Similarly, solar eclipses help us calibrate our universal timing, leading to benefits in Global Positioning System (GPS) fields by accurately connecting artificial satellites in orbit to GPS terrestrial stations located on Earth.
This means that the continuous observation of solar eclipses could prevent you one day from getting lost.
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In studying the Sun, total solar eclipses are the only way to study and observe the Solar Corona perfectly.
Although scientists have succeeded in artificially recreating solar eclipses using the invention of Coronagraphs (telescopic attachments that block out direct light from the Sun), the results through natural total solar eclipses are better.
Additionally, solar eclipses are vitally helpful in studying and observing several solar atmospheric phenomena such as solar flares, coronal loops, coronal ejections, solar prominence, and solar spicules. Scientists study these phenomena to learn whether they affect our climate or not.
Observing solar eclipses could be highly beneficial meteorologically, as there is a connection between the decrease of solar thermal, light, and even sound radiations during the eclipse and the atmosphere of Earth.
Furthermore, studying the history of solar eclipses and calculating the cycles of modern and future ones give us clues about specific dates and certain historical events we would like to calculate.
For example, drawings on Ancient Egyptian walls and in discovered papyrus documents depicting constellations and solar eclipses help scientists to identify important dates of wars, deaths, and crownings.
Partial solar eclipses, in particular, are also useful in Radioastronomy. As with Radio telescopes (RTs), we could study the important phenomenon of solar storms in detail. These storms can damage satellites and could harm our technological development.
Mind Blowing Facts
Interestingly, the solar eclipse phenomenon is expected to cease to exist in 600 million years as the Moon keeps moving farther away from the Earth by 3.8cm every year.
Accordingly, after 600 million years, the Moon won’t be able to cover the disk of the Sun because it will be distant from the Earth and so will appear smaller, making its shadow cone unable to reach the Earth.
And don’t think that Earth is the only planet blessed with witnessing this phenomenon. Solar eclipses actually occur on six of the eight solar planets and the dwarf planet Pluto. Stellar eclipse phenomena also take place between Binary Stars.
To enjoy solar eclipses, one has to be careful to use the right protection and avoid looking directly at it with the naked eye.
During solar eclipse, sunlight entering your eyes decreases because of the occultation. Therefore, the eye pupil widen its diameter to let in more light.
But while looking at the Sun’s corona or during the sudden flashlight caused by the solar eclipse, the eye pupil gets more light than needed while being wide open, which causes the retina to be burnt to blindness without giving any indication of pain to the spinal cord because the retina doesn’t have pain fibers.
So don’t stare at the eclipse with your naked eyes or even use sunglasses. Instead, use sun filters or special Eclipse Glasses.
Note: The article is written by Islam Sulieman, a former assistant editor of the page.
References:
- 2011 Agenda of the National Research Institute of Astronomy & Geophysics, Helwan, Egypt. (NRIAG).
- 2011 Celestial Agenda of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), Paris, France.
- NASA Eclipses Website.
- Working Group on Solar Eclipses of (IAU) International Astronomical Union.
This article is from our archive, originally published on an earlier date, and highlighted now for its importance
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