When day becomes night

By Eric Cobos Barraza and Nick Truong

It’s not every day that day becomes night, it really takes something special, like the solar eclipse just a few weeks ago. But it may have left many wondering, what exactly is a solar eclipse and what makes this one so special.

“A solar eclipse is when you end up with the moon moving in front of the sun between the Earth and the sun,” astronomy teacher Alysse McKenna said.

This can lead to partial or even total blockage of the sun’s light. Complete coverage of the sun is called a total solar eclipse. This can lead to otherworldly experiences, as one student who traveled to see the total eclipse recounted.

“Astounded, enchanted, it was great,” Dylan Kellems said. “I looked around and it was dark outside, and cold, it was very cold.”

But if all it takes is the moon to get in front of the sun then why doesn’t it happen more often? 

“The moon moves between the Earth and the sun all the time,” McKenna said. “But when it actually aligns with all three is when we actually get the totals [eclipses], and the totals [eclipses] are the ones that are rare.”

Due to the tilt of the moon’s orbit, total eclipses happen every one to three years with the vast majority occurring above the ocean or near the poles, so few people see them. But this total eclipse’s path covered many large cities allowing many people to enjoy it. 

Jesse Quintana takes a picture of the eclipse with his phone outside Waterford Kettering High School on April 8, 2024.

“I took the little glasses off and I looked around and there were a few hundred people out there,” Kellems said. “It was crazy… That was the coolest part.”With so many people going out to see it, many without proper eye protection, some concerns were raised as watching the solar eclipse without proper eye protection could cause permanent damage.

“When you typically walk into a dark room, your eyes are gonna dilate,” McKenna said. “But then if you look up at the sun, then the sun itself is gonna come down at you with that same force and because your eyes are dilated, it can actually burn your retinas.”

Despite the dangers many came out and traveled to experience the total eclipse. Although some were underwhelmed, Kellems’s account says otherwise.

“Absolutely, some people thought it was a little disappointing or underwhelming,” Kellems said. “I absolutely disagree. It was fantastic, I loved it, two celestial bodies, something like that only happens here and there.”