What happens during a Solar Eclipse?

Summary

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Who Smarted? – "What Happens During a Solar Eclipse?"

Podcast: Who Smarted? (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Episode Date: August 10, 2026
Host: Trusty
Guest: Virgo, Seer of the Skies

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the fascinating science and history behind solar and lunar eclipses, blending humor, fun facts, and interactive questions. Host Trusty and his mystical (and comedic) guest Virgo challenge common myths, reveal real scientific insights, and explain how eclipses have impacted both the natural world and human history—with a style that’s as entertaining as it is educational.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. What Is an Eclipse? (01:16–04:03)

• Everyday occurrences (sunrise, sunset, sports teams losing) are compared to rare cosmic events.
• Trusty quizzes listeners on what an eclipse is: Equinox, Eclipse, or "Celestial Hide and Seek" (Correct answer: Eclipse).
• Introduces two main types:
  • Solar Eclipse – The moon passes between the Earth and sun.
  • Lunar Eclipse – The Earth passes between the sun and moon.
• Playful mention: "Total eclipse of the heart" (Bonnie Tyler reference).

Quote:
“Every now and then, the universe throws you a curve and something unbelievable happens… I’m talking about something in the cosmos, smartypants.”
— Trusty (01:37)

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2. Myths & Misconceptions (09:08–11:49)

• Virgo humorously lists ancient beliefs: dragons eating the sun, angry gods, the moon and sun "smooching."
• Trusty debunks these with a simple explanation:
  • An eclipse is when one space object moves into the shadow of another.

Quote:
“Easy. A dragon swallows the sun, and a jaguar attacks the moon.”
— Virgo (09:18)

“No. Nothing is eating the sun or attacking the moon.”
— Trusty (09:47)

• The term "eclipse" comes from Greek for "abandonment" (10:20).

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3. The Science Behind Eclipses (10:44–13:43)

• Lunar Eclipse:

  • Moon moves into Earth's shadow, turns red due to Earth’s atmosphere filtering sunlight (the "blood moon").
  • Partial lunar eclipses happen at least twice a year.

• Solar Eclipse:

  • Moon moves between Earth and sun, casting a shadow on Earth, can make it dark as night.
  • Annular eclipse: Moon is farthest from Earth; ring of light around the moon.

• Safety:

  • Only lunar eclipses are safe to look at without protective glasses.
  • Solar eclipse viewing requires special glasses.

Quote:
“With a total lunar eclipse, a full moon moves into the shadow of the Earth. The Earth blocks the direct sunlight that had been reflected by the moon. Instead, the moon can only reflect sunlight passing through the Earth's atmosphere.”
— Trusty (11:05)

Memorable Fact:

• Total solar eclipses occur more often than lunar ones (about every year and a half) but are harder to witness.

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4. Eclipses in History (13:43–15:27)

• Historical Impacts:

  • Columbus and a Native American leader used knowledge of eclipses to their advantage.
  • An unpredicted eclipse ended a six-year war (now Turkey and Iran) over 2,000 years ago.

• Scientific Discoveries:

  • Aristotle: Determined Earth’s roundness from lunar eclipse shadows.
  • Ancient Chinese astronomers: Earth's rotation slows slightly, noted from eclipse records.
  • Einstein's theory: Solar eclipses helped prove the sun’s gravity bends light.

Quote:
“A solar eclipse likely ended that war.”
— Trusty (14:28)

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5. The Weirdness and Wonders of Eclipses (15:13–21:42)

Animal Behavior (20:04–20:54)

• Total solar eclipses can cause:
  • Bats and mosquitoes to emerge and act as though it’s night.
  • Crickets to chirp and butterflies to disappear.
  • Squirrels to act "bothered" (comically described as "going crazy").
  • Cows, apparently, "don't care."
• Temperatures drop during totality, so bring a sweater!

