Solar Eclipse Science across Millennia (and in Your Classroom)
During a total solar eclipse — for those lucky enough to be in the path of totality — the Sun darkens, ringed by a halo of light. Nocturnal insects take up their song, and the sky becomes ink-stained as the Sun appears to set. It’s easy to see how early people might have been struck with terror, surprised by the suddenness of false night.
These days, solar eclipses are no longer terrifying or unpredictable. Scientists have long applied their knowledge of math and science to track the movements of the Sun, Moon and Earth. Each calculation has led us closer both to our modern-day understanding of eclipse science and to where predictions are accurate to a stunning degree.
On April 8, 2024, a solar eclipse will make its way across North America, traveling through Mexico, many US states and a small part of Canada. Those in its path will experience the awe of a darkening sky. For those on the periphery, looking at the Sun through special glasses will reveal a partially obscured Sun. With such a profound event, how might you introduce solar eclipses into your classroom?
Eclipse Science across Millennia
Solar eclipses are a type of eclipse where the Moon aligns with the Sun, passing between it and Earth so that its shadow is cast on the planet below. Solar eclipses have different names, depending on how much of the Sun is eclipsed. The most dramatic type of eclipse is a total solar eclipse, where the Sun is fully aligned with the Moon.
Prior to the solar eclipse in April 2024, mathematician and scientist Stephen Wolfram wrote Predicting the Eclipse: A Multimillennium Tale of Computation. As the title suggests, this book digs deep into the science and history of eclipse prediction. For example, did you know that as far back as ancient Babylon, scientists had pieced together astronomic tables of “saros” cycles that were roughly analogous to eclipse cycles?
This was, however, only the beginning of eclipse science history. From Isaac Newton trying to predict lunar movement to the development of Tables of the Motion of the Moon by Ernest W. Brown to the baffling question of the three-body problem, the story of eclipse predication is vast. Given the pedagogical value of storytelling, these astronomical endeavors are worth highlighting as background information for STEM concepts as well as for celebrating the minds behind the theories.
The April 2024 Eclipse
This history leads us to the present day. The eclipse on April 8, 2024, is a total solar eclipse. The path of totality runs through many US states, including Texas, Illinois, New York and Maine, to name only a few. Maps at the end of Wolfram’s book give precise times of the shadow, or umbra, as it passes over the continent.
Whereas scientists in previous centuries had to work to piece together specific timelines, today the timing of the eclipse is as easy as typing in a function. In Wolfram Language, for example, the SolarEclipse function is built into Wolfram|Alpha and Mathematica as a way to track the location and timing of solar eclipses — even in the future!
Wolfram’s book includes the chapter “Eclipse Computation in the Wolfram Language,” which goes into the math and science that powers modern-day eclipse prediction. For students in STEM classes, this chapter could allow a way to understand the solar eclipse even before they see it. For example, the AstroPosition function, which shows the positions of the Sun and Moon during the solar eclipse, is applicable for students even beyond the path of totality.
Here is an example of this function in use, excerpted from the book:
To help people figure out what they’ll see from their location during the solar eclipse, Wolfram Research created the precisioneclipse.com website. On it, you can input your ZIP Code to see a map, timeline and even visuals of what the Sun will look like from your position during the eclipse sequence. This is great for teachers looking to better understand what they and their students will see during the solar eclipse, as it will happen on a Monday during typical K–12 school hours. No coding necessary!
Classroom Solar Eclipse Science
While the previously mentioned chapter from Wolfram’s book provides functions and data for students to try with regards to prediction, what about during or after the eclipse? The chapter “Analyzing Eclipse Data,” which serves as a postmortem of sorts on Wolfram’s experience of viewing the 2017 eclipse as well as his first eclipse from his boyhood, is a fascinating example of the types of experiments students can do.
In the chapter, Wolfram shows the umbra — the center of the shadow — projected onto the geographical location where he viewed it. Perhaps this could be a way to apply eclipse science to a geography class, particularly for those viewing a partial rather than total solar eclipse. For classrooms with 3D-printing access, the topographic examples could even be rendered into physical space.
Solar eclipses aren’t just the domain of STEM — think instead of them being in the realm of STEAM, arts included. The SolarEclipse function offers historical data, allowing you to view information on eclipses from the past. Could students reading stories set during specific times correlate the text to actual eclipses?
What if you have students find primary sources of eclipse narratives in research databases, then connect them to locations? Could AstroPosition serve as inspiration for visual art? What if you connected the solar eclipse to a sci-fi unit?
There are many interesting possibilities!
Predicting the Eclipse: A Multimillennium Tale of Computation
Predicting the Eclipse: A Multimillennium Tale of Computation is available for purchase on Amazon. Spanning history, astronomy, math, geography and more, it is an interdisciplinary book with a number of classroom applications. Written in a friendly, engaging tone, it is suitable for both those looking to introduce eclipse science into their classrooms and those just wanting to know more about eclipse prediction.
Here’s to clear skies during April 8, 2024, wherever you may be!
About the blogger:
Jesika Brooks
Jesika Brooks is an editor and bookworm with a Master of Library and Information Science degree. A lifelong learner herself, she has always been fascinated by the intersection of education and technology. She edits the Tech-Based Teaching blog (and always wants to hear from new voices!).
