came back to my room and slept warmly until 7:30. Then I proceeded to get ready and go to class. It’s funny how things that happen at 4am feel like a dream.
