On Saturday in the Polish sky we will be able to watch the solar eclipse. Before we grab specialized glasses or filters, it is worth refreshing knowledge about this fascinating phenomenon and find out how different cultures perceive them.
On Saturday, around 11.50 Central European time, a partial solar eclipse will begin. The phenomenon will be visible at the eastern ends of Canada, north-eastern Africa and in most Europe, including in Poland.
In our country, the maximum phenomenon will take place around 12.28, and the whole will end after 1pm. It will be best visible in northwestern Poland – In Szczecin, almost 16 percent of the diameter of the sun shield will be covered in the peak of the eclipse. Observers from eastern Poland will have a little less luck, where “Ogryk” will cover less than 10 percent. shield. We should prepare properly for observing the phenomenon, because looking at the sun's disc without protection can seriously damage our eyes.
Solar eclipse. You certainly don't know that
Eclipse has been fascinated by humanity for centuries, so it is not surprising that there are plenty of myths, legends and superstitions associated with them. From those times, we were able to learn the mechanisms directing this phenomenon from the scientific side. Here are curiosities that are worth getting to know before looking at the sky.
- In the 21st century, a total of 224 solar eclipses will fall, of which there are already 52 phenomena behind us. Of these, most will have a partial or wedding nature, but there will also be 68 total eclipses – the nearest of them will be able to see in Europe as early as 2026.
- Eclipses are repeated in a cycle of 18 years, 11 days and 8 hours. Saros takes more or less for so long – the astronomical period, after which the earth, the sun and the moon return to almost identical position relative to each other. These eclipses have a very similar geometry and occur at the same time of the year, but not in the same place – the shift of the cycle by eight hours makes it fall slightly more west. For a perfect return to the same geographical region you have to wait about three saros, i.e. 54 years and 34 days.
- Within one year, two to five solar eclipses may occur, with a maximum of two of them to be complete. In the 21st century, the maximum annual number of these phenomena will be four – so far such a number was recorded in 2011, and in the future it will be awaited in the years 2029, 2047, 2065, 2076 and 2094.
- Statistically, the most likely month of the total solar eclipse is May, and the least probable – November.
- Total solar eclipses have a significant impact on animals. Species starting activity at dusk, such as cicadas and crickets, can begin to behave as if the evening has just come. Sudden darkness is also misleading for animals with a daily lifestyle: cows and horses can start to sleep, and birds – return to their nests.
- Sun eclipses occur on almost every planet of our solar system, except Mercury and Venus – these planets do not have their moons. On Jupiter, the eclipse occurs once every 42 hours.
- Over 4,000 years ago, two Chinese astronomers were lost because they did not foresee the eclipse for the then erected.
- The Viking legend tells about the sun, which is chased by a huge wolf. When the wolf catches the sun, the eclipse occurs – at this point people tried to hit the pots and pans as loudly as possible to scare away the wolf. In turn, the ancient Chinese believed that the eclipse was caused by the dragon devouring the sun, and the Vietnamese claimed that it was the fault of the gigantic frog.
- The total solar eclipse in 1919 was used to confirm the general relativity of Albert Einstein by Arthur Eddington, a British astronomer. The theory explained that the radius of light moves the shortest possible way and can take the form of a curve. It also assumed the existence of black holes and gravitational waves. In the pictures taken during the eclipse in 1919 you could see that the stars were seemingly in places other than when the light did not pass near the sun.
skyatnightmagazine.com, astronomy.com, space.com, nationaleclipse.com, NASA
Source of the main photo: Maciek & Janek