This website is intended to share with students, educators and the general public contents related to Eclipses in History. There are many stories of how solar and lunar eclipses changed the course of history since Ancient times. It also influenced the scientific development at some specific moments, such as the testing of the Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, which was performed during a total solar eclipse in Brazil!
Eclipses in History are a so rich and engaging topic. For example, did you know that there were two royal astronomers, Hi and Ho, in Ancient Times, who were decapitated for failing to predict an eclipse? Did you know an eclipse story involving a brave and pioneer American astronomer named Maria Mitchell who was a great advancer and promoter of women in science in the United States? She also inspired the world to see that science was also for women. On the occasion of the Great Eclipse of 1878 (visible in the United States), she led a team of female students to observe the eclipse. There are also legends about eclipses… For example, did you know that the sun and moon were regarded by some Aboriginal cultures as husband and wife, respectively, who pulled curtains of the sky to assure their privacy?
In many cultures, solar and lunar eclipses were regarded as bad omens. In Ancient China, for example, people thought there was a gigantic dragon in the sky who swallowed the sun and moon during eclipses. Population would make noise to scare the beast away. By the way, in Ancient times sun and moon were regarded as gods with great influence in the world. Especially because those societies were very dependent on agriculture to survive.
Even in our times eclipses are often associated by many to the end of the world.
Although there is significant information on the internet about eclipse stories, there are gaps to be filled in such knowledge. To accomplish this, we are producing a YouTube channel to share with viewers exclusive interviews with scientists and historians from around the world, including a few NASA scientists. We ask them questions about Eclipses in History, and such interviews provide a general panorama with interesting details of so many interesting stories about how eclipses influenced the world.
In our website, you will also find a sample of several eclipse stories we researched. There are stories since Ancient age until Contemporary age!
We also have a gallery with several eclipse photos and videos.
Eclipses in History 