Ad Hoc Commentary – 2017 heralds in The Great American Total Solar Eclipse and Orwellian 1984
It is a tradition for the Federal Reserve to hold an annual policy symposium at Jackson Hole, Wyoming in late August:
“…Each year, participants from across the globe gather in Jackson Hole, Wyo., to discuss important policy issues of mutual interest. The area is one of America’s most beautiful national parks, and is located in the Tenth Federal Reserve District, which is served by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City…”
In Late August, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, 2011: https://www.kansascityfed.org/publicat/InLateAugust/InLateAugust.pdf
The previous meeting dates of this decade were:
26 Aug 2010 to 28 Aug 2010
25 Aug 2011 to 27 Aug 2011
30 Aug 2012 to 01 Sep 2012
22 Aug 2013 to 24 Aug 2013
21 Aug 2014 to 23 Aug 2014
27 Aug 2015 to 29 Aug 2015
25 Aug 2016 to 27 Aug 2016
This year we have a celestial event close to the date. On 21 Aug 2017, American sky-watchers will be treated to a solar eclipse:
“…On August 21, 2017, Sun-watchers along a thin curved line that stretches for thousands of miles from Oregon to South Carolina will experience nature’s grandest spectacle: a total solar eclipse…”
Your Guide to the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, Michael E. Bakich, Springer 2016
“We had a conference … in late August, always in Jackson Lake Lodge.”
Roger Guffey, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, 1976-91
According to the Google Maps overlay at NASA, Jackson Lake Lodge will be in the path of totality:
https://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEgoogle/SEgoogle2001/SE2017Aug21Tgoogle.html
“…The Moon’s dark inner shadow, which is the only place the eclipse will be total, touches no other land on Earth outside the United States for this eclipse.”
Your Guide to the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, Michael E. Bakich, Springer 2016
In addition, the 21 August 2017 solar eclipse will be caused by the rarer 33 months black moon:
“…There are several definitions of a Black Moon. The next one is on August 21, 2017 and will cause a total solar eclipse nicknamed the Great American Eclipse…”
“…3rd New Moon in a season of 4 New Moons: These Black Moons are a little rarer, and occur about once every 33 months. Astronomers divide a year into 4 seasons – spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter. Usually, each season has 3 months and 3 New Moons. When a season has 4 New Moons, the 3rd New Moon is called a Black Moon. This is the exact counterpart to the original definition of a Blue Moon, except that Blue Moons are Full Moons…”
https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/moon/black-moon.html
Given that this is the first total solar eclipse for the USA in nearly four decades, and is caused by the rare black moon, yours truly envision that some will take it as a bad omen:
“…The first total solar eclipse to cross the USA since 26 February 1979 (that one crossed Washington/Oregon, Idaho and Montana) occurs on 21 August 2017. It seems odd that a country as big as the USA should have missed out for the intervening 38 years, but in 7 years’ time, on 8 April 2024 the USA gets another one, as well as two annulars in just over 11 years in 2012 and 2023…”
Total Solar Eclipses and How to Observe Them, Martin Mobberley, Springer 2007
However, we note that:
“…The bright star Regulus in Leo (magnitude 1.4) will be just 1° to the east of the Sun during totality and may well be immersed in the corona!”
Total Solar Eclipses and How to Observe Them, Martin Mobberley, Springer 2007
“…Regulus takes its name from the word ‘regal’ which means kingly. The Babylonians called Regulus “Sharu” (king). The Romans called Regulus “Rex” (king).”
The Messiah, John Grimley, 2010
“Eclipses have occurred throughout human history, creating awe and fear whenever people observed them. They still create awe, if not fear.”
Your Guide to the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, Michael E. Bakich, Springer 2016
Even if there are reasons to be fearful come August 2017, let us remember that just as every cloud has a silver lining, so does The Great American Total Solar Eclipse. Yes, the rarer black moon will block out the daylights from Jackson Hole for 2 plus minutes (a relatively short solar eclipse) a week or so before central banker meets. However all is not lost for central bankers, arguably the only game in town, as the black moon is not able to block out the lights from the King Star Regulus. So there is hope. On another curiousity, we once mentioned before that 2017 is 1984 years after the generally recorded date of the Crucifixion, Apr 3, 33 AD. Perhaps it is time to re-read George Orwell’s 1984: “…BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU…”
Good luck in the markets.