Solar eclipses are one of the most wondrous sights in the universe. They allow us to see the solar corona – the atmosphere of our star – from Earth and in the past have also allowed us to verify Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity.
These phenomena have accompanied us for centuries, so much so that there are several cases in which eclipses have directly impacted human events. Just think about thesolar eclipse of Constantinople of 1453, which “marked” the end of the Byzantine Empire, or the eclipse that occurred on the battlefields between the English colonial army in South Africa and the Zulu army of 1879.
As spectacular as they are and have long been understood from a scientific point of view, solar eclipses are however often also characterized by different fake news, which try to undermine its beauty. One of the most common states that the Sun is more dangerous during these celestial events, since the non-visible radiation emitted by the star would be deflected in a single point – that of the shadow cone – by passage of the Moon.
As interesting as this statement may seem, scientists have repeatedly demonstrated that the Moon does not act as a lens to radiation and that the danger posed by the sun’s rays remains the same, both with and without the eclipse. So if you don’t want to get damaged by the sun’s rays, just spread a little sun cream on your skin.
It is also false that looking at a total eclipse without protective lenses can lead to blindness. The corona that is in fact possible to see during these astronomical events has electromagnetic radiation a million times less compared to the classic sunlight coming from the surface, a condition that makes it perfectly visible without suffering damage to the eyes.
This means that it is possible to watch an eclipse during its central phase in complete safety without lenses, while in the previous phases it is possible to use special filters or lenses, which allow us to look at the sky without problems. It is even possible to make DIY lenses to enjoy the show, simple but functional.
Another bizarre fake news, linked to the ancient myth of lunar deities, states that eclipse are dangerous for pregnant women and that giving birth during an eclipse is equivalent to condemning your son/daughter to be cursed for life. Perhaps it goes without saying but eclipses, like many other astronomical phenomena, are completely harmless to children and their parents. Believing these lies is equivalent to believing that magic exists and that the random position of the stars can cause some particular effect on everyday life. A discredited position by science and by the church itself for centuries.
Finally, eclipses do not help plants to grow, they do not poison food when their shadow cone passes and, unlike what is believed they also happen at the poles. Although these two regions of the planet are less affected by the shadow cone of our satellite, even there it is possible to witness total eclipse events. The next total eclipse that can be seen from the South Pole, for example, will take place in December 2039.