St. Louis Science Center: Astronomy Fact Of The Day: October 27, 2021

Press release from St. Louis Science Center:

October 27, 2021

Today in 1780, a total solar eclipse was visible in New England. During the American Revolutionary War, the first American solar eclipse expedition was organized and sent out from Harvard College in Massachusetts. A special immunity agreement was negotiated with the British to allow the scientists to work unharmed. The Harvard expedition, after all their efforts, missed the eclipse because they mistakenly chose a site outside the path of totality.

This press release was produced by St. Louis Science Center. The views expressed here are the author’s own.