Birthday
HydrangeasA solar eclipse lasts only minutes, but that is long enough for nature to “believe” evening has come. It gets cooler, birds fall silent and hundreds of tiny crescents appear under the trees. Here is what happens around you during an eclipse and how to watch it without harming your eyes.
A sunny mood in any weather: spray roses and flowers in a box.
What a solar eclipse is
An eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and covers the solar disc. A total eclipse is visible only along a narrow track, while over a much wider area the Sun is only partly covered. On 20 March 2015, for example, a total eclipse was seen in the Faroe Islands and Svalbard, and a partial one in Ukraine.
How nature reacts
- Cooling. During a total eclipse the air temperature can fall by several degrees.
- Birds and insects. Birds go quiet or head to their roosts. Observations have shown that bees almost stop flying during totality.
- Flowers. Some flowers that close at night may begin to fold their petals.
Crescents under the trees
The gaps between leaves act as tiny pinhole cameras, each projecting an image of the Sun onto the ground. Normally we see round patches of sunlight, but during a partial eclipse they become crescents. It is one of the simplest and safest ways to “see” an eclipse.
How to watch safely
- Proper filters only. Look at the Sun only through certified eclipse glasses (ISO 12312-2). Ordinary sunglasses do not protect your eyes.
- Projection. A hole in a piece of card, or a colander, projects the Sun’s image onto paper.
- Never through optics. Binoculars or a telescope without a solar filter can damage your eyes instantly.
For spring sky events, see the spring equinox, and for other natural wonders, amazing caves of the world.
FAQ
Can I watch an eclipse with sunglasses?
No. You need special eclipse glasses certified to ISO 12312-2, or a projection method.
Why do birds go quiet during an eclipse?
They take the sudden darkness and cooling as the onset of evening.
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Author: Maria Svitlovir
Graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Institute of Biology and Medicine (2001). BSc in Biology, MSc in Horticulture. Writes about plants, works at a garden centre selecting and repotting plants, and contributes to plant reference guides.
