Solar Eclipse 2023: Myths Associated With Surya Grahan Busted By Scientists

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This year during Vaisakh Amavasya or new moon day in the month of Vaisakh, the solar eclipse will occur and that is on 20 April 2023. It will begin at 07:04 am and end at 12:29 pm and the sutak period will also be applicable. This will be the first solar eclipse of the year and will be visible across the globe, except for India.

The second solar eclipse will occur on 14 October 2023 and it will be visible from India. According to astrology, this will also affect certain zodiac signs such as Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn. In 2023, there will be four eclipses, two solar eclipses and two lunar eclipses. Also, it is around this time people take additional precautions while observing it because observing a solar eclipse with the naked eye can cause permanent damage to the eyes.

To watch it safely, NASA recommends using proper filters like aluminized Mylar, a black polymer, or a welding glass of shade 14. Also, one can use a telescope to project the image of the Sun on a whiteboard and during a lunar eclipse, one can use binoculars.

Here are some myths that are associated with Surya Grahan or Solar Eclipse and are busted by scientists and there are scientific explanations for each one of them.

MYTH 1: Pregnant Women Should Not Watch Solar Eclipse
It is a myth that if a pregnant woman watches a solar eclipse, it will harm the baby in the womb as there is a belief that harmful radiation is emitted during this astrological phenomenon. This is wrong and scientists say that electromagnetic radiation from the corona is quite light and perfectly safe.

MYTH 2: Eclipse Will Poison Your Food
Eclipse will poison any food that is prepared during the event as it emits certain radiation is a myth. Scientists believe that if this was the case, it would have also affected the food in your pantry, and crops in the field. Total solar eclipses can be visually terrifying due to spooky green coronae and therefore over the years people have knit fearful stories around it. Also, if an unfortunate incident happens during this time it can be called a mere coincidence.

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MYTH 3: Solar Eclipse Emits Harmful Rays
Scientists at NASA claim that during a total solar eclipse, the corona only emits electromagnetic radiation which has a greenish hue and it is a million times fainter or lighter than the light of the sun itself. So, studies have pointed out there there is nothing in the coronal light that could cross 150 million kilometres of space, penetrate the dense atmosphere, and cause blindness. But, watching or even catching a glimpse of a brilliant solar surface with the naked eye can cause retinal damage.

MYTH 4: Eclipse Is Harbinger Of Something Bad That Is About To Happen
To describe this event, psychologists have a term called Confirmation Bias and this means we tend to remember the occasions when two things happened together and the remaining times when they did not. This forms a biased viewpoint related to causes and effects that we remember quite easily and also because a human brain is always predisposed when it comes to looking for patterns and remembering them, especially when it comes to survival.

MYTH 5: No Total Solar Eclipses At Earth's North or South Poles
Scientists also point out that there is a common belief that there are no total solar eclipses at Earth's North or South Poles. There is nothing especially unique about these locations from an astronomical standpoint, say, scientists, pointing out that the last total solar eclipse viewed from the North Pole area was on March 20, 2015, and passed right over the North Pole itself. The last total solar eclipse viewed from the South Pole area was on November 23, 2003.

MYTH 6: The Moon Turns Totally Black During Solar Eclipse
New moon is very difficult to spot and there is a very dark lunar surface beyond the crescent which is weakly illuminated. The fact that the moon turns totally black during a solar eclipse is not true. During a total solar eclipse, the lunar surface will be mildly seen due to Earthshine, which will be surrounded by the bright and brilliant corona of the sun.

MYTH 7: Solar Eclipse Can Predict Major Future Events
According to astrological forecasts, it is said that solar eclipses can predict future events and it is a myth says science. Also, celestial events control human behaviour and is another deep belief system. This is logically flawed and shows the presence of confirmation bias where people consider only successful forecasts and ignore the one that shows failure.

MYTH 8: Solar Eclipse Falls On Or Six Moths After Your Birthday Indicates Impending Bad Health
Research has proved that there is no link between a birthday, health and a solar eclipse or your health and a new moon. However, there can be coincidences or correlations but that doesn't mean that the events are related in any way. However, astrologers believe otherwise and this can only be explained through confirmation bias.

MYTH 9: Corona Of Sun Is Visible During Solar Eclipse
There is a lot of debate around this one and the origin of this claim is a bit dicey. Even if one turns the pages of history, there is hardly any mention of this dramatic feature during the eclipse. However, on 3 May 1715, astronomer Edmund Halley from England gave a genuine description from corona and called it as a'... luminous ring of pale whiteness'.