Sollunae

17/02/2026

14/02/2026

🌙☀️ The Legend of Luna & Sol

Found in mythologies from Norse tales to Eastern Asia, the story of Luna (the Moon) and Sol (the Sun) tells of two lovers forever separated by day and night.

A solar eclipse is their rare, magical reunion — a fleeting moment when Luna and Sol are said to finally meet and embrace, reminding us that true love can cross even impossible distances.

For Luna and Sol, Valentine’s Day falls on August 12, 2026 — but that doesn’t stop us from celebrating love in their honor today.

💫 Happy Valentine’s Day, eclipse chasers. 🌘

13/02/2026

Play it safe this Valentines Day...

12/02/2026

🌘 Eclipse Fact:

Over 2,400 years ago, Greek philosopher Anaxagoras (c. 500–428 BCE) was the first person to correctly explain why eclipses happen.

At a time when eclipses were feared as divine omens, Anaxagoras dared to say something radical: they’re natural events, not messages from the gods.

He explained that a solar eclipse happens when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, and a lunar eclipse occurs when Earth’s shadow falls across the Moon. 🌍🌙☀️

Before him, philosophers proposed all kinds of imaginative ideas — but after Anaxagoras, those theories disappeared. His explanation stuck.

About 150 years later, Aristotle pointed to eclipses as a perfect example of how real science works: observation, reasoning, and evidence. 🔬✨

11/02/2026

Happy International Day of Women in Science! 🚀

Today we honour the brilliant women who reshaped astronomy and astrophysics — from discovering stars and comets to unlocking cosmic mysteries that expanded our understanding of the universe. 🌌 🌟

These astronomers and astrophysicists — past and present — defied expectations, expanded our cosmic horizons, and continue to inspire the next generation of explorers. 🚀🌟

10/02/2026

On May 29th 1919 a total solar eclipse proved Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity.

British expeditions led by Arthur Eddington measuring the deflection of starlight as it passed the Sun in Brazil and Africa. This exceptionally long eclipse, with over 6 minutes of totality, showed starlight bending by the predicted amount, confirming that gravity warps spacetime.

08/02/2026

BEHOLD! The first ever photograph of a solar eclipse!

This was the earliest scientifically useful photograph of a total solar eclipse, made by Julius Berkowski at the Royal Observatory in Königsberg, Prussia.

This was the first occasion that an accurate photographic image of a solar eclipse was recorded.

Photographing a rare event such as a total eclipse posed unique challenges for early photography, including the extreme contrast between the corona and the dark shadow of the Moon, as well as the unusual angle to which photographic equipment had to be oriented.

Prior to the eclipse of July 28, 1851, no properly exposed photograph of the solar corona had yet been produced

07/02/2026

In March 1504, stranded in Jamaica, Christopher Columbus famously predicted a total lunar eclipse using astronomical tables (like Regiomontanus's almanac).

He used his knowledge to intimidate the Arawak people into providing food, claiming his God would turn the Moon red in anger if they didn't.

When the moon turned red during the lunar eclipse, the natives were terrified and complied. Columbus and secured his supplies until rescue, solidifying his authority through a dramatic performance of celestial knowledge.

06/02/2026

🌞 Solar Eclipse 101: Four Celestial Shows! 🌑

✨ Total Eclipse: The Moon completely blocks the Sun — day turns dark and you can see the Sun’s corona
🔥 Annular Eclipse: The Moon looks too small and leaves a “ring of fire” around it

🌗 Partial Eclipse: The Moon only covers part of the Sun — like a bite taken out of it!

🌟 Hybrid Eclipse: A rare mix — annular and total along different parts of its path! 

📄 Learn more and see the visuals: https://c.tadst.com/gfx/pdf/infographic–types-of-eclipse.pd

04/02/2026

🌑✨ Eclipse fun fact: Baily’s Beads are the sparkling points of sunlight that appear like a string of pearls just before and after totality.

They’re caused by sunlight slipping through the Moon’s mountains and valleys — a brief, beautiful reminder of how rugged the Moon’s edge really is.

Bailys beads were first explained in 1836 by English astronomer Francis Baily, whom they are also named after.

Look out for Baily's beads during the August 2026 eclipse!