On August 21, a strip of Earth will experience two minutes of total darkness in broad daylight. The complete solar eclipse can be observed in the United States, and partially in countries of Central America and North of South America.
Since the phenomenon can not be seen in most of Brazil, the Rio de Janeiro Planetarium will broadcast the eclipse live on its Facebook page. Astronomer Naelton Mendes of the Brazilian planetarium spoke with Sputnik about the astronomical event.
"The eclipse begins when the moon begins to enter the solar disk. [The star] takes a few hours to get to the other side, but the total phenomenon lasts about two minutes. Explained Mendes.
The expert, in addition, rejected the cabalistic forecasts that circulate in the social networks that on August 21 will mark the beginning of the end of the world and denied the rumor that people will weigh a kilogram less during the eclipse.
For his part, the astrologer Zander Catta Preta, told Sputnik the mystical side of the eclipse. The expert explained that every astronomical phenomenon is seen by astrology in a symbolic way and, contrary to what many believe, does not have a real direct effect on people's daily lives, except in the case of the phases of the Moon affecting the tides.
"What we do is look at the sky and see the repetitions of patterns, behaviors, facts and data and try to find some meaning in that. When there is a solar eclipse, the light of the conscious -represented by the Sun- goes out, and a moment arises We can find an analogy, but to say that A results in B is a bit exaggerated, "said the astrologer.
Catta Preta explained that in astrology the eclipses represent "a moment of renewal". As an example of this social symbolism, the astrologer established a parallel between the astrological phenomenon and the recent events in the United States of withdrawing the Confederate symbols and rejecting the racist past.