Mariusz Krukar

Impact of solar eclipses on twilight

Abstract

The presence of Earth’s atmosphere leads to understanding the solar eclipse as an event, which isn’t restricted by the calculated geometrical path encompassing the entire daylight zone between sunrise and sunset. Some of the optical phenomena accompanying the solar eclipse are significantly noticeable within the twilight zone, an extension of the area of the solar eclipse. They tend to dwindle, especially within the secondary twilight zone, where the Sun doesn't directly illuminate the lower layers of Earth’s atmosphere. The current work presents the scenario in which the umbra moves through the atmosphere near the terminator line and the optical outputs of this impact. All the optical atmosphere responses have been noticed by webcam-based records, and especially by the recent site observation in Galicia on April 8, 2024. The investigation of the 2024 solar eclipse's influence on dusk included images and measurements of sky surface brightness with the Unihedron SQM LU-DL device. When the eclipse phase is deep enough, the occurrence of solar eclipse before sunrise and after sunset can result in the twilight standstill moment. In this particular time, scene illumination level remains constant due to changes in eclipse obscuration against the solar depression. The work demonstrates relevant computations based on various magnitudes of the Sun, adequate to specific obscuration levels. A serious twilight disturbance is observed every time a total solar eclipse occurs, although there is a significant scarcity of observations. This leads to the conclusion that casual observers who live in the areas of eclipse extension aren’t aware of the event. It could change upon the forthcoming total solar eclipse of August 12, 2026, extending to most Mediterranean countries in the twilight zone.
Because of reduced sky radiance, the influence of a solar eclipse on twilight allows observation of the stellar background in the vicinity of the Sun and internal zodiacal light.
 

BIO

I am a geographer and GIS Analyst graduated from the University of Science and Technology in Kraków. My work focuses primarily on geographic information systems, but I also occasionally take on the role of a tourist guide. Additionally, I am also an amateur astronomer with a deep passion for optics, which covers exploring phenomena such as contrast and refraction in the Earth’s atmosphere and the universe. One of my main interests is studying the impact of solar eclipses on both the scene and the celestial sphere. I am a member of the Polish Society of Amateur Astronomers. My primary goal is to explain things that aren’t discussed widely and present them from a unique perspective.
For more information, feel free to visit my website: astro-geo-gis.com.