Solar eclipses - A powerful tool for the study of nature

Abstract

Solar eclipses occur due to periodic coincidences in positions of the moon and the earth with respect to the sun. Characteristics of their orbital paths determine the periodicity, duration and shape, lengths and orientations of tracks of totality. Extreme reduction of background illumination helps observations of faint features surrounding the sun; sudden changes in the illumination level create impulsive conditions at different layers of the atmosphere which expose reaction mechanisms. Unusual disturbance in the ciradian rythm affects the living world. This paper briefly reviews the phenomena of solar eclipses and scientific experiments performed during the event.