Quote:
“A total solar eclipse affects animal behavior. The answer, surprisingly, is true. Yep, during a total solar eclipse, some animals act as if it’s suddenly nighttime.”
— Trusty (20:04)

Light Phenomena & The Corona (21:01–21:35)

• Snake shadows: Wavy, unexplained patterns on the ground.
• Little rings and crescent-shaped shadows from partial eclipses.
• During totality, twisting ribbons of light from the sun’s outer atmosphere—a.k.a. the corona—become visible.

Quote:
“Don’t just look up during an eclipse. There’s fascinating stuff down below too.”
— Trusty (21:21)

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6. How To Simulate an Eclipse at Home (17:05–18:45)

• Use a flashlight (sun), an apple (Earth), and a marble (moon) to visualize a lunar eclipse.
• The perfect distance between moon and Earth makes a total solar eclipse possible—the sun is 400 times wider but also 400 times farther than the moon.

Quote:
“If the moon were just a little smaller or farther away, a total solar eclipse would never happen.”
— Trusty (19:39)

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7. When & Where To See Eclipses Next (21:42–22:21)

• Upcoming total solar eclipses:
  • April 8, 2024: U.S.
  • 2026: Greenland, Iceland, Spain
  • 2027: Parts of Africa
  • 2028: Australia
  • Next U.S. eclipse after 2024: 2045
• Next total lunar eclipses: 2025 and 2026 (visible to much of the world)

Quote:
“There’s a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. After that, the next one to travel across the United States will be 21 years later.”
— Trusty (21:48)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Virgo’s comic attempts at celestial predictions:
  “Easy. A dragon swallows the sun, and a jaguar attacks the moon.” (09:18)

• Animal reaction highlight:
  “Squirrels seem to get bothered by eclipses too.” — Trusty (20:43)

• Why solar eclipses are special:
  “If the moon were just a little smaller or farther away, a total solar eclipse would never happen.” — Trusty (19:39)

• Safety reminder:
  “Always use your special eclipse sunglasses.” — Trusty (21:42)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• What is an Eclipse? – 01:16
• Ancient Myths and Misconceptions – 09:08
• Eclipse Science: Types and Causes – 10:44–13:43
• Historical and Scientific Impacts – 13:43–15:27
• Animal Behavior & Weird Eclipse Phenomena – 20:04–21:42
• How to Simulate an Eclipse at Home – 17:05–18:45
• Next Opportunities to View Eclipses – 21:42–22:21

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Tone and Style

The episode blends friendly, conversational language with humor and educational rigor. Trusty and Virgo joke around while delivering factual, digestible explanations, keeping both kids and adults engaged throughout.

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Final Thoughts

The episode masterfully unpacks the mysteries of solar and lunar eclipses, from scientific mechanics to wacky myths—mixing interactive questions, science history, and quirky animal facts. Listeners leave better equipped not just to understand eclipses, but to spot and safely enjoy the next one.

Keep on smarting, smarty pants!

Transcript

[Virgo]

Trainers. What is that?

[Ad]

That's a Lego Pikachu.

[Virgo]

No, it's Lego Pikachu eating a sandwich. Smart brick turns sandwich Smarttag into a perfect snack for your Lego Pokemon. Lego Pokemon. You're the trainer now.

[Trusty]

Hey, smarty pants. Trusty here and I want to tell you about something that's going to make bedtime way more fun. Koala Moon. You know how much we love learning cool stuff together. Well, Koala Moon is packed with original bedtime stories and sleep meditations that deliver amazing life lessons just in a way that helps you drift off to Dreamland. With over 700 stories featuring awesome characters like Coco the Koala and the Jupiter Twins, there's always something new to discover. Koalamoon has already helped improve over 50 million bedtimes, and I think it can help yours, too. So ask a grown up to search Koala Moon on your favorite podcast app so you can try it tonight. And now it's time for who Smarted?

[Virgo]

Psst.

[Trusty]

Hey, smarty pants. Let's play a little thinking game right now. I want you to think about this. What are some of the things in life you know for sure will happen? For example, seasons will change. So will the year. Birthdays will be celebrated, and certain sports teams won't win a championship again. And the kick is no good.

