FACT-CHECK: Will the world experience 3 days of darkness due to solar eclipse?
Claim: The world will experience 3 days of darkness due to solar eclipse
Source: Viral video
Verdict: MISLEADING
Researched by Hamza Ibrahim
A viral TikTok video is claiming the world is set to experience a solar eclipse starting April 8, 2024 and could last for about 3 days (here and here).
“This is an upcoming weather forecast, be informed and get prepared to take care of 72 hours (3 days and nights in darkness),” is how one WhatsApp user described the video that has been labelled as “Forwarded Many Times.”
According to the video 3 days of darkness will occur when the earth passes through the photon belt – resulting in “no sunlight, and no moonlight on the earth’s surface.”
A screenshot of the video shared on WhatsApp
“Photons are electromagnetic particles that travel at the speed of light and will act as a barrier or temporary shield around the earth preventing the light of the sun or the stars,” a male voice can be heard narrating in the video.
Similar video clips have also been shared on X/Twitter, with users warning the public to hoard essential food items ahead of the eclipse.
Fact-Check
Checks by FactSpace W/A show the claim that the world is set to experience a 3-day solar eclipse is inaccurate.
A statement by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) -an independent U.S. governmental agency established to conduct the research and development of vehicles and activities for the exploration of space – indicates that “a total solar eclipse will cross North America, passing over Mexico, the United States, and Canada,” on April 8, 2024.
Meanwhile, no African country was named by NASA in the list of expected to experience the eclipse.
“The path of the eclipse continues from Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan will also experience the total solar eclipse. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Cape Breton. The eclipse will exit continental North America on the Atlantic coast of Newfoundland, Canada, at 5:16 p.m. NDT,” NASA stated .
Source: NASA
What is solar eclipse?
A total solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, completely blocking the face of the Sun. The sky will darken as if it were dawn or dusk.
According to NASA, the longest duration of totality is 4 minutes, 28 seconds, near Torreón, Mexico. Most places along the centerline (path of totality) will see a total duration between 3.5 and 4 minutes.
It is unsafe to look directly at the Sun without specialized eye protection for solar viewing.
Viewing any part of the bright Sun through a camera lens, binoculars, or a telescope without a special-purpose solar filter secured over the front of the optics will instantly cause severe eye injury.
When watching the partial phases of the solar eclipse directly with your eyes, which happens before and after totality, you must look through safe solar viewing glasses (“eclipse glasses”) or a safe handheld solar viewer at all times.
Eclipse glasses are NOT regular sunglasses; regular sunglasses no matter how dark, are not safe for viewing the Sun during the period.
