Will June 21 Solar Eclipse Kill Coronavirus? Know The Myths Surrounding This Celestial Phenomenon

Bhubaneswar: Odisha will witness an annular solar eclipse on Sunday and this particular eclipse is said to be the ‘deepest’ in nearly a hundred years.

According to a release by Pathani Samanta Planetarium in Bhubaneswar, this eclipse will begin at 10.38 am and will go till 2.09 pm. It will be visible partially in Bhubaneswar provided clouds are not around. The maximum effect will be at 12.26 pm.

Here are some myths associated with a solar eclipse that have been busted by scientists:

#1 Myth: This solar eclipse will kill coronavirus

Nuclear and Earth Scientist Dr KL Sundar Krishna told news agency ANI that the pandemic may have been a result of mutated particle interaction of the first neutron due to fission energy emitted after the solar eclipse in December last year and the upcoming solar eclipse on June 21 could prove to be a turning point and make the coronavirus inactive.

The solar corona, the bright crown-like ring of gas around the sun that can be seen during an eclipse, could kill the virus since it is way hotter than the surface of the sun. Scientists, however, say that this can happen only if the solar corona gets closer to earth and which is a far cry as the distance between the sun and the earth is 152.02 million km. So for now, wash your hand regularly and follow the COVID-19 guidelines issued by the health authorities.

#2 Myth: An eclipse tends to poison food prepared and eaten during the event.

Reality: Scientists in Kerala, which witnessed the eclipse at Chervathur, say it is perfectly safe to eat, drink and carry out daily activities during the eclipse.

#3 Myth: A total solar eclipse produces harmful rays that can cause blindness.

Reality: Scientists at NASA say this is not true. During a total solar eclipse when the disk of the moon fully covers the sun, the brilliant corona emits only electromagnetic radiation, though sometimes with a greenish hue. Being a million times fainter than the light from the sun itself, there is nothing in the coronal light that could cross 150 million km of space, penetrate our dense atmosphere, and cause blindness. They do, however, warn against watching the sun before totality. People will catch a glimpse of the brilliant solar surface and this can cause retinal damage, warn the scientists.

#4 Myth: Pregnant women should not watch an eclipse because it can harm the baby.

Reality: Scientists say this belief is related to the previous false notion that harmful radiations are emitted during a total solar eclipse. The electromagnetic radiation from the corona, seen as light, is perfectly safe, they assure.

#5 Myth: Another belief, and a classic one, is that eclipses are bad omens and harbingers of something very bad.

Reality: According to psychologists, this notion is related to what is called “Confirmation Bias” —We tend to remember all the occasions when two things happened together, but forget all of the other times when they did not.

#6 Myth: There are no total solar eclipses at Earth’s North or South Poles.

Reality: There is nothing especially unique about these locations from an astronomy standpoint, say scientists, pointing out that the last total solar eclipse viewed from the North Pole area was on March 20, 2015, and passed right over the North Pole itself. The last total solar eclipse viewed from the South Pole area was on November 23, 2003.