6 things that happen after a total solar eclipse

More than the superstitions, here are a few absurd things that actually happen


News Desk August 17, 2017
PHOTO: NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC

Solar eclipse is expected to occur on August 21, and while there may be many superstitions about the eclipse, there are also a few absurd things that happen.


Here's a list of six things that happen:


1. Animals getting confused


Meg Pickett, astrophysicist says, "A totally eclipsed sun is 10,000 times fainter than one that is 99 percent covered by the moon. The change in light during an eclipse makes the temperature drop suddenly, which makes animals think that night is coming."


As the total eclipse begins, animals begin their evening songs and behaviour, such as crickets chirping. As the eclipse ends, the animals think that morning is coming.

2. Stars and planets in the middle of the day

The sky tends to get so dark that stars will look just as bright as they would during the evening. If you live close to the total eclipse zone, you'll even be able to see planets like Jupiter and Venus easily.

3. Shadow bands

Right before a total eclipse, little snake-like shadows will appear to slither across the ground. According to NASA, scientists aren't completely sure why shadow bands happen. Many scientists believe they are caused by light from the eclipse being focused and refocused through cells of air in the atmosphere.

Shadow bands are a rare sight during the eclipse, but you may be able to see them with the right equipment, timing and location. The most important part is the colour of the ground. You can see the bands best on light colors. Some people lay a large white sheet on the ground.  You may also spot them by looking at concrete, sand, snow or ice.

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4. Bailey's beads

Bailey's beads are pearls of sunlight shining through the valleys and mountains of the moon. You'll see them around the edges of the moon as it passes over the sun.

"The beads may look reddish in colour, exposing the upper atmosphere of the sun, the chromosphere, or 'Sphere of Colour,'" said Pickett.

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5. Corona rainbows

Corona rainbows happens when the air is full of water molecules. "During the eclipse in 1999, I was watching in Cornwall, England," said Bender. "It was a completely overcast and rainy day. Leading up to the eclipse, you couldn't see the sun at all. Three minutes before totality, the sun started to peak through, and with one minute to go, clouds dissipated and the entire sky opened up. We lucked out, but the best was yet to come.  Even though the rain had stopped, there was still so much water vapor in the air. When the sun eclipsed, the corona was full of tiny rainbows! Imagine seeing the stunning corona in full colour! I have never seen that since, but anything is possible. You just don't know how it will play out."

6. 360-degree sunset

During totality, or when the sun is completely covered by the moon, you can see a what looks like a sunset-- in every direction-- around the horizon.

The strange 360-sunset effect happens, because the sun is still shining outside the path of totality.

This article originally appeared on CNET.

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