COSMIC WONDERMENT

On Aug. 21, 2017, “The Great American Eclipse,” a total eclipse of the sun, will sweep across the continental United States and be visible from one coast to the other for the first time since 1918. This eclipse will not be visible from any other country, marking the first time a total solar eclipse will be exclusively visible in what is now the United States since the year 1257.

Everyone in the United States will see at least a partial eclipse, and the total solar eclipse will be visible along a 70-mile wide path beginning in Oregon, crossing 12 states, and ending at the Atlantic Ocean off the shore of South Carolina.

“A solar eclipse is a celestial event that makes us feel more connected to outer space and our solar system,” says Brett Barwick, a new associate professor of physics at Ripon College and the Harrison E. Farnsworth 1918 Chair in Physics. “It is an event that we physicists love to use to get children and the public excited about science and technology. This year, we are planning a public event to help show people how to construct their own safe solar eclipse viewing devices.”

Total solar eclipses occur somewhere on Earth every 18 months on average and last for only a few minutes in any one location. Eclipses happen because of a cosmic coincidence: as seen from Earth, the sun and the moon appear to be about the same size in the sky.

When the moon passes between the sun and Earth and the three line up perfectly, the sun appears partially obscured by the moon. The sun is just barely covered, with its corona — its outer atmosphere — visible as a shimmering halo of gold in a diamond ring effect around the darkened moon.

For those few minutes, daytime becomes a deep twilight, birds and animals are disoriented, roosters crow and insects chirp as they believe night has fallen. Stars and planets become visible in the darkened sky.

Because the sun’s corona usually is hidden from our view, a total eclipse allows solar astronomers the opportunity to collect data they normally cannot.

Ancient Myths

Many early myths were used to explain and react to eclipses:

MANY CULTURES: People banged pots, pans and drums to scare away demons causing the eclipse.

ITALY: flowers planted during a solar eclipse will be brighter and more colorful.

NAVAJO: An eclipse is part of nature and acknowledged with reflection, songs and fasting.

VIETNAM: A giant frog devours the sun.

VIKINGS: Sky wolves chase the sun or moon and cause an eclipse if they catch one.

ANCIENT CHINA: A celestial dragon devours the sun. The Chinese word for eclipse, chih or shih, means to eat. Predicting eclipses was important to protect the emperors. In 2134 B.C., two Chinese astrologers failed to predict the solar eclipse and were beheaded.

HINDUISM: Two demons, Rahu and Ketu, swallow the sun.

KOREA: Mythical fire dogs try to steal the sun.

TOGO AND BENIN: The sun and moon are fighting. To bring peace, people on Earth must settle their conflicts.

ANCIENT GREEKS: The gods are angry and warn of impending disaster and destruction.

INDIA: Food cooked during an eclipse will be poisoned.

INUIT: The Sun goddess Malina walked away after a fight with Moon god Anningan. A solar eclipse happened when Anningan caught up with his sister.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS: He convinced Jamaicans an upcoming eclipse would demonstrate his power, and they should cooperate for the sun to return.

PREGNANCY: A solar eclipse can be harmful to pregnant women and unborn children, so they should stay indoors.

CRUCIFIXION: Some historians suggest an eclipse could have caused the darkened skies during the crucifixion of Jesus.

THREAT TO ROYALTY: Babylonians placed substitute kings on the throne during eclipses to protect the real rulers. Henry I died shortly after the eclipse in 1133.