As the sun's unusual "ring of fire" eclipse approaches, which will briefly darken the skies over North America on April 8, false theories surrounding this astrological phenomenon are proliferating on social media.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon aligns precisely between the Earth and the Sun, almost completely blocking the sun's light for a few minutes. This is a historic celestial event considering that the last time it occurred for North America was in 2017, with a shorter duration and a narrower path than the one that will be seen in 2024, according to NASA.
The eclipse will begin along the Mexican Pacific coast and pass through Texas and 14 other states in the United States.Getty Images
The next time a total solar eclipse will be visible from North America will be in 2044, according to experts.
And as thousands of people prepare to view the “ring of fire,” traveling to areas that coincide with the path of the total eclipse and purchasing special lenses, others are preparing for possible natural disasters on April 8.
These are some of the main false beliefs, related to the eclipse, that we can deny:
There will not be three days of total darkness
Some users on social networks claim that the eclipse will plunge the Earth into darkness for three to five days. And, referring to the Bible, there are publications that affirm that “doors and windows will have to be closed because the demons will wake up and they will go knocking door to door in the form of one of your relatives.”
The claim about a supposed three-day eclipse
is false.
NASA has explained that 'totality', which is described as the moment in which the circumference of the Sun is almost completely covered, on April 8, will last a maximum of 4 minutes and 28 seconds, specifically in an area located at about 25 minutes northwest of the city of Torreón, in northern Mexico.
[Scientists prepare with space probes and airplanes to study one of the mysteries of the Sun during the total eclipse]
“Durations greater than 4 minutes extend as far north as the town of Economy, Indiana. Even when the eclipse leaves the United States and enters Canada, the eclipse will last up to 3 minutes and 21 seconds,” the agency indicates.
There is no correlation between eclipses and natural disasters
Other false and popular theories on social networks about the astronomical event of April 8 revolve around predictions of natural disasters. Some users claim that earthquakes will be felt in the United States and Mexico.
"Claims about earthquakes and storms are irresponsible fabrications that do not deserve any serious attention."
Francisco Diego Astronomer
A video explains that the path of the 2017 eclipse and the 2024 eclipse form a cross over the New Madrid fault. Some users speculated about the possibility of an earthquake in that seismic zone, which passes through Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, Kentucky and Alabama. Others have suggested, without evidence, that an earthquake could occur on the San Andreas Fault.
Although we have no way of knowing what will happen in the future, we can assure you that this statement
is misleading.
While there have been coincidences in the past, there is no scientific evidence that there is a correlation between eclipses and earthquakes. Other users strangely note that a thunderstorm in March had a trajectory similar to that of the places where the eclipse is expected to be seen. But there is also no evidence to suggest the events could be related.
"Claims about earthquakes and storms are irresponsible fabrications that do not deserve any serious attention," Francisco Diego, an astronomer at University College London, told Newsweek.
Other false theories have highlighted the fact that small towns have issued disaster declarations in anticipation of the eclipse, such as the city of Dripping Springs, Texas. But local officials have emphasized that the move is because they expect a large number of tourists to visit the area: Dripping Springs is expected to be in total darkness for about three minutes during the eclipse.
“The city has been proactive in planning for this event for two years and we are prepared. “Through this proactive planning and concerted efforts, we are committed to making the experience of viewing the eclipse memorable and safe for everyone,” authorities say in a statement cited by local media KXAN.
The impact on the energy supply will be minimal
Another theory that has circulated on social media raises the possibility that electrical systems could collapse during the eclipse.
The statement
is misleading.
While solar energy systems, one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity in the country, according to The New York Times, will be vulnerable, an eclipse is highly predictable, allowing energy providers to secure other sources in time. of electricity to satisfy the needs of consumers, the newspaper adds.
[The next total solar eclipse in the US will be in 20 years. Many know it and are mobilizing for it]
"System operators have accurate models for the amount of solar energy generated daily in the United States, and these models take into account parts of the continental territory... that may have cloudy skies," explains Scientific American magazine. "By combining solar power generation with battery storage, solar electricity can be accessed even when the sun is not shining, on cloudy days or at night."