At 105 years old, Texas grandfather LaVerne Biser is gearing up to witness his 13th total solar eclipse on Monday, marking a lifetime of chasing this astronomical phenomenon. Biser, a retired plane designer, became an “eclipse chaser” in 1963 when he embarked on a road trip with his family from Texas to Maine to witness their first solar eclipse.
Since then, Biser has traveled the world with his late wife Marion to view various solar eclipses in locations such as Brazil, the Black Sea, and the Virgin Islands. His passion for astronomy stemmed from his high school science classes in rural Ohio in the 1930s, and he continued to pursue his interest by building telescopes and planning trips to witness total solar eclipses.
Despite his age, Biser remains enthusiastic about the upcoming eclipse, which he sees as potentially his last due to his upcoming 106th birthday and the next visible total solar eclipse in the US not occurring for another two decades. His daughter, Carol Biser Barlow, who has also been on numerous eclipse trips with her father, is hosting him for this special event.
As Biser prepares to capture what could be his final eclipse on camera, he reflects on the awe-inspiring experience of witnessing a dark sky in the middle of the day. To him, each eclipse serves as a reminder of humanity’s place in the vast universe. With clear weather on his side, Biser is eagerly anticipating this rare celestial event that has captivated him for decades.