On October 14, a partial solar eclipse will occur over North, Central, and South America, with some regions witnessing an annular "ring of fire" eclipse. Although it will not completely block the sun as a total eclipse would, the moon is expected to obscure up to 90% of the sun's disk, depending on the viewer's location.
The next total eclipse is scheduled for April 8, 2024, and while the upcoming eclipse may not be total, it's expected to be a stunning event with potential peculiar phenomena. Astronomer Tyler Nordgren notes that solar eclipses are remarkable and often create unique effects. Here are 10 of the bizarre things that could happen during an eclipse:
A bird rests on dome as the moon partially obscures the sun during a partial solar eclipse visible from Lahore on October 25, 2022.
Bright Planets Will Shine
In a total solar eclipse, the moon's coverage of the sun can make it possible to see stars and planets in the sky, with visibility depending on Earth's positioning. Notably, during the 2024 total eclipse, planets like Venus and Jupiter might be observable, while annular eclipses don't provide the same level of darkness or light changes.
Pinhole Effect
During an eclipse, the ground will be dappled with shadows of trees and objects creating crescent shapes due to the pinhole effect. These eclipse shadows are not exclusive to annular eclipses; they also occur during partial eclipses, creating a visually striking effect.
Bacteria Become Smaller
A 2011 study showed that a solar eclipse can als influence microorganisms. Researchers from India observed that the bacteria growing in a lab setting exhibited altered size and shape characteristics near the eclipse's zenith. However, these findings have not been confirmed through replication.
Baily's Beads
When safely observing a total or annular solar eclipse, you might witness "Baily's beads," a phenomenon characterized by a necklace-like series of bright spots along the moon's edge. This effect, named after the astronomer Francis Baily, who documented it in 1836, is a result of sunlight interacting with the moon's uneven terrain.
Radio Disturbance
Total and annular eclipses disrupt radio wave frequencies, possibly due to the sun's interactions with Earth's ionosphere; data collection is planned for Oct. 14 and April 8, 2024.
Strange Animal Behaviors
During a daytime eclipse, certain animals may exhibit nighttime behaviors due to the sudden darkness disrupting their natural rhythms, with examples including crepuscular creatures like cicadas and crickets chirping their evening songs, cows and horses preparing for sleep, and birds returning to their roosts.
Change in Wind Direction
Eclipses cause temperature drops and shifts in wind direction, with the wind initially subsiding as the moon nears the sun and then intensifying in a different direction after peak coverage, a 2016 study found.
Sudden Temperature Drops
Eclipses can lead to temperature drops of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (2.8 to 5.6 degrees Celsius), varying by location, season, and eclipse type, creating an unusual sensation, similar to a passing cloud, notes astronomer Tyler Nordgren.
Solar Prominences
Solar prominences, massive plasma and magnetic structures from the sun's surface, are typically invisible from Earth but may become visible during an eclipse, resembling petals behind the moon. It's important to emphasize the use of eclipse glasses when observing solar prominences or Baily's beads to avoid eye damage.
Mysterious Shadow Bands Appear
Peculiar wavy patterns of light and dark, known as "shadow bands," can manifest on uniform surfaces shortly before a total eclipse. These bands create a visual akin to being underwater. Despite being observed for centuries, these bands remain a scientific enigma, with hypotheses proposing they may be linked to atmospheric distortions, but their precise origin remains unclear.
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