Solar Eclipse is Redefined | New Research | #shorts

Recent research has redefined how we view solar eclipses. The Moon's umbra, traditionally depicted as a smooth oval, is actually a many-sided polygon shaped by its mountains and valleys. During a total eclipse, these valleys act like pinholes, projecting Sun images onto Earth in a flower-like pattern with the dark umbra at the center.

In the 2017 total eclipse, 49 valleys shaped the umbra’s edges, a discovery enabled by advanced calculations. Similarly, in annular eclipses, mountains focus Sun projections, forming intersecting shapes. This breakthrough reveals how the Moon’s rugged terrain intricately sculpts eclipse shadows.

Credits:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio

Visualizer
Ernie Wright (USRA)
Technical support
Laurence Schuler (ADNET Systems, Inc.)
Ian Jones (ADNET Systems, Inc.)