Ep#23 - Joe Rao - Turning The Wheel

In this episode, we chat with Joe Rao — veteran meteorologist, Hayden Planetarium lecturer, and eclipse chaser with 14 total solar eclipses under his belt.Episode Highlights1:07 — Joe's eclipse journey began at 16, witnessing his first total solar eclipse in Gaspé, Quebec (1972)1:47 — The five airborne eclipses Joe has chased, including flights arranged with the late Dr. Glenn Schneider2:44 — How Joe convinced American Trans Air to delay a 1990 flight by 41 minutes to intercept a total eclipse over the Pacific15:46 — Remembering "Mr. Eclipse" Fred Espenak and the legacy of eclipse calculation pioneer Jean Meeus20:00 — Chasing the 2024 Great North American Eclipse from Plattsburgh, NY — and the brutal traffic home31:37 — Understanding the Saros cycle and the "exeligmos" — why Joe's upcoming August 2026 eclipse completes a 54-year cycle41:32 — Joe's upcoming eclipse cruises: Balearic Sea (2026), Gibraltar (2027), and Australia's Kimberley region (2028)45:06 — The unforgettable 1999 "Ship of Fools" cruise off Nova Scotia that delivered a perfectly clear sunrise eclipse57:01 — The story of convincing American Hawaii Cruises to run an eclipse-themed cruise — and having breakfast with Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins51:24 — Joe's advice for first-time eclipse viewers: put the phone down and just watchKey TakeawayDon't photograph your first total eclipse — just absorb it. As Joe puts it, the corona, diamond ring, and shifting sky colors are experiences you can't get through a phone screen.Leticia Ferrer's site: https://texassolareclipses.com/Host Chris Chotas Alexander's Sitehttps://www.chotachrome.com/IG: @chotachromeTotality Talks is created by Leticia Ferrer and Chris Chotas Alexander.  Totality Talks is produced by Chris Chotas Alexander.