What creates a total solar eclipse? - Andy Cohen

Explore the science of what causes total solar eclipses, and find out how civilizations throughout history reacted to them.

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How can the shadow of the tiny moon eclipse the sight of the gargantuan sun? By sheer coincidence, the disc of the sun is 400x larger than the disc of the moon, but it's 390x farther from Earth -- which means that when they align just right, the moon blocks all but the sun's glowing corona. Andy Cohen details this extraordinary celestial phenomenon (and when it will next occur).

Lesson by Andy Cohen, animation by Bevan Lynch.

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[SlimeYee]

Thanks for the heads-up TedEd! Andy Cohen, Bevan Lynch you guys rock!

[sreenilthiyyath]

How the crescent shapes are forming on ground during solar eclipse??? Expecting a detailed graphical video like this one.

[dougrattmann]

A spectacular moment in the heavenly waltz between the most influential two objects in our planet's existence. They shaped our biological bodies, daily lives and cultures since the very beginning and will continue to do so for as long as we live.

I cannot wait to witness it.

[LrdDragnManifesto]

*marks calender, searches for calculations describing the umbra's path*

[SirFluffyFluffton]

That was explained exceptionally well.🌙🌙🌙

[lindawisner]

It was a very busy week!! Thanks Andre!!

[hernan-]

La anchura de la umbra no suele pasar de los 160 kms por lo que hay que escoger bien el sitio para ver un eclipse, y ver uno al 80 o 90 por ciento no es comparable que ver uno al 100 por ciento. Hay que estar en la senda de totalidad. ☺

[mccordman]

Heard they're reforming the Dawnguard. Vampire hunters or something, in the old fort near Riften. Might consider joining up myself.

[Sssabmud]

Liked the historical facts part of the video, brought another perspective to this amazing event.

[MrSaint]

I like that the title of this video was changed. There was too much of those uncreative, sometimes condescending titles before. Good going, Ted!

[heinzie]

i remember seeing a total eclipse back in the 90's here in the uk. it was pretty awesome. anyone know if this will cross the uk?

[killerhomone]

Epic! Loved the art and animation and explanation - very succinct. :D

[yuricahere]

Eclipse: *totally naturally occurring phenomenon several times a year*
Ancient humans: we could start a religion out of this!

[blipblop]

2017... So there'll more videos like this until then!

[Great_WesternTVFan]

This was my first TED ed video I saw as a child

[DEANFARRELL-dzyx]

helpful for today thanks guys you rock!!!! :)😀

[rabsputin]

during a full solar eclipse that hit london, i was in glasgow (where i live) and looking at the sun using the filtered specs you get for these events i could see the moon partially covering the solar disc.

[djhay_]

😭😭😭 cuz of my school, i missed it..this is why no one likes school, they can miss events and they just dont like school

[brendankrasean]

Carona in 2013: suns outer energy.
Carona in 2020: The world Apocalypse virus.

[domeeducation]

Thanks James C! Bevan Lynch's animation made it all work. Check Annie Dillard's essay in Teaching a Stone to Talk for a much better description of what the experience is like