Why one CWRU astronomer keeps chasing total solar eclipses

Why one CWRU astronomer keeps chasing total solar eclipses Steve Zigler Hero Type Image Nina Pettry Thu, 08/13/2026 - 12:07 College of Arts and Sciences Dean David Gerdes traveled to Spain as a “trip astronomer,” sharing his passion for one of nature’s rarest spectacles. Nina Pettry August 14, 2026 When David Gerdes, PhD, was 15, he convinced his middle school science teacher, several friends and their parents to rent an RV and drive from Hudson, Ohio, to Winnipeg—in February.The reason: a total solar eclipse.He wouldn’t see another for 38 years. But when the next total eclipse crossed North A