Discover the cosmos!
Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2026 September 2
Solar Eclipses and Culture
Image Credit & Copyright:
Javier Castro
Text:
Keighley Rockcliffe
(NASA
GSFC,
UMBC CSST,
CRESST II)
Explanation:
Pretend you have never heard of a solar eclipse. The Sun’s behavior has been predictable
your whole life. One day, you witness the sky transform as it does in
today’s spliced image
spanning two hours of
the August 12, 2026 solar eclipse.
The Sun disappears, leaving behind a bright, empty ring. What would you think had happened?
Humans have interpreted eclipses in countless ways throughout
history,
embedding
beliefs
about connection, rebirth, or danger into culture. “Eclipse” comes from the Greek word
“ékleipsis”
meaning “abandonment”. In ancient Greece, the solar eclipse marked the anger of the gods and
the Sun abandoning humanity. To
the Diné people,
this celestial alignment is a time of renewal. Out of respect and to avoid the danger of sunlight,
the Diné stay inside until the Sun and Moon separate.
The Batammariba people of Benin and Togo
believe that the Sun and Moon fight during an eclipse, so the community encourages peace among themselves. Eclipses are an example of the longstanding connection between astronomy and society.
Gallery: Solar Eclipse of 2026 August 12
Tomorrow’s picture: a bird’s eye view
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