An eclipse corridor is a pseudoscientific term that describes the gap between two real astronomical phenomena. Let’s figure out what it means and why astrologers recommend not doing anything during this period
This material is published as part of the “ Mythbusting ” project, where we talk about controversial phenomena, the reliability of which has not been proven in the academic environment. We are trying to figure out what is truth and what is fiction. When writing articles, authors think critically and use a scientific approach to avoid spreading false information.
Content:
- What is an eclipse corridor
- What not to do
- How does the eclipse corridor affect a person?
- When it will be
What is an eclipse corridor?
The eclipse corridor is the period between lunar and solar eclipses. It usually lasts about two weeks. The maximum number of such periods per year is four, the minimum is two. This variability is because the Moon’s orbit is inclined relative to the Earth’s by about five degrees, and celestial bodies do not very often find themselves on the same straight line [1].
In astrology, it is believed that certain “energy flows” of the Earth change during the eclipse corridor. Their transformation supposedly depends on the constellations, and this process affects the mental state of people: feelings of anxiety, fear, and apathy may increase.
Astrological sites describe a solar eclipse as “a time of crisis, transformation, and rethinking, but also a lack of clarity, clouding.” A lunar eclipse supposedly “sharpened feelings and emotions, revealed secret, repressed desires, and activated intuition and understanding of one’s spiritual goals.”
Moon eclipse
A lunar eclipse is a natural phenomenon in which the Earth blocks the sunlight reaching the Moon and forms a shadow on its surface. From an astronomical point of view, the phenomenon is distinguished by its relative frequency: an average of three such phenomena occur every year.
On average, a visible lunar eclipse occurs anywhere on Earth once every 2.5 years. Usually, the phenomenon lasts several hours.
Solar eclipse
A solar eclipse is a phenomenon of a similar nature, in which the Moon can be seen from Earth completely covering the Sun. The Moon, being between the Earth and the Sun, casts a shadow on the Earth. The phenomenon occurs only on a new moon when the Moon is on the same line between the Earth and the Sun.
A new moon occurs approximately once a month. And solar eclipses occur from two to five in one year. The last time there were five solar eclipses was in 1935; such a phenomenon will not happen again until 2206 [2].
What “not to do” during the eclipse corridor
Astrologers believe that the eclipse corridor is a turbulent period during which there is no need to make important decisions. Therefore, in the two weeks between two astronomical phenomena, astrologers do not advise doing the following things:
- make health decisions: visit clinics, take medications, sign up for medical tests;
- work with finances: borrow money and repay debts, apply for loans, study inheritance issues;
- change work activity: quit and get hired for a new job, launch new projects, look for employees;
- make decisions in your personal life: start or end a relationship, file for divorce or get married, propose, decide to move in with a partner;
- travel: buy tickets, use airline services, plan a vacation or time off.
How does the eclipse corridor affect a person?
NASA experts emphasize that the connection of eclipse corridors with bad events is an example of the “illusion of confirmation” [4] . This is the name of one of the common cognitive distortions, in which the brain selects information that supports a certain point of view and ignores facts that contradict it.
As a result, a person pays attention exclusively to those examples that seem true to him, forgetting about dozens of refutations. The space agency adds: “This interpretation is often found in astrological forecasts, which are based on coincidences and unscientific beliefs that celestial phenomena control human behavior. This is a logically flawed use of the illusion of confirmation. Apart from human psychology, nothing connects eclipses with life changes” [5] .
The only real health impact a solar eclipse can have is damage to the eyes. If a person observes an astronomical phenomenon without protection – special glasses or a welding mask – his vision will suffer. Alexander Kuskov, an ophthalmologist at the Eye Microsurgery Center “I See” in St.
Petersburg, explains : “In childhood, many played with a magnifying glass and know how easily on a sunny day you can use it to set something on fire. In the eye, the role of such a collecting lens is played by the lens and cornea. The sun’s rays during an eclipse are strong enough to focus on an unprotected eye and cause a burn to the macula, the center of the retina.”
When will the eclipse corridor occur in 2024?
In 2024 there will be two eclipse corridors. In the spring, this will happen from March 25 (lunar eclipse) to April 8 (solar eclipse), and in the fall – from September 18 to October 2. However, none of the astronomical phenomena will be visible. You can watch them live on the NASA or The Weather Channel YouTube channels.
Spring eclipse corridor
On March 25, 2024, a penumbral lunar eclipse occurred. In this case, the outer part of the Earth’s shadow is cast onto the lunar surface. This is the weakest type of astronomical phenomenon and the most difficult to observe. The eclipse could be seen in the skies over North and South America, Northeast Asia, Australia, much of Africa and Antarctica, as well as over the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
There will be a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, which will also only be visible to residents of North America.
Autumn eclipse corridor
On September 18, a partial lunar eclipse will occur: a fragment of the Moon will fall into the Earth’s shadow, which will look like “biting off” part of the lunar surface. However, it will occur in the skies over North and South America, Western Europe and East Asia.
On October 2, an annular solar eclipse will occur: a brilliant ring around the dark disk of the star will be visible. This astronomical phenomenon will be noticeable in Antarctica, North and South America, as well as in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
