On Monday, April 8th, people across the United States will have the extraordinary chance to witness a remarkable event – a rare total solar eclipse. This celestial phenomenon is composed of five distinct stages, each offering its own captivating sights.
Stage one begins when the moon starts its journey across the sun, creating the appearance of a carved disc within our star. Gradually, this disc will expand, resembling a series of bites being taken out of the solar disc.
During this time, people may start noticing the presence of shadow bands, which are wavy shapes that appear on surfaces and resemble the shadows found at the bottom of swimming pools caused by water. It is intriguing to note that scientists are still uncertain about the exact cause of these shadow bands, but they speculate that it may be related to some disturbance in Earth’s atmosphere.
During stage one, Baily’s beads can be observed as bright silver dots along the outer edges of the moon. This fascinating phenomenon occurs when the sun’s light filters around the topography of the moon’s surface.
When the first stage, also referred to as first contact, is finished, the second stage of contact commences. You can easily identify the start of this stage when you catch sight of a radiant diamond.
Totality Will Offer Unique Views Of The Cosmos
During stage three of a solar eclipse, known as totality, the moon fully obscures the sun. This remarkable moment is accompanied by the appearance of white lights emanating from the edges of the moon. Additionally, one may even catch a glimpse of solar prominences during this phase. If the weather permits and the sky is clear, observers may also be treated to a stunning view of stars and planets that are usually difficult to spot from Earth.
When you observe the solar eclipse outdoors, you will notice a fascinating phenomenon. The birds, so active in their chirping, suddenly fall silent, while the crickets take over the soundscape. Additionally, there is a noticeable drop in temperature, ranging between five and 20 degrees.
During the fourth stage, known as third contact, the moon starts to separate from the sun, resulting in another partial eclipse. This phase appears similar to stage two but in reverse, as the sun gradually becomes visible again. Baily’s Beads and shadow bands will also make a reappearance during this stage.
Stage five represents the ultimate phase, symbolizing the culmination of the total solar eclipse. After the conclusion of this extraordinary event, it will be a span of 20 years until the contiguous US witnesses another total solar eclipse.
The source of the featured image for this story can be found here.
The article titled “The Five Stages Of A Total Solar Eclipse Explained” was originally published on InspireMore.