01:03 PM
Sunday, April 7, 2024
On April 8, a total solar eclipse will be visible in the skies of some US states, as well as parts of Canada and Mexico.
The eclipse “is the most unnatural phenomenon you will ever encounter,” Tyler Nordgren, an astronomer, artist and author who frequently works with the National Park Service, said in an interview with Live Science. Here are some strange things that may happen during a solar eclipse.
1. Bailey’s beads
If you view a total solar eclipse (safely, with proper eye protection), you may notice a patch of light around the edge of the moon appearing beaded, like a necklace. This phenomenon is known as “Bailey beads.” Named after astronomer Francis Paley, who described this effect in 1836, it is caused by the interaction of sunlight with the Moon’s uneven terrain.
2. Solar prominences
Solar prominences, also known as filaments, are massive structures of plasma and magnetic fields that originate from the surface of the Sun. Normally, we cannot see these protrusions from Earth. But during an eclipse, they may be visible behind the moon, appearing like petals on a flower.
3. Low temperatures
Temperatures drop quickly when the moon covers the sun. How much depends on the location, time of year and type of eclipse. Most places see temperatures drop by about 2.8 to 5.6 degrees Celsius during a total eclipse. An annular eclipse usually sees a less extreme temperature change, but things may still be cool.
4. Variable winds
Along with lower temperatures, areas experiencing an eclipse can expect a change in wind direction. First, the wind calms down as the moon comes close to blocking the sun. After the moon reaches peak coverage, the winds begin to pick up again, often blowing in a different direction, a 2016 study found. This effect occurs with total, annular and even partial eclipses.
5. Animal confusion
When the sky suddenly becomes dark in the middle of the day, animals can become very disoriented. Creeping creatures, such as cicadas and crickets, may begin singing their evening song. Cows and horses may begin to sleep at night, while birds return to their roosts.
6. Radio wave interference
Both total and annular eclipses mess with certain frequencies of radio waves, and no one knows why. Scientists suspect it may have something to do with the way the Sun interacts with Earth’s ionosphere, which is known to fluctuate in response to things like solar flares and solar storms.
7. Stressed microbes
Even microorganisms can be susceptible to the strange behaviors of a solar eclipse. A 2011 study of bacteria growing on laboratory Petri dishes during a total eclipse in India found that the microbes became smaller and of different shapes near the peak of the eclipse. However, these results have not yet been replicated.
8. Strange shadows
When the eclipse passes overhead, most eyes will be skyward. But take a moment to look at the ground, as the shadows cast by trees and other objects that cause the “hole” effect will be speckled with small crescents. During the peak of the annular eclipse, you’ll see little rings of light everywhere, Nordgren said. These eclipse shadows also occur during a partial eclipse, and the effect can be very beautiful.
9. Shadow ghosts
Seconds before the totality of the eclipse arrives, wavy lines of light and dark may appear on solid-colored surfaces. “It’s like being at the bottom of the pool,” Nordgren said. These “shadow bands” are somewhat of a scientific mystery, and astronomers still don’t know exactly what causes them or why they only appear occasionally. Some scientists hypothesize that these bands may be a manifestation of undulating distortions in the Earth’s atmosphere. But whatever these things are, they are well documented; Its records date back to the ninth century, according to NASA.
10. Visible stars and planets
During a total solar eclipse, the Moon blocks enough sunlight for stars and planets to appear in the sky. However, only the brightest of these planets will be visible, and their appearance will depend on Earth’s location at the time. For example, during the total eclipse of 2024, you may be able to see Venus and Jupiter.
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