[Ad]

Oh.

[Trusty]

The New York jets lose again. And of course, there's the sun and moon. You know they'll both rise, you know they'll both set. The sun will shine all day, and most times, the moon will shine at night. But every now and then, the universe throws you a curve and something unbelievable happens. The kick is good. The New York jets are super bowl champions. No, not that unbelievable. I'm talking about something in the cosmos, smartypants. See if you can figure out what I'm talking about first. The day goes dark or the moon turns red. So what do we call this event? Is it A, an equinox, B, an eclipse, or C, celestial hide and seek? 8, 9, 10. Ready or not, here I come. If you said B in eclipse, you're right. Now tell me, smarty pants, what are the different types of eclipses? Yep, there are eclipses of the sun, known as solar eclipses, and eclipses of the moon, AKA lunar eclipses. And of course, there's total eclipses of the heart. A total eclipse of the heart. Today, we're just gonna focus on solar and lunar eclipses. Both have impacted world events and science. And with the right protection, they're both wondrous to see.

[Virgo]

Ah, yes. And I see something in your future.

[Trusty]

Uh, and you are?

[Virgo]

I am Virgo. Seer of the skies, sorcerer of the celestial. And I have a vision of darkness.

[Trusty]

Uh, yeah, that's exactly what we're describing.

[Virgo]

The sun, the earth, and the moon will align.

[Trusty]

Yep, still talking about an eclipse. There.

[Virgo]

And there will be many. Bats and squirrels will freak out.

[Trusty]

Uh, what now?

[Virgo]

Crickets will chirp, Butterflies will disappear, and there will be snake shadows.

[Trusty]

Okay, okay. What do you think, smarty pants? A lot's been said as to what could happen during an eclipse. Some of it quite strange. So, what's real and what's made up? How have eclipses rocked our world? And where can you see one?

[Virgo]

Now or in the future?

[Trusty]

Both. Get ready for another whiff of science and history on who Smarted? Who's smarted? Who smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun, but who's smart? And we'll be back with more smarting after this quick ad break. Hey, homeschool parents. It's August, and somewhere in your house, there's probably a stack of new curriculum, a fresh notebook, and a kid who's still on summertime. And you. You're the one who gets to decide how this year goes. That's the homeschool parent. You already are. The one who starts strong. So here's how I'd start. Ixl. For so many of our writers and producers here at WhoSmarted, IXL has become learning home base. One place with personalized learning matched exactly to where your child is picking right back up where summer left off. In math, language arts and more. From pre K on up, kids get instant explanations and little wins that keep them going. And you get clear reports showing real Progress from day one. Parents, this is your confidence. Over 15 million students use IXL, and it's proven to boost achievement in all 50 states. Who smarted? Listeners get an exclusive 20% off a membership when you sign up [e-mail] smarted. That's ixl.com smarted for your exclusive 20% off. Start the year strong with IXL.

[Virgo]

Trainers. What is that?

[Trusty]

That's Lego Squirtle.

[Virgo]

No, it's Lego Squirtle on a buggy. Yay. Smart brick turns buggy smart tag into a joyride for you. Your Lego Pokemon. Lego Pokemon. You're the trainer. Now, be honest.

[Trusty]

When's the last time the whole family was in the same room at the same time? Not everyone's scattered to their own screens in their own corners. But together having fun. Because that's what you really are underneath your busy weeks. A pack. Last month I brought my whole pack to Great Wolf Lodge. Cousins, aunts, the works. And I went down every water slide until we all forgot to be cool. That indoor water park is always 84 degrees. Wave pool, lazy river slides you ride together. But Great Wolf isn't a place you visit. It becomes your pack's home base for adventure. Magi Quest is sending you on a live action quest through the whole lodge. The northern lights, arcade, dining options, nightly dance parties all under one roof, and parents. Here's the best part. There's no big planning and you get to be the one who said yes. And with 22 lodges across the country, there's a good chance there's one just a short drive away. Book [e-mail] that's greatwolf.com and strengthen the pack. Hey smarty pants. Trusty here and I want to tell you about something that's going to make bedtime way more fun than Koala Moon. You know how much we love learning cool stuff together. Well, Koala Moon is packed with original bedtime stories and sleep meditations that deliver amazing life lessons just in a way that helps you drift off to Dreamland with over 700 stories featuring awesome characters like Coco the Koala and the Jupiter Twins. There's always something new to discover. Koalamoon has already helped improve over 50 million bedtimes, and I think it can help yours too. So ask a grown up to search Koala Moon on your favorite podcast app so you can try it tonight. Okay, first of all, Virgo, you remind me of someone. A certain fortune teller from our weather and Groundhog Day episodes.

