Solar Eclipse: The Game of Shadow Only, Nothing Serious and Not Rare Too

- Raul GoodSUN, Astronomer

10th August 2026.

Have you ever wondered that we live in shadows 365 days a year?

Yes, it's true. It is called "Night." Our Earth's front side is always exposed towards the Sun, so the back side is always dark because of the shadow being cast. Since our Earth rotates 360 degrees, we have day and night varying across different regions.

I am sure that during the summer season, in order to escape the heat, you have either used an umbrella, sat under a tree, or used any other object for shade. During this time, you feel calm and cool because of the shadows cast by the umbrella, the branches of the tree, or other objects. Here, we use shadows to escape the sun's heat in our daily lives. So, it feels completely normal to us.

Umbrella shadow and moon's shadow casted by sunlight

The Sun, Moon, and Earth — all three of these celestial bodies are constantly moving through our empty space. Whenever they align in a straight line, a solar eclipse occurs. This happens a minimum of two times a year. So, a solar eclipse is not rare at all; it is a natural phenomenon that our nature delivers every single year.

Courtesy of The Exploratorium

Actually, what is a solar eclipse? It's not rocket science. It is simpler than the addition and subtraction we use while buying groceries. Think of it this way: there is the Sun, which acts as the light source. There is the Earth, similar to your body. And now there is the Moon, similar to your small-sized umbrella.

Now, when you hold up your umbrella to resist the sun's heat, a shadow falls on your face, but not on your whole body. Similarly, when the Moon (think of it as a giant umbrella) comes in front of the Sun, it casts a shadow on the Earth's surface (think of it as your body) — but not on the whole planet. The only difference between the shadow falling under your umbrella and the Moon's shadow on Earth is its size.

The total solar eclipse, seen from a the moon. Pic: @radiotelescoop

The 2024 Eclipse Pictured from Space (ISS)

So now we have a serious question: The shadow cast by an umbrella feels cooling and refreshing on our bodies in the summer. We are completely fine with it. However, when the same kind of shadow is cast by the Moon on the Earth's surface, it makes people afraid. Why? Why is there a myth about this simple natural phenomenon?

In ancient times, people had no scientific explanation for this. A sudden, terrifying "night" in the daytime felt like a bad omen — as if a dragon was swallowing the Sun. Many cultures developed myths about a dragon, wolf, or demon devouring the Sun, and people would bang drums and pots to "scare it away."

Even though we now understand the science perfectly, that deep, primal fear is still culturally embedded, which is why the myth persists today! But no worries — there is no direct evidence that anyone ever died due to a solar eclipse, not a single animal either. If someone had a heart attack, it's more psychological — perhaps due to anxiety, panic, or the sudden eerie darkness triggering an adrenaline rush. Some people might feel dizzy or nauseous from looking up too long or from the strange drop in temperature. Others may simply faint from excitement or stress, not from any "evil rays" coming from the eclipse. But if anyone has direct evidence otherwise, please do report me — the scientific community will investigate the matter thoroughly and validate it. So don't worry, folks... Nothing ever happened, and nothing will.

Let's enjoy the upcoming solar eclipse on August 12, 2026. Meanwhile, I want you to enjoy a 360° VR video of a total solar eclipse created by BBC (further credits). In this video, you can see how dark shadows are formed — and notice that the whole planet is not blocked, only a circular part where the Moon casts a circular shadow on Earth, pitch black. You can rotate and view and feel the solar eclipse completely, as if you were there. The movement of the shadow across the Earth's surface is amazing. It gets even more exciting when it becomes pitch dark. Basically, you will understand what really happens on Earth during a solar eclipse. It's the game of shadows only — nothing serious at all.

I am sure you are amazed by the 360° VR video. And I hope you understood what a solar eclipse actually is. I want you to watch another video too about the solar eclipse that occurred on April 8, 2024, in the USA. This video is prepared by PBS NOVA. It contains materials that our Nepalese people barely think about. It is an observation of a solar eclipse — people live-eating, drinking, and enjoying this marvelous event. This video has live reactions of people who watched from multiple places in the USA. In short, people here are celebrating the pitch-dark shadow, mesmerized by the darkness in daylight without hesitation, without running away. It's not about any culture or myth. It's the fact about nature — that none is superior to nature, neither science nor any other field. It's a harmless phenomenon of nature which science has always explained as the language of nature. People embraced it and enjoyed it. Do you want to observe? It's completely your choice.

The upcoming solar eclipse starts on August 12, 2026, at 15:34 UTC (21:19 NPT), 27th Shrawan 2083 (9:19 PM night). Unfortunately, from Nepal, it is not visible. The total solar eclipse is visible from Iceland and Greenland, and this eclipse starts from the North Pole. So places near northern regions like Canada, Greenland, Russia, and the UK can witness a partial solar eclipse.

An animated visualization of the August 12, 2026, total solar eclipse

Credits: NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Well, let's wrap up now. A solar eclipse is not a rare event and does not possess any harm to any living beings. It's a shadow only, and I am sure you have observed past eclipses in videos and understand the images. The most important thing is what you believe. It's your birthright, your human right. None can ever force you or manipulate you by any means — whatever choice you need to make. Neither I nor Science can compel you whether or not to observe a solar eclipse, or eat, drink, or enjoy the phenomenon of nature. Science delivers robust facts only, like a temperature measured in a thermometer. After that, if you have a fever, it's your choice or decision to visit a doctor, stay home, or visit other places so that you can get treatment. Similarly, if you want to watch a live stream of the solar eclipse, you can watch from the following embedded video.

(Raul GoodSUN is an astronomer with a passion for making space science accessible to everyone. He believes myths dissolve when knowledge shines, and he invites you to see the cosmos not with fear, but with curiosity.)

[CAUTION: Do NOT look at the Sun through directly, a camera lens, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device without any filters. A special-purpose solar filter must be attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, camera lens, or other optics to observe the Sun safely as well as solar glasses for eyes.]

THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON "RATOPATI" in Nepalese version.

सूर्यग्रहणको वास्तविकता अर्थात् छायाको खेल

Resources links:

1)Moon shadow satellite images

https://news.sky.com/story/lunar-satellite-captures-stunning-images-of-solar-eclipse-11757790

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasa2explore/53642525612/in/album-72177720316098512/

2) Animations of the August 12, 2026, Total Solar Eclipse

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5656#section_credits

3) Total Solar Eclipse 360 view VR video
https://www.bbcearth.com/news/a-360-view-of-a-solar-eclipse-from-space

4)Times and date Live stream of 12^th August 2026 video link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtjbfQtqlsY

5)PBS NOVA video link of observation of solar eclipse

https://www.facebook.com/NOVApbs/videos/how-america-watched-the-solar-eclipse/970369394450682/