January 20, 2013- eclipse by Oskar Peet and Sophie Mensen - In astronomy, a syzygy is a straight line configuration of three celestial bodies in a gravitational system. Solar and lunar eclipses occur at times of syzygy, as do transits and occultations. Everyday the sun ‘rises and sets’ making life on earth possible. The sun was our first and only light source, in contradiction to the light sources we have today the sun is a continuously never ending burning ball of fire. We experience night only when a part of the earth is cast into shadow from itself as it rotates around the sun. The light is adjusted by a subtle rotation of three light filtering discs placed in front of the light source. The rotational combinations of these three discs mimic the effects of a syzygy. The end result is atmospheric light inspired by the sun and its surrounding celestial bodies, where the light quality can be adjusted--but this time on the human scale.
