--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Astronomers are greatly disappointed…" description: "\"Astronomers are greatly disappointed when, having traveled halfway around the world to see an eclipse, clouds prevent a sight of it; and yet a sense of..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/simon-newcomb-16581_around-the-world_astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-whe_3008845.jpg" --- # Astronomers are greatly disappointed when, having traveled… ![“Astronomers are greatly disappointed when, having traveled halfway around the world to see an eclipse, clouds prevent a sight of it; and yet a sense of relief accompanies the disappointment.” quote by Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/simon-newcomb-16581_around-the-world_astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-whe_3008845.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/simon-newcomb-16581_around-the-world_astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-whe_3008845.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/simon-newcomb-16581_around-the-world_astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-whe_3008845.jpg) > “Astronomers are greatly disappointed when, having traveled halfway around the world to see an eclipse, clouds prevent a sight of it; and yet a sense of relief accompanies the disappointment.” [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Disappointment from missed celestial events is softened by relief, highlighting emotional complexity of scientific pursuits. **In simple terms:** Missing an eclipse feels bad but also oddly relieving. Key Takeaway Accept mixed feelings when plans fail. Themes disappointment relief science expectation Mood reflective thoughtful Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - observatory trips - field research - public outreach Key Concepts emotional response cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you process disappointment in research? - What relief do you feel when expectations are lowered? A Different Perspective Relief may mask deeper frustration or missed opportunity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Astronomers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/astronomers/) [Disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disappointment/) [Eclipse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eclipse/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Wherefore in all great works are Clerks so much desired? Wherefore are Auditors so well-fed? What causeth Geometricians so highly to be enhaunsed? Why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-recorde/wherefore-in-all-great-works-are-clerks-so-much-desired-wherefore-are/) [Robert Recorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-recorde/) > [“He took over my world. He was an eclipse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pepper-winters/he-took-over-my-world-he-was-an-eclipse/) [Pepper Winters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pepper-winters/) > [The reports of the eclipse parties not only described the scientific observations in great detail, but also the travels and experiences, and were sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/the-reports-of-the-eclipse-parties-not-only-described-the-scientific/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [Whenever a total eclipse of the sun was visible in an accessible region parties were sent out to observe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/whenever-a-total-eclipse-of-the-sun-was-visible-in-an-accessible/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [In 1860 a total eclipse of the sun was visible in British America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/in-1860-a-total-eclipse-of-the-sun-was-visible-in-british-america/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [Have you noticed that the astronomers and mathematicians are much the most cheerful people of the lot? I suppose that perpetually contemplating things on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-l-sayers/have-you-noticed-that-the-astronomers-and-mathematicians-are-much-the/) [Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-l-sayers/) > [John Kerry and Ralph Nader met face-to-face, it was a historic meeting. Astronomers said today their meeting actually created what is called a 'charisma…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/john-kerry-and-ralph-nader-met-face-to-face-it-was-a-historic-meeting/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [I was a kind of a one-man army. I could solder circuits together, I could turn out things on the lathe, I could work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-van-allen/i-was-a-kind-of-a-one-man-army-i-could-solder-circuits-together-i/) [James Van Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-van-allen/) > [I started out, as most astronomers do, with a university job. But in my generation, women weren't very welcome at universities, and so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-roman/i-started-out-as-most-astronomers-do-with-a-university-job-but-in-my/) [Nancy Roman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-roman/) > [Throughout history, humankind has been resistant to change and to the acceptance of new ideas... When Galileo discovered the moons of Jupiter, the astronomers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-weiss/throughout-history-humankind-has-been-resistant-to-change-and-to-the/) [Brian Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-weiss/) > [I may remind you that history is not a branch of literature. The facts of history, like the facts of geology or astronomy, can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-b-bury/i-may-remind-you-that-history-is-not-a-branch-of-literature-the-facts/) [J. B. Bury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-b-bury/) > [“In college, what had always stuck with him in Astronomy 101 was that the first astronomers to think of points of light not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/in-college-what-had-always-stuck-with-him-in-astronomy-101-was-that/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [By the way, were we to find life-forms on Venus, we would probably call them Venutians, just as people from Mars would be Martians.