When you witnessed April 8’s whole photo voltaic eclipse, you may need seen a mesmerizing phenomenon that occurred simply earlier than and after the celestial occasion.
They’re referred to as shadow bands–skinny, wavy strains of alternating gentle and darkish that transfer and undulate parallel on plain-colored surfaces.
In keeping with NASA, these bands’ depth, movement, and path appear to be associated to the identical spectacle that makes stars twinkle. Within the higher ambiance, turbulent cells of air act like lenses to focus and defocus the sharp-edged gentle from the photo voltaic floor simply earlier than totality.
The depth, path, and movement of the shadow bands throughout April 8’s whole photo voltaic eclipse seem like associated to the identical phenomenon that causes twinkling stars.
The motion of those atmospheric cells is random between every eclipse and every viewing location, so the looks and motion of shadow bands can’t be predicted beforehand.
Watching these shadow bands transfer and shimmer on the bottom is fascinating. They sometimes seem a few minute earlier than the entire photo voltaic eclipse and final for a couple of seconds to some minutes after.
The easiest way to view these bands is to have a plain-colored floor, akin to a white sheet or a concrete pavement. The impact is most outstanding in areas with good visibility and light-colored surfaces.
The phenomenon of shadow bands has puzzled scientists and eclipse watchers for hundreds of years. Though they aren’t uncommon throughout a complete photo voltaic eclipse, they’re nonetheless not absolutely understood.
Some theories counsel that the shadow bands outcome from the interference of sunshine waves attributable to the Earth’s ambiance. Others counsel they outcome from the bending of sunshine by the Earth’s magnetic subject.
So the following time you witness a complete photo voltaic eclipse, which shall be someday between 2024 and 2025, hold an eye fixed out for these elusive shadow bands and marvel at the great thing about nature’s mysteries.
