The Biology of Eclipse Season
If you're reading this, you survived eclipse season and the astrogirlies are proud.
You survived Eclipse season!
Our sky is no longer out to get you, and everything is back to the status quo. Eclipse season is known to be a hectic time either emotionally, technologically, or both, or neither. I am a fan of all the holistic and spiritual practices behind astrology, however, as a biologist I asked myself what really is Eclipse season?
Like most curious scientists, I couldn’t just brush this question off. I had to talk about it with friends, investigate about it on Google, and read about it with ChatGPT.
So, for those warriors who are here after the chaotic astronomical event, today we are diving into the biology of Eclipse season
Wait. What is even a solar eclipse?
Solar eclipses happen when the Moon moves between the Sun and Earth, so it blocks our sunlight and casts a shadow on Earth's surface. This phenomenon occurs during the New Moon phase when the Moon is positioned directly between the Earth and the Sun – so, solar eclipses occur when we have a new moon (more like no moon) in the sky.
We can observe three types of solar eclipses and they depend on the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth:
Total Solar Eclipse: the Moon completely covers the Sun, blocking all direct sunlight.
Partial Solar Eclipse: the Moon partially covers the Sun, casting a shadow that only partially blocks sunlight.
Annular Solar Eclipse: the Moon is farther from the Earth in its elliptical orbit, causing it to appear smaller than the Sun. As a result, the Moon does not completely cover the Sun's disk, leaving a ring of sunlight visible around the edges.
In sum, during a solar eclipse the Moon's shadow is cast onto the Earth. This creates regions of partial or total darkness in some areas of the world (probably in the northern hemisphere). Astrology will tell you that an eclipse will magnify aspects in your life that need attention and create new beginnings and opportunities – but, in a chaotic way.
Now what does biology say about all this movement in the sky?
Personally, I am not sure if eclipses offer us job opportunties or get us pregnant, but I am certain that this must affect us as living organisms.
After digging around (thank you bachelor’s degree for teaching me how to peer review), I discovered that various animal species indeed do exhibit unordinary behaviors during eclipse season; and its all due to the changes in light and enviornmental conditions (if you read my previous article you’ll know how animals are masters at being in tune with the sun and light).
Here's an overview based on the articles I read:
Birds:
Nocturnal birds may become confused by the sudden darkness during the day, altering their behaviors.
Some birds may cease their daytime activities and seek shelter, mimicking behaviors typically observed during nighttime.
Researchers have noted changes in bird calls and flight patterns leading up to and during solar eclipses, indicating a disruption in their normal routines.
Insects:
Bees have been observed returning to their hives during an eclipse, possibly due to the disruption in their navigational cues caused by the altered light conditions.
Bumblebees have been shown to cease buzzing when cast into darkness, highlighting their sensitivity to changes in light intensity.
Spiders may dismantle their webs during an eclipse, potentially in response to decreased prey activity or altered environmental cues.
Mammals:
Giraffes at a zoo exhibited signs of distress, such as running, during a solar eclipse, suggesting sensitivity to changes in light and environmental conditions.
Galapagos giant tortoises displayed unusual behavior, such as increased activity and mating, during an eclipse, indicating a possible disruption of their normal routines.
These observations show us just how much animals (we are animals too) are affected by the light. Their behaviors range from confusion and agitation to altered activity patterns and mating behaviors – because our hormones are triggered and influenced by light.
For instance, why do doctors tell us to avoid light before going to bed? If you don’t, which you probably don’t, you won’t release melatonin, the sleepy hormone. And if you don’t release melatonin, you’ll have increased cortisol levels. Cortisol is known as the stress hormone, and if that’s out of bounds you are certainly agitated.
Studying these animal behaviors provides valuable insights into how they perceive and adapt to changes in their environment, they are one with the environment, no matter celestial or terrestrial.
So, I guess astrology is right – us animals wreak havoc when there is an eclipse.
Eclipses are cool.
Unfortunately, I’ve never had the chance to see a solar eclipse with my own eyes. Living on or near the equator makes it hard to observe this astronomical event. In fact, the northern hemisphere is the area most solar eclipses occur because the sun is over the horizon for longer at these high latitudes (closer to the Arctic), meaning there is more time for solar eclipses to occur in this hemisphere.
On an even more personal level, I love doing new moon rituals, which occur at the same time of solar eclipses. It’s not that I believe these rocks and stars in the sky dictate my everyday life, however, I appreciate the ritual of taking a moment to connect with myself and my surrondings. Once a month, (theres a new moon every 30 days), it’s nice to remind yourself the importance of setting new intentions and goals for the new lunar cycle or next 30 days.
Furthermore, astronomy isn’t the only culture (?) that makes noise about solar eclipses. Ancient Mesopotomia, China, Egypt, and even the Christian church have their take on the significance of a solar eclipse. For instance, in Mesopotomian Cultures, such as Sumerian and Babylonian, eclipses were often seen as omens that signaled potential political changes.
Overall, across different cultures and time periods, solar eclipses have been interpreted in diverse ways, ranging from omens of political change to cosmic battles (Sun vs. Moon UFC) between mythical beings (the Egyptians were all in to the supernatural). These interpretations reflect the cultural and religious beliefs of each society and illustrate the enduring fascination and significance of eclipses throughout human history.
So, now you know what eclipse season really means.
Right?
After looking at the biology, astronomy, astrology, and the history of this phenomenon, I feel we can all agree eclipses can be a moment of change. Some people might feel this more than others, and some giraffes might take a bigger hit than your dog. Either way, I feel it is worth asking yourself how in-tuned with nature are you? In this modern world it is so easy not to be – it takes a huge effort to actually notice the changes in the sky or the dog howls in your neighborhood. It’s time we start asking ourselves what do full moons even mean, or how do eclipses affect us.