Eclipses - Introduction

Introduction

Imagine living in ancient times. You stroll down a dirt road leading to a favorite temple. It is a nice day, but without warning, the sky starts to get dark. The Sun looks strange and, gradually, something huge blocks it out, although a bright ring can be seen around its edge.

We now know that this phenomenon is a solar eclipseAn eclipse that occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, casting a shadow on Earth.. An eclipseA phenomenon in which the light from a celestial body is temporarily cut off by the presence of another. occurs when one celestial bodyDescribing planets or other objects in space. passes in front of another, partly or completely cutting off our view of it. Today, we would get advance information through newspapers and magazines or by news reports on television or radio if a major eclipse was expected. To most ancient people, who had no explanations for the darkness, an eclipse was terrifying.