Meet the umbraphiles who chase eclipses around the world
The article explores the growing trend of 'umbraphiles,' enthusiasts who travel globally to witness total solar eclipses. It notes the significant economic impact on tourism in regions where eclipses are visible.
Why it matters
It illustrates how niche scientific interests can drive significant international travel and local economic activity.
When Koh Joo Beng, an astronomy enthusiast from Singapore, first watched the moon slide between the earth and the sun 18 years ago, he didn’t anticipate the impact it would have on his life. “It struck me that eclipses are not just scientific phenomena,” he says, recalling his initial glimpse of the August 2008 eclipse from China. “They are profoundly emotional and spiritual experiences.”
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.
This 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. As I learned after my own taste of totality in 2024, once you see one, you want to see them all.
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