10 Fascinating Facts About Solar Eclipses You Need to Know

1. A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth’s surface.

2. Total solar eclipses are rare events, happening only about once every 18 months from any given location on Earth.

3. The longest a solar eclipse can last is 7.5 minutes, but most are only a few minutes long.

4. A solar eclipse can only occur during a new moon phase.

5. The ancient Greeks were able to predict solar eclipses using the Saros cycle, a period of approximately 18 years and 11 days.

6. Solar eclipses can create beautiful phenomenon, such as the “diamond ring effect” where a bright spot forms on the edge of the eclipsed sun.

7. Animals may exhibit strange behavior during a solar eclipse, such as birds falling silent and bats emerging from their roosts.

8. During a total solar eclipse, the temperature can drop by as much as 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. The first recorded observation of a solar eclipse was in China in the 8th century BC.

10. Some cultures believed that a solar eclipse was caused by a giant celestial dragon or a hungry god devouring the sun.