Since the probability of seeing a total solar eclipse in my region is 120 to 120 years, and having already observed partial eclipses, meaning I have a once-in-a-lifetime chance, I traveled to the Leon region in Spain to observe one lasting 1 minute and 44 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I encountered pseudo-scientific information in newspapers and on TV, commercialization surrounding the subject, and even politicization to garner votes in the upcoming municipal elections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Common errors and myths about solar eclipses include confusion about eye safety, the difference between partial and total eclipses, and superstitions without scientific basis. Here are the main ones, with the correct explanations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Eye Safety
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Error: \u201cLooking at the Sun during an eclipse is always dangerous\u201d or \u201cyou can\u2019t look during totality either.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: In partial phases (even with 99% of the Sun covered), it is extremely dangerous to look without adequate protection \u2014 the remaining light can still cause permanent solar retinopathy. During totality (when the Moon completely covers the Sun and the corona is visible), it is safe to look with the naked eye. As soon as the Sun reappears, use protection again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Error: Ordinary sunglasses, several pairs stacked, X-rays, smoked glass, CDs\/DVDs, photographic negatives, or homemade filters will do.
Reality: These methods do not sufficiently block ultraviolet and infrared radiation. Use only certified glasses or filters (ISO 12312-2 standard). Telescopes, binoculars, and cameras also need appropriate solar filters in front of the lens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Error: The eclipse produces \u201cspecial rays\u201d or more dangerous radiation.
Reality: The light and radiation from the Sun do not change in nature. The risk comes from people looking for longer because the sky darkens and the Sun appears less bright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Difference between partial and total eclipse<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Error: A 99% eclipse is \u201calmost the same\u201d as a total eclipse.
Reality: They are completely different experiences. Only during totality does the sky truly darken (like twilight), the temperature drops, stars and planets appear, and the solar corona becomes visible. Outside the path of totality, you only see a “bitten” Sun through protective glasses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frequency and Location
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Error: Total solar eclipses are extremely rare on the planet.
Reality: Somewhere on Earth, a total eclipse occurs approximately every 16\u201318 months. For a specific location, the average is once every 300\u2013400 years (which is why they seem rare if you don’t travel).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Error: Being “near” the path of totality is enough.
Reality: A difference of a few kilometers can mean the difference between totality and a partial eclipse. The closer to the center of the path, the longer the eclipse lasts; in my case, it was 1 minute and 44 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Error: During a total eclipse, it gets dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: It gets dark similar to the beginning of dawn or the end of dusk (it doesn’t get as dark as in the dead of night), and you can see the brightest stars because the solar corona remains visible and continues to emit light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Superstitions and health effects
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mistake: Pregnant women should not leave home or look at the eclipse (it can cause malformations, cleft lip, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: There is no scientific evidence. The radiation (including neutrinos) that reaches Earth is the same as any other day and does not affect the fetus. The only real risk is the same as for anyone: looking at the Sun without protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mistake: Food prepared during the eclipse becomes “poisoned” or spoils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: Unfounded myth. Food poisoning happens every day and is not related to the eclipse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mistake: Eclipses are bad omens, cause disasters, earthquakes, illnesses, or drastic changes in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reality: These are predictable astronomical phenomena caused by the Sun-Moon-Earth alignment. Associations with negative events are confirmation bias or ancient superstitions (dragons swallowing the Sun, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other common mistakes
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thinking you can improvise on the spot (especially with photography): totality lasts only a few minutes (sometimes seconds), so prior planning is essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Confusing a solar eclipse with a lunar eclipse: in a lunar eclipse you look at the Moon and it’s safe to see with the naked eye; in a solar eclipse you are looking at the Sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thinking the Moon becomes completely black during totality: it can be illuminated by “earthshine” (light reflected by the Earth).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When viewing a partial eclipse with glasses, you only see a yellow disk being interrupted by another that is dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If a total eclipse is observed with glasses, you only see everything dark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If, during the time of total eclipse, it is safe to remove the glasses and observe, film and photograph, only in this case can you observe the solar corona. I hope you also have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity (unless you travel), but be warned: there is no similarity whatsoever between satellite photos and artificial eclipses, because we have the atmosphere and our vision is not similar to the resolution of these special cameras.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Since the probability of seeing a total solar eclipse in my region is 120 to 120 years, and having already observed partial eclipses, meaning I have a once-in-a-lifetime chance, I traveled to the Leon region in Spain to observe one lasting 1 minute and 44 seconds. I encountered pseudo-scientific information in newspapers and on TV, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-thoughts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1410"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1411,"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1410\/revisions\/1411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vitormsalmeida.pt\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}