One of the most interesting things about solar eclipses is the way that they affect Earth.
During partial eclipses, you can enjoy tiny eclipse images sparkling on the ground as the sunlight is filtered through leaves. Each tiny hole formed from the spaces between the leaves allows a projection of the eclipse image to shine through onto the ground, much like a "pin-hole projector." Sometimes, if it is close to being a Total or Annular eclipse, the wind will blow, and the temperature may drop quite a bit.
During Total or Annular Eclipses, you begin to understand just how important the sun is to Earth. Not only does the sky get as dark as night as the sun's light is blocked, but strong winds spring up due to the rapid and uneven cooling of the Earth in the path of the eclipse. Even in summer, it might get so cold that you want to put on your winter "woolies." Another interesting thing that happens during these dark eclipses is that animals that generally sleep at night will actually go to sleep. Birds roost, and other animals curl up to sleep. Nocturnal animals begin to wake up and move around. Since the darkest part of an eclipse doesn't last for even a half hour, when it's over, the daytime animals wake up and the nocturnal animals try to go back to sleep. They are all very confused.
Another interesting effect of these dark eclipses is the presence of "shadow bands." The sighting of shadow bands is relatively rare...they are not always spotted during an eclipse, but if you ever see them, you won't forget them. They resemble clear, dark grey strips of crepe paper lined up row after row with about the same amount of open space between the strips as the strips are wide. When the event begins, they appear to simply be lying on the ground. As the event progresses, however, they appear to move toward you, undulating over the ground, following the contours of the ground that they appear to move over. It can be a rather frightening experience, even if you know what is happening. Your body has its own idea of what is "right," and strips of ground crawling toward you are not acceptable...even if your mind says it's OK. Your body may want to run and hide, anyway.
And...during some eclipses, different areas along the path may experience monochromatic (one color) light. This follows the entire spectrum--red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Indigo is more difficult to distinguish from the blue and violet, however. Interesting things happen when you are exposed to monochromatic light. For instance, if the light is green, each blade of grass seems to stand out in 3-D...even the blades partially covered by other blades of grass. In green light, red turns to the grey scale. Red clothing looks black or dark grey. People's skin looks greyish, too....that can be rather unnerving.
There are a lot of myths about the danger of solar eclipses. Although it IS dangerous for you to look directly at the sun at any time, glancing at an eclipse would pose less danger in that a portion of the sun's rays are blocked. The temptation to keep looking, however, makes looking at an eclipse dangerous. There are special filters made so that people can look at the sun safely, and without them (used properly), you should never look directly at the sun. There are also other ways to look at a solar eclipse without looking directly at the sun. You can use "pin-hole projection, or a "pin-hole mirror."
Eclipse light can't make you go insane, or any of the other myths that abound regarding the filtered light from the sun. It is the same light that you normally get, except for the fact that some of it is being blocked by the Moon getting in the way.
It is easy to understand why Solar Eclipses are the subject of superstition, however, if you have ever experienced a total or annular type of eclipse. It can be frightening...the strong winds almost knocking you over, and the temperature dropping just as the light goes out.
During partial eclipses, you can enjoy tiny eclipse images sparkling on the ground as the sunlight is filtered through leaves. Each tiny hole formed from the spaces between the leaves allows a projection of the eclipse image to shine through onto the ground, much like a "pin-hole projector." Sometimes, if it is close to being a Total or Annular eclipse, the wind will blow, and the temperature may drop quite a bit.
During Total or Annular Eclipses, you begin to understand just how important the sun is to Earth. Not only does the sky get as dark as night as the sun's light is blocked, but strong winds spring up due to the rapid and uneven cooling of the Earth in the path of the eclipse. Even in summer, it might get so cold that you want to put on your winter "woolies." Another interesting thing that happens during these dark eclipses is that animals that generally sleep at night will actually go to sleep. Birds roost, and other animals curl up to sleep. Nocturnal animals begin to wake up and move around. Since the darkest part of an eclipse doesn't last for even a half hour, when it's over, the daytime animals wake up and the nocturnal animals try to go back to sleep. They are all very confused.
Another interesting effect of these dark eclipses is the presence of "shadow bands." The sighting of shadow bands is relatively rare...they are not always spotted during an eclipse, but if you ever see them, you won't forget them. They resemble clear, dark grey strips of crepe paper lined up row after row with about the same amount of open space between the strips as the strips are wide. When the event begins, they appear to simply be lying on the ground. As the event progresses, however, they appear to move toward you, undulating over the ground, following the contours of the ground that they appear to move over. It can be a rather frightening experience, even if you know what is happening. Your body has its own idea of what is "right," and strips of ground crawling toward you are not acceptable...even if your mind says it's OK. Your body may want to run and hide, anyway.
And...during some eclipses, different areas along the path may experience monochromatic (one color) light. This follows the entire spectrum--red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet. Indigo is more difficult to distinguish from the blue and violet, however. Interesting things happen when you are exposed to monochromatic light. For instance, if the light is green, each blade of grass seems to stand out in 3-D...even the blades partially covered by other blades of grass. In green light, red turns to the grey scale. Red clothing looks black or dark grey. People's skin looks greyish, too....that can be rather unnerving.
There are a lot of myths about the danger of solar eclipses. Although it IS dangerous for you to look directly at the sun at any time, glancing at an eclipse would pose less danger in that a portion of the sun's rays are blocked. The temptation to keep looking, however, makes looking at an eclipse dangerous. There are special filters made so that people can look at the sun safely, and without them (used properly), you should never look directly at the sun. There are also other ways to look at a solar eclipse without looking directly at the sun. You can use "pin-hole projection, or a "pin-hole mirror."
Eclipse light can't make you go insane, or any of the other myths that abound regarding the filtered light from the sun. It is the same light that you normally get, except for the fact that some of it is being blocked by the Moon getting in the way.
It is easy to understand why Solar Eclipses are the subject of superstition, however, if you have ever experienced a total or annular type of eclipse. It can be frightening...the strong winds almost knocking you over, and the temperature dropping just as the light goes out.
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