APOD: 2026 September 2 Б Solar Eclipses and Culture
Explanation:
Pretend you have never heard of a solar eclipse. The SunБs behavior has been predictable
your whole life. One day, you witness the sky transform as it does in
todayБs 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. БEclipseБ comes from the Greek word
БцkleipsisБ
meaning БabandonmentБ. In ancient Greece, the solar eclipse marked the anger of the gods and
the Sun abandoning humanity. To
the Dinц people,
this celestial alignment is a time of renewal. Out of respect and to avoid the danger of sunlight,
the Dinц 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
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
