Wednesday, August 12th 2026
This afternoon, all attention will be focused on the sky, where the Moon will partially cover the Sun. But some of the most interