On April 8th 2024 we experienced a solar eclipse for the first time in over six years. The eclipse passed through Mexico, the United States and Canada. A solar eclipse occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned, specifically when the Moon is between the Sun and Earth casting on the Earth.
Prior to this year's eclipse, panic was struck around the world, and many outlandish conspiracy theories emerged on what would happen when the eclipse took place.
One of the many conspiracies brought up being that it would be the cause of “the end of the world.” Many people believed that the eclipse would cause it to be dark for three days and that unknown “bad things” would take place. This theory is in relation to the bible verse, Matthew 24:36: "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the son himself. The father knows.”
People connected these two things together claiming that this would be “the return of Jesus” and somehow would cause the world to end.
“Many people genuinely believe this and they think it’s gonna happen due to personal beliefs and religion.”
The previous solar eclipse of 2017 was 2 and ½ minutes long, this year it was 4 and ½ minutes long. A map of the 2017 eclipse showed that its path of totality was from Oregon to South Carolina. This year it was from Texas to Maine. This caused many people to think that they needed to take caution/preparation. This idea was spread across social media and allegedly a newscast. In regards to this people prepared by stalking up on food, water, gas and had generators prepared.
A large assembly of people have said to have spotted “aliens” and “ufos” during and after the eclipse. Several videos have been shared across social media of an unknown object racing past the eclipse, some believe that it’s “aliens” others say it was a plane capturing pictures of the eclipse.
Shortly after the eclipse many claimed to have a headache, vertigo, fatigue, sore throat, and even body pains. This created the “Eclipse Sickness” theory. Many doctors have said that this may be a result of flicker vertigo due to flashing lights/ flickering lights occurring during the eclipse. It has also been said that the eclipse has absolutely no effect on health and is just a superstition. So many people thought that bad things would happen so talking about it and believing that it would happen may have made them feel as if they were actually experiencing it.
“I respect it, but I personally don’t believe it’s true.”
MHS students and teachers have mixed feelings about the conspiracies, some thought they were true, others didn't. 2 of 7 MHS students and teachers thought the eclipse was going to “end the world.” Though they may have different opinions on whether or not the conspiracies were true, they all believe that many conspiracies were made up to start stuff. Multiple students said that they believe a majority of the conspiracies made up were just to worry people.
While the vast majority of MHS students didn’t believe in the conspiracies, the ones that did said they were really worried about it. Some were fully convinced that the world was ending and they would be “done for.”
“Eclipses have happened for years, so why would something happen this time if nothing has happened previously.”
Though the eclipse has caused a stir around the world, the beauty and wonder remains the same.
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