[Virgo]

Ah yes, that's Virga. She's my second sight cousin. I am Virgo. She's a little more out there than me.

[Trusty]

Uh huh. Anyway, Smartypants, if you've seen a total lunar or solar eclipse, consider yourself lucky. Neither one happens often. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon turns red, while during a total solar eclipse, the daytime sky becomes completely dark. Smartypants, answer this. What type of eclipse do you suppose happens more often? If you said lunar eclipse where the moon turns red, you're wrong. Total lunar eclipses happen about every two and a half years while solar eclipses happen every year and a half.

[Virgo]

Ah yes, but solar eclipses are more difficult to find. You must be able to divine the future like me and my cousin. Also my aunt and great great grandfather.

[Trusty]

Or you know, a thing or two about objects in space. Smarty pants Tell me this. Exactly what is an eclipse?

[Virgo]

Easy. A dragon swallows the sun, and a jaguar attacks the moon. Oh, boy.

[Trusty]

Not even close. Wolves?

[Virgo]

Mountain lions? Demons shaped like avocados?

[Trusty]

Nope. No, no. Definitely not.

[Virgo]

Wait, I see it now. The sun will be gobbled up by a big black blob.

[Trusty]

No. Nothing is eating the sun or attacking the moon.

[Virgo]

Hmm. Are they a smooching?

[Trusty]

Nope. In fact, even if they wanted to share a kiss, they're nowhere near each other.

[Virgo]

Oh. Okay, how about this scenario? I see angry ancient mythical gods punishing humans with the sun God abandoning us forever. Or at least for a few minutes.

[Trusty]

I get the feeling you don't study much science.

[Virgo]

Definitely not. But hey, I could be right. After all, the word eclipse does come from the ancient Greek meaning abandonment.

[Trusty]

That's true. And in fact, all of those things, from hungry dragons and squirrels to a sun moon romance to angry mythical gods, were things people used to think happened during a solar or lunar eclipse.

[Virgo]

Whoa.

[Trusty]

But that's not what's really going on. Smarty pants. Can you shed some light or darkness on what's actually happening during an eclipse? Is it A, a star briefly loses power, B, a space object falls out of orbit, or C, a space object moves into the shadow of another space object?

[Virgo]

It has been foretold that the sun will tire and lose power.

[Trusty]

Uh, yes, but not for billions of years. The answer is C. Oh. With a total lunar eclipse, a full moon moves into the shadow of the Earth. The Earth blocks the direct sunlight that had been reflected by the moon. Instead, the moon can only reflect sunlight passing through the Earth's atmosphere. During a lunar eclipse, the moon appears red because Earth's atmosphere filters out other colors. With a partial lunar eclipse, only part of the moon enters the Earth's shadow. Unlike total eclipses, partial eclipses are actually very common, as they happen at least twice a year.

[Virgo]

Ah, so not so dark and threatening. Nope. Sorry.

[Trusty]

Didn't mean to scare you. As for a solar eclipse, that happens when the moon moves between the Earth and the sun, casting a shadow on the Earth. A total eclipse makes the sky as dark as night. As the sun is blocked, partial eclipse does not. With that, the moon doesn't quite line up with the sun, and part of the sun's surface appears to have a dark shadow. Another type of eclipse, called an annular eclipse, happens when the moon is farthest from the Earth. Because the moon doesn't fully cover the sun, a ring of light appears around it.

