But once in a while, the sun sashays to stage centre, overshadowing the night sky ordinarily filled with glittering stars, sparkling planets, and sometimes lunar events through an awesome event known as a total solar eclipse.
Just recently, this cosmic phenomenon enthralled many North Americans on April 8th, 2024 which marked the day when the moon blanketed away completely the disc of the sun and enveloped daytime in a ghostly twilight watching providing an opportunity to see the corona, its filmy outer atmosphere that is usually hidden from view.
Whereas there are plenty of total solar eclipses happening every now and then over time – about one-and-a-half years on average anywhere on Earth – seeing one from your own backyard is quite a rare treat. Those people who happen to be within the totality path are lucky enough to witness it since it’s such an unforgettable experience.
The run-up towards totality itself is almost as fascinating as what really happens. The world around you starts becoming dimmer as the moon edges towards complete coverage of the sun. You will notice an uncanny stillness around since even animals might mistake it for nightfall due to their confusion caused by decreasing light; also, temperatures can drop slightly.
A dark spot surrounded by the sun’s bright corona appears in place of the last sliver of sunlight. This is the sun’s outer atmosphere, which is normally not visible through its brilliant glare.
Totality on the other hand is brief and only lasts a few minutes. However, as the moon continues on its journey back to space, sunlight comes out again and life comes back into the world around you. The whole eclipse from when it first eats up some of the sun till it ends takes maybe hours but leaves lasting memories.
But why are these eclipses so special? Beyond simply being awe-inspiring moments when we witness a temporary disappearance of the sun itself, they give scientists an opportunity to examine its corona. The corona can only be observed during a total solar eclipse because it is about a million times fainter than the Sun’s surface.
Solar flares and blasts from eruption sites can inflict severe damage on earth technology or communication networks; therefore, studying them during such an event greatly helps in understanding their dynamics.
The recent eclipse may be over, but the memory of its beauty will linger on. The next time North Americans will get another chance to see a total solar eclipse will be in 2033 but there will be a partial one in Oct that year for those who like space travel.
