We asked Meteorologist Alex Garcia how/why this happens.
“They are not unusual or rare. They have been observed for decades, if not centuries. It is a natural phenomenon that occurs with each eclipse and provides an indirect way to observe the sun without looking directly at it,” explained Garcia.During a solar eclipse, the Moon partially or totally blocks the Sun's light. This creates small holes of light where the Sun's light is shining through the gaps between leaves or other objects.
That’s right, the pinhole projection is the same effect that creates a camera image. When light passes through a small hole, it is projected onto a surface behind the hole in an inverted image. “Standing near trees during an eclipse is an easy way to see these cool shadows,” said Garcia. “When the sunlight shines through the small gaps between the leaves it acts like a pinhole camera lens refracting and scattering sunlight. The result is a projection of the “eclipsed sun” onto the ground surface.”The crescent shape of the projections is due to the shape of the Sun during a solar eclipse. When the Moon is only partially blocking the Sun, the Sun appears as a crescent shape.
The crescent-shaped projections are a beautiful and safe way to view a solar eclipse. They can be seen on any surface, including the ground, leaves, and even your own hand. To see the projections, simply find a place where the sunlight is shining through small holes. You can also use a colander or other object with small holes to create your own pinhole camera.
Important: Never look directly at the Sun, even during a solar eclipse. Doing so can cause serious eye damage.
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