[Virgo]

Like a glowing, angry ring of fire.

[Trusty]

Sure, why not? Tell me, smarty pants, which of these two eclipses, the lunar or the solar is safe to look at. If you said lunar, you're right. Staring at a solar eclipse, just like staring at the sun, is very, very, very dangerous for your eyes. Fortunately, there are special glasses you can get for looking at a solar eclipse safely. Now tell me this. Which type of eclipse lasts longer, Solar or lunar? If you said lunar again, you're right. A solar eclipse lasts several minutes, while a lunar eclipse usually lasts a few hours.

[Virgo]

And while only a small part of the Earth can see a total solar eclipse, a total lunar eclipse can be seen by half the planet.

[Trusty]

Hey, that's right, Virgo. And because we always know the moon's location, we can predict when these eclipses will happen.

[Virgo]

Knowledge is power.

[Trusty]

Right again. For example, explorer Christopher Columbus wants to use his knowledge of an upcoming lunar eclipse to strike fear in the people of Jamaica. While in the 1800s, a Native American who knew a solar eclipse was coming used it to rally his people against foreign settlers. Sometimes an eclipse that was not predicted had a lot of power too. More than 2,000 years ago, there was a war between two groups of people who lived in what is now Turkey and Iran. These people fought and fought and fought for six long years. And they were just getting ready for another battle when suddenly, day became night. Shocked by this ominous occurrence, both sides quickly agreed to a ceasefire. Historians now believe a solar eclipse likely ended that war.

[Virgo]

Yes. Yes. Now you see the power of how eclipses can rock the world.

[Trusty]

They can rock science too. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle studied a lunar eclipse and from the circular shadow determined that the Earth is round. Astronomers studying solar eclipse records from ancient China were able to determine that the Earth's rotation slows by a tiny fraction of a second each day. And Albert Einstein became a world famous scientist after astronomers studying a solar eclipse found evidence proving Einstein's theory that the sun's gravity could bend light.

[Virgo]

Ah, but there's still much mystery surrounding an eclipse. Like snake shadows. Come on, trusty, admit solar eclipses can get a little weird.

[Trusty]

Yes, some strange things do happen, especially during a total solar eclipse.

[Virgo]

Aha. Told ya, smarty pants. Beware and bring sweaters and bug spray. Am I right?

[Trusty]

Uh, sort of.

[Virgo]

Tell em. Tell them.

[Trusty]

I will. Right after this quick break. And a word from our sponsors. Decal.

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[Virgo]

I can't open this jar of pickles. Let me try, Grandpa. Ha. You've clearly been drinking your milk. Milk can help you build muscles free.

[Trusty]

We're finally free.

[Virgo]

Wait, who said that milk can't stop pickles from coming alive?

[Trusty]

Hey, smarty pants. Trusty here and I want to tell you about something that's going to make bedtime way more fun. Koala Moon. You know how much we love learning cool stuff together. Well, Koala Moon is packed with original bedtime stories and sleep meditations that deliver amazing life lessons, just in a way that helps you drift off to Dreamland. With over 700 stories featuring awesome characters like Coco the Koala and the Jupiter Twins, there's always something new to discover. Koala Moon has already helped improve over 50 million bedtimes, and I think it can help yours, too. So ask a grown up to search Koala Moon on your favorite podcast, Apple, so you can try it tonight. Now back to who's smarter? Hey, smartypants, do you have a flashlight? If you do, it's pretty easy to make an eclipse happen right at home. Of course, you might want to get a friend or family member to help. Simply point your flashlight at an apple or baseball or something around that size and roundness. Then get another, smaller object, like a marble or a grape, and move it to the dark side of the larger object. Now you see how a total lunar eclipse happens, with the flashlight being the sun, the apple being the earth, and the grape being the moon.

[Virgo]

Whoa. Ah, but what about a total solar eclipse?

