“It struck me that eclipses are not just scientific phenomena,” he says, recalling his initial glimpse of the August 2008 eclipse from China. Since then, Koh has travelled to see 14 solar eclipses around the world, and even co-authored a book, Chasing Totality: The Complete Handbook for the 2026 Total Solar Eclipse with his son Jared Koh. Umbraphiles chase solar eclipses in pursuit of awe and alignment. UnsplashThis transition from eclipse-curious to avid umbraphile (the term for a person who travels long distances to observe solar eclipses, literally meaning “shadow lover”) is quite common. This week’s total solar eclipse on 12 August, visible from east Greenland, west Iceland, and Spain, is proving to be no exception – despite its inconveniently slim path.