Menu Close

Articles on Eclipse April 8, 2024

Displaying all articles

A composite photograph of the solar eclipse on Dec. 26, 2019 in Liwa, United Arab Emirates. (Abed Ismail/Unsplash)

The total solar eclipse is a cosmic spectacle well worth the hype

Eclipses have long fascinated and intrigued people, and anticipation of the total solar eclipse on April 8 is no exception. The beauty, history, mythology and science of eclipses justify the hype.
Pre-emptively announcing a state of emergency for prime eclipse-viewing areas in Canada’s Niagara Region is an example of prudent planning. (Shutterstock)

Niagara pre-emptively declares a state of emergency in anticipation of massive solar eclipse crowds

A million people are anticipated to head to the Niagara Region to experience the total solar eclipse on April 8. Keeping large crowds of spectators safe may pose a challenge for the region.
An image of GAL-CLUS-022058s — the largest and one of the most complete Einstein rings ever discovered. (ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Jha)

A solar eclipse and a black hole can both bend light

Observations during historical solar eclipses confirmed Einstein’s theory of gravity, and led to the predictions of black holes.
Changes in light qualities during a solar eclipse are quick and drastic, so familiarity with aperture and shutter speed are important. People with cameras among viewers of a partial solar eclipse in Yanguan town, Haining City, China, in 2009. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Photographing the eclipse? You’ll join a long history of people seeking proof of experience

Apart from technical aspects, a successful photograph of the eclipse serves as a lasting reminder of the sense of wonder and the feeling of being part of something larger than ourselves.

Top contributors

More