[Trusty]

That's a little trickier. Tell me, smarty pants, how can the moon fully block out the sun? A, the moon must be the perfect distance from Earth. B, the moon and sun are the exact same size. Or C any object passing in front of the sun blocks it out.

[Virgo]

What? You must never let an object come between you and the sun.

[Trusty]

Actually, that happens all the time, and we don't even notice it. The skies don't go dark when Venus or Mercury pass between the Earth and the sun. So that tells us that C is not the answer.

[Virgo]

Well, then the sun must be the same size as the moon.

[Trusty]

Smartypants, is that even close to being true? No, of course not. The sun is ginormous. Much, much, much larger than anything else in our solar system. Its diameter, which is A straight line through its middle from one edge to the other is 400 times the diameter of the Moon. But the sun also happens to be 400 times farther from the Earth than the moon. So thanks to the moon's perfect location. Answer A. In the sky, the moon appears to be the same size as the Sun. Because of this, the moon can block out the sun. Scientists say if the moon were just a little smaller or farther away, a total solar eclipse would never happen.

[Virgo]

But one will happen. And when it does, there will be many bats and mosquitoes and upset squirrels.

[Trusty]

Smartypants, what do you think? True or false? A total solar eclipse affects animal behavior. The answer, surprisingly, is true. Yep, during a total solar eclipse, some animals act as if it's suddenly nighttime. Bats will fly out and hunt for food, and some mosquitoes will start biting. So bring your repellent. You might hear crickets chirping night songs during the day, while butterflies might briefly disappear.

[Virgo]

What about squirrels? What about squirrels?

[Trusty]

What do you think, smarty pants? It seems squirrels seem to get bothered by eclipses too.

[Virgo]

They're going crazy.

[Trusty]

Of course, not all animals are affected. Apparently cows don't care.

[Virgo]

Oh, and remind them to bring a sweater.

[Trusty]

Oh, that's right. With no sunlight, temperatures drop.

[Virgo]

Glass shadows get strange. Tell them.

[Trusty]

Yes. Snake like shadows have been known to slither over the ground right before a total eclipse, and scientists aren't sure why. And when the sun is partially covered, you might see little rings of light and crescent shaped shadows all over. So don't just look up during an eclipse. There's fascinating stuff down below too.

[Virgo]

But if you do look up in total darkness, you'll see twisting ribbons of light.

[Trusty]

Those are from the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona. And remember, always use your special eclipse sunglasses.

[Virgo]

Yes. So when is the next eclipse? Shall I consult the moon?

[Trusty]

You're better off just going online and getting that information from scientists. There's a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. After that, the next one to travel across the United states will be 21 years later in 2045. Total solar eclipses will hit Greenland, Iceland and Spain in 2026. Parts of Africa in 2027, and Australia in 2028. As for total lunar eclipses, most of the world can see one in 2025 or 2026.

[Virgo]

Here's to the power of the eclipse.

[Trusty]

You know, Virgo, you're a man after my own heart. A stellar shout out to Ezekiel and Elijah in Menlo Park, California. I hear you two love listening and learning all about science and amazing discoveries. I love that about you. Keep on looking up, asking questions, and above all else, keep on smarting, smarty pants. This episode, Eclipses was written by Dave Total Eclipse of the Bow Dream and voiced by Jonathan Rejier, Adam Blocks Davis and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Don't Stare into the Han who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our Associate producer is Max Here Comes the Sun Kamowski. The theme song is by Brian Spaced Out Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. Hey smarty pants. Trusty here and I want to tell you about something that's going to make bedtime way more fun. Koala Moon. You know how much we love learning cool stuff together. Well, Koala Moon is packed with original bedtime stories and sleep meditations that deliver amazing life lessons just in a way that helps you drift off to Dreamland. With over 700 stories featuring awesome characters like Coco the Koala and the Jupiter Twins, there's always something new to discover. Koalamoon has already helped improve over 50 million bedtimes, and I think it can help yours too. So ask a grown up to search Koala Moon on your favorite podcast app so you can try it tonight.