Biography

Fred worked as an astrophysicist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center until he retired in 2009.

Both himself and his wife Pats 2006 wedding was celebrated with an eclipse-themed cake and a playlist devoted to the Sun and Moon featuring"Total Eclipse of the Heart.".

Espenak's passion for astronomy and eclipses began when he was about 7 or 8 years old. He was visiting his grandparents in their summer home in Long Island. One of the neighborhood boys had a small telescope. He remembered taking a look at the moon through that telescope for the first time. He pestered his father for 2 years after that before he got his first telescope which ignited his interest in astronomy.

The first total solar eclipse Fred observed occurred in March 7, 1970.

The US Postal Service released a unique stamp in 2017 on the day of the summer solstice ahead of the total solar eclipse which stretched from Oregon across the Carolinas later that year. The stamp featuring an images taken by retired NASA astrophysicist Fred Espenak of total solar and Moon which was revealed by body heat.