First Lunar Elipse Of 2011? Boring! Viking Wolves Biting The Sun? Metal!
Posted by Editor on January 3rd, 2011
A natural event that inspired some of the most awesome Norse mythology ever will make an epic return to it’s homeland tomorrow.
Two beasts of Norse mythology are set to trouble the skies of northern Europe on Tuesday for the world’s first solar eclipse of 2011.
Ancient Viking legends recount that a giant wolf named Skoll chases the Moon, and its brother Hati pursues the Sun — and if either sinks their teeth into one and holds it back, an eclipse occurs.
For astronomers, though, eclipses are less superstitious affairs, occurring when the Moon swings between the Sun and Earth.
Tuesday’s event will be a partial eclipse. This occurs when a fraction of the Moon obscures the Sun, and to those in its shadow a “bite” seems to have been taken out of the solar face.
According to legend, humans are encouraged to make as much noise as possible when the eclipse happens, as to scare away the wolves. So, file that under “things to do.”
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