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/by-the-way-were-we-to-find-life-forms-on-venus-we-would-probably-call/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [Culture implies all which gives the mind possession of its own powers, as languages to the critic, telescope to the astronomer. Culture alters the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/culture-implies-all-which-gives-the-mind-possession-of-its-own-powers/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Astronomers have built telescopes which can show myriads of stars unseen before; but when a man looks through a tear in his own eye,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/astronomers-have-built-telescopes-which-can-show-myriads-of-stars/) [Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/) ## More by Simon Newcomb > [If my impressions are correct, our educational planing mill cuts down all the knots of genius, and reduces the best of the men who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/if-my-impressions-are-correct-our-educational-planing-mill-cuts-down/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [Though born in Nova Scotia, I am of almost pure New England descent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/though-born-in-nova-scotia-i-am-of-almost-pure-new-england-descent/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [Aerial flight is one of that class of problems with which men will never have to cope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/aerial-flight-is-one-of-that-class-of-problems-with-which-men-will/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [One hardly knows where, in the history of science, to look for an important movement that had its effective start in so pure and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/one-hardly-knows-where-in-the-history-of-science-to-look-for-an/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [Until I was four years old I lived in the house of my paternal grandfather, about two miles from the pretty little village of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/until-i-was-four-years-old-i-lived-in-the-house-of-my-paternal/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [One of the most beautiful hypotheses ever propounded in physics is ... the Dynamical Theory of Gases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/one-of-the-most-beautiful-hypotheses-ever-propounded-in-physics-is/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [Construction of an aerial vehicle which can carry even a single man . . . requires the discovery of some new metal or force.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/construction-of-an-aerial-vehicle-which-can-carry-even-a-single-man/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [James Edward Oliver might have been one of the great mathematicians of his time had he not been absolutely wanting in the power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/james-edward-oliver-might-have-been-one-of-the-great-mathematicians/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [A suggestion had been made to me looking toward a professorship in some Western college, but after due consideration, I declined to consider the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/a-suggestion-had-been-made-to-me-looking-toward-a-professorship-in/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [My father followed, during most of his life, the precarious occupation of a country school teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/my-father-followed-during-most-of-his-life-the-precarious-occupation/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [In 1858 I received the degree of D. S. from the Lawrence Scientific School, and thereafter remained on the rolls of the university as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/in-1858-i-received-the-degree-of-d-s-from-the-lawrence-scientific/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [The result was that, if it happened to clear off after a cloudy evening, I frequently arose from my bed at any hour of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/the-result-was-that-if-it-happened-to-clear-off-after-a-cloudy/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [In 1860 a total eclipse of the sun was visible in British America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/in-1860-a-total-eclipse-of-the-sun-was-visible-in-british-america/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [What we now call school training, the pursuit of fixed studies at stated hours under the constant guidance of a teacher, I could scarcely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/what-we-now-call-school-training-the-pursuit-of-fixed-studies-at/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) > [As the existence of a corps of professors of mathematics is peculiar to our navy, as well as an apparent, perhaps a real, anomaly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/as-the-existence-of-a-corps-of-professors-of-mathematics-is-peculiar/) [Simon Newcomb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) [Explore all 39 Simon Newcomb quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/) ## More Around the world quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) [Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Astronomers are greatly disappointed when, having traveled halfway around the world to see an eclipse, clouds prevent a sight of it; and yet a sense of relief accompanies the disappointment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Simon Newcomb" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-when-having-traveled-halfway/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Around the world" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-when-having-traveled-halfway/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/simon-newcomb-16581_around-the-world_astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-whe_3008845.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/simon-newcomb-16581_around-the-world_astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-whe_3008845.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8ad/simon-newcomb-16581_around-the-world_astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-whe_3008845.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Astronomers are greatly disappointed when, having traveled halfway around the world to see an eclipse…” — Simon Newcomb", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Simon Newcomb", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-newcomb/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Astronomers are greatly disappointed when, having...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-when-having-traveled-halfway/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-newcomb/astronomers-are-greatly-disappointed-when-having-traveled-halfway/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```