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Solar Eclips

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Submitted By andriasdj
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Fast and furious: The moon’s shadow zooms across Earth’s surface at up to 8046.72 kilometers per hour.

On eclipse-viewing expeditions, this phenomenon is frequently accompanied by a marriage proposal.

The beautiful symmetry of a total solar eclipse happens because—by pure chance—the sun is 400 times larger than the moon but is also 400 times farther from Earth, making the two bodies appear the exact same size in the sky.

In case you were thinking about relocating: Earth is the only place in the solar system where that happens.

The Chinese word for solar eclipse is shih, meaning “to eat.” In ancient China people traditionally beat drums and banged on pots to scare off the “heavenly dog” believed to be devouring the sun.

Tidal friction, which causes that lengthening of the day, is also making the moon drift away. In about 600 million years it will appear too small to cover the sun, and there will be no more total solar eclipses.

In ancient times, people thought an eclipse was a sign that the gods were angry or that bad things were about to happen.

Medieval folk believed that sex during an eclipse would result in ugly demon-filled children
Europeans in the Middle Ages thought that you should never get it on during a lunar eclipse, because any “moon children” would be born with ugly demons inside them. Then you’d have to pay for their food and shelter, when all they’re going to be good for is being burned at the stake.
A modern superstition also has it that a pregnant woman shouldn’t touch her belly during a lunar eclipse. Doing so will cause the baby to be born with a birthmark - the size of which depends on the force of the touch.

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