Should you witnessed April 8’s complete photo voltaic eclipse, you may need observed a mesmerizing phenomenon that occurred simply earlier than and after the celestial occasion.
They’re referred to as shadow bands–skinny, wavy strains of alternating gentle and darkish that transfer and undulate parallel on plain-colored surfaces.
In line with NASA, these bands’ depth, movement, and course appear to be associated to the identical spectacle that makes stars twinkle. Within the higher environment, turbulent cells of air act like lenses to focus and defocus the sharp-edged gentle from the photo voltaic floor simply earlier than totality.
The depth, course, and movement of the shadow bands throughout April 8’s complete photo voltaic eclipse look like associated to the identical phenomenon that causes twinkling stars.
The motion of those atmospheric cells is random between every eclipse and every viewing location, so the looks and motion of shadow bands can’t be predicted beforehand.
Watching these shadow bands transfer and shimmer on the bottom is fascinating. They sometimes seem a few minute earlier than the overall photo voltaic eclipse and final for just a few seconds to a couple minutes after.
The easiest way to view these bands is to have a plain-colored floor, akin to a white sheet or a concrete pavement. The impact is most distinguished in areas with good visibility and light-colored surfaces.
The phenomenon of shadow bands has puzzled scientists and eclipse watchers for hundreds of years. Though they aren’t uncommon throughout a complete photo voltaic eclipse, they’re nonetheless not totally understood.
Some theories counsel that the shadow bands outcome from the interference of sunshine waves brought on by the Earth’s environment. Others counsel they outcome from the bending of sunshine by the Earth’s magnetic discipline.
So the subsequent time you witness a complete photo voltaic eclipse, which can be someday between 2024 and 2025, maintain a watch out for these elusive shadow bands and marvel at the great thing about nature’s mysteries.
