Audience: Middle and High School Students
Fun Fact: Solar eclipses are sometimes called “Rings of Fire.” Photo by Justin Dickey from Unsplash.
The moment a solar eclipse graces the sky, everyone knows. It begins with the darkening of the sky, as the Moon slides in line with the sun. For a stunning minute or so, the Moon is reduced to a dark circle, enveloped in a bright halo of light. Other times, the Moon blocks the sun entirely, reducing the land to darkened shadows. These are all different kinds of solar eclipses, a phenomenon that occurs a handful of times each year. In ancient history, an eclipse brought fear, as people lived under the impression that solar eclipses were bad luck. However, the narrative around eclipses has changed greatly since, as science and technology has advanced to reveal their origin. Now, there are entire groups dedicated to observing solar eclipses: people who travel around the world for the sole purpose of experiencing nature’s gorgeous display.
A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, partially or fully obscuring the Sun’s light as it casts a shadow on Earth’s surface. According to Astronomy Magazine, 2.38 solar eclipses occur on average every year. Solar eclipses are somewhat of a rare event, due to the Moon’s orbital cycle being different from the Sun’s, causing an infrequent alignment between the two celestial bodies. Moreover, solar eclipses only occur during a New Moon, [insert phrase explaining what a New Moon is], which is another contributor to their limited occurrences.
There are four types of solar eclipses: annual, hybrid, partial, and total. An annual solar eclipse is similar to a partial solar eclipse but, instead, reveals an entire ring of light, due to the Moon’s greater distance from Earth. A hybrid solar eclipse is a combination of the two aforementioned types, as the eclipse shifts from annual to total. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon doesn’t line up completely with the Sun and the Earth, causing an outer crescent of light to be exposed. A total solar eclipse is the only time viewers can watch the eclipse without solar eclipse glasses. Finally, a total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is completely in line with the Sun and the Earth, covering the entirety of the Sun’s light.
While these solar eclipses occur in both the Southern and Northern hemispheres, they’re more common during the summer months. However, a solar eclipse can only be viewed at specific places on Earth while they are occurring. Astronomer Jean Meeus found that the frequency of a specific point on Earth being in the path of totality, or the path in which viewers must be in order to view a total eclipse, is every 375 years.
This special nature of solar eclipses has sparked attention from all over the globe, shown most prominently in the practice of seeking out eclipses by a group of people called “eclipse chasers.” By tracking climate and cosmic patterns, there are organizations of eclipse fanatics who travel around the world for the purpose of witnessing this phenomenon — specifically, a total solar eclipse. When the last Great American Eclipse occurred in August 2017, the Smithsonian magazine estimated it “to attract between 1.85 million and 7.4 million people.” Eclipse chasers have existed ever since the Babylonian times in ancient civilizations, and now, eclipse enthusiasts have the means to accurately track and observe them.
Like other eclipse chasers, you might be inspired to view a solar eclipse. If you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, this could be a glorious experience. However, there are a few musts while observing this celestial phenomenon. Firstly, you must be in an open area, ideally an expansive park or field, to have a clear, unobstructed view of the eclipse. Avoid observation within a city area, as clouds and light pollution could taint the eclipse’s appearance. Most importantly, you must wear solar eclipse glasses. It’s widely-known that looking directly into the sun damages our eyes. A solar eclipse is no different, and unless you’re in the path of totality, you must wear protective eyewear.
Interested in witnessing an eclipse yourself? The next predicted total solar eclipse is April 8, 2024. While you may be unable to view this next one depending on your location, keep an eye out for the next eclipse in your area. As people around the world seem to agree, solar eclipses are the perfect marriage of science and wonder — a spectacle one would be lucky to behold.
Bibliography:
Bakich, Michael E. “How Often Do Solar Eclipses Occur?” Astronomy Magazine, 14 Oct. 2023, www.astronomy.com/observing/how-often-do-solar-eclipses-occur/.
“Eclipses - NASA Science.” NASA, NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.
Mansky, Jackie. “A Brief History of Eclipse Chasers.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 3 Aug. 2017, www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/brief-history-eclipse-chasers-180964063/.
“Types of Solar Eclipses - NASA Science.” NASA, NASA, science.nasa.gov/eclipses/types/. Accessed 20 Feb. 2024.
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