Witnessing the solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024, at Niagara Falls was an unforgettable experience. Our school’s field trip, a chance for both my students and me to marvel at this extraordinary natural spectacle, was met with palpable excitement. As we arrived, we found Niagara Falls bustling with even more activity than usual, transformed into a hub for eclipse chasers from around the globe.

Despite the brief total eclipse lasting just one to three minutes, the anticipation built over two enchanting hours in the afternoon, transforming this renowned tourist destination into a focal point of celestial wonder. The convergence of the majestic falls and the cosmic event created a breathtakingly surreal backdrop for an already momentous occasion.

Toronto was just outside the path of totality and set to experience a partial eclipse peaking at 3:19 PM ET. This made the Toronto District School Board reschedule a professional development day for teachers from April 19th to April 8th. The decision was made due to concerns that the eclipse would coincide with school dismissal, increasing the risk that children might be outside and look directly at the sun without proper protection, potentially leading to serious eye damage, including partial or total vision loss.

The cloudy weather added a mystical atmosphere to the event. Watching a solar eclipse under a clear sky might have felt ordinary, but here, we could only catch fleeting glimpses when the clouds allowed, heightening the excitement of the crowd. Niagara Falls took on a festival-like energy, with a cheerful crowd donning special eclipse glasses and eagerly scanning the sky. Each time the sun briefly emerged from behind the clouds, the excitement surged. There were shouts, exaggerated noises, and enthusiastic calls. At that moment, I didn't fully understand, but it seemed that many people—perhaps the majority—considered being there and showing enthusiasm more like a form of worship rather than just witnessing a remarkable natural event.

It was a total solar eclipse. For three minutes, the moon completely covered the sun, plunging us into darkness. It felt like midnight, even though it was the middle of the day. The atmosphere became eerily silent; for about thirty seconds, no one made a sound. It was as if we had been transported to an abandoned, desolate place. Then, a few cheers broke the silence.

During those three minutes of total eclipse, it felt as though life had paused. We couldn’t hear or see any living creatures, especially birds, during this time. It’s worth mentioning that before the eclipse began, all the animals, especially the birds, seemed to be greeting it in their own way. The birds flew around wildly and noisily, announcing the upcoming event. Their chirping and excitement spread to all living creatures, filling the forests and parks around Niagara Falls with a sense of joy. But during those three minutes, all of that vanished. I found this as fascinating as the eclipse itself.

After about three hours, the solar eclipse ended, and on the way home in the school bus, I discussed the day's events with my students. I started with a question: “If our school bus could travel to the sun nonstop at a speed of 60 mph (96 km/h), how long would it take?” The Earth orbits the Sun at an average distance of 150 million km (93 million miles), which we call 1 Astronomical Unit.

Depending on your preferred method of transport, it would take you 19 years to reach the Sun on a plane traveling at 885 km/h (550 mph) or 177 years to drive at 96 km/h (60 mph) or 3,536 years to walk there at 4.8 km/h (3 mph). A photon of light makes the journey from the Sun to Earth in just 8 minutes and 20 seconds.

I continued, “How long would it take to reach the moon if we could travel there in the same bus?” It would take about 165 days. At this point, I explained how the two celestial bodies, separated by about 400 times that distance, align so perfectly to cause a solar eclipse. If such an alignment happened less frequently, life on Earth would be significantly affected.

The sun, the star of our galaxy, is assigned a key role in the creation of life in our world by sending its light across 150 million kilometers in just eight minutes. Just think—our bodies rely on the sun to produce vitamin D, a crucial nutrient for bone development. That light, traveling across the vastness of space, reaches us and plays an essential role in our health and survival.

The health benefits of sunlight are well-documented, particularly its role in vitamin D production when UVB rays interact with the skin. While people can obtain vitamin D through diet and supplements, sunlight remains a crucial natural source of this essential nutrient.

Vitamin D is necessary for key biological processes, supporting healthy bones, managing calcium levels, reducing inflammation, supporting the immune system, and regulating glucose metabolism. Researchers have also found a link between sun exposure and lower blood pressure, with reduced death rates from cardiovascular issues. They suggest that exposure to sunlight triggers the skin to release stores of nitrogen oxides, which cause arteries to dilate, lowering blood pressure and potentially reducing the impact of metabolic syndrome. Increased sun exposure may also protect people from diseases like type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), and several forms of cancer, including colon, breast, prostate cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Sunlight also supports better sleep and sets people's circadian rhythms by regulating serotonin and melatonin levels. Being in the sun generally makes people feel good, and there are many scientific reasons for this effect. Exposure to UVB rays causes human skin to produce beta-endorphins, which are hormones that reduce pain and promote a sensation of well-being, improve mood, boost the immune system, relieve pain, promote relaxation, help wounds heal, make people feel more alert, increase job satisfaction, and reduce depression.

The sun is the closest star to Earth. Despite the huge distance in between, the sun’s gravitational pull holds the planet in orbit. It radiates light and heat, or solar energy, which makes life possible on Earth. Plants need sunlight to grow. Animals, including humans, need plants for food and the oxygen they produce. Without heat from the sun, Earth would freeze. There would be no winds, ocean currents, or clouds to transport water.

Solar energy has existed as long as the sun—about five billion years. While people have not been around that long, they have been using solar energy in various ways for thousands of years.

As I explained the importance of the sun to us, one student turned to another and said, "The teacher is one of us." I didn't understand what he meant, so I asked a colleague next to me. My colleague explained that the student thought I worshipped the sun, just like he did.

At that moment, I could not help but ran a theory in my head: “If the sun is a god, then, so must be the moon, for it can block it.” If he had heard my thoughts, the student would probably warn me for blasphemy.

I realized that some people there were present due to their religious beliefs. We, on the other hand, were there to appreciate the magnificent creations of the Creator. In the back of my mind, I thought of the words of Prophet Abraham, who said, “I love not the things that set” (An’am 6:76).

The spectacle of the solar eclipse at Niagara Falls highlighted a fascinating intersection between science and spirituality. Throughout history, humans have often turned to spiritual or religious explanations to make sense of natural phenomena they could not otherwise explain. The sun and the moon, due to their profound influence on our lives and their mysterious, awe-inspiring appearances in the sky, have frequently been deified. Various cultures have worshipped these celestial bodies, attributing to them godly powers and constructing elaborate myths around their movements.

This dualism—where natural phenomena are seen through both scientific and spiritual lenses—was evident among the crowd at Niagara Falls. For some, the eclipse was a mere alignment of celestial bodies, a predictable event explained by the principles of astronomy. For others, it held deeper, spiritual significance. The temporary darkening of the sun by the moon was not just an astronomical occurrence but a moment of divine interplay between celestial gods. This view posits that the sun and the moon, embodying powerful deities, engage in a cosmic dance that directly impacts human life.

In the past, such interpretations were necessary due to the lack of scientific understanding. The unexplained needed a framework, and spirituality provided that. The sun, with its life-giving rays, was seen as a benevolent god, while the moon, with its control over tides and mysterious phases, was often perceived as a powerful and sometimes enigmatic deity. This spiritual dualism gave people a sense of control and understanding over the natural world, offering comfort in the face of the unknown.

Even today, despite our advanced scientific knowledge, these ancient beliefs persist. They coexist with scientific explanations, showing that human beings seek meaning beyond what can be quantified and explained. The eclipse at Niagara Falls was a perfect example of this duality. While we marveled at the precise calculations that allowed us to predict the event, the emotional and spiritual reactions of many in the crowd reminded us of the enduring power of myth and religion.

The solar eclipse at Niagara Falls was more than just a spectacular natural event; it was a profound reminder of our place in the universe. As we watched the moon obscure the sun, plunging us into an eerie midday darkness, it underscored the delicate balance that sustains life on Earth. This extraordinary phenomenon not only captivated our senses but also prompted deep reflections on the significance of the sun's role in our lives. From its vital contribution to our health and well-being to its essential function in maintaining the ecological balance, the sun is a powerful force given to us as an important to be appreciative of.

This trip was a unique blend of scientific wonder and cultural insight, teaching us to appreciate the natural world and the diverse ways people find meaning in it. As we returned home, the shared experience of witnessing the eclipse left us with a renewed sense of awe and gratitude for the intricate beauty of the cosmos.

Among His Sings are the Night and the Day, and the Sun and the Moon. Adore not the sun and the moon, but adore God, Who created them, if it is Him you wish to serve. (Fussilat 41:37)

References

• https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0155614&mod=article_inline
• https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminD-HealthProfessional/
• Sunlight Has Cardiovascular Benefits Independently of Vitamin D | Blood Purification | Karger Publishers
• https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/07315724.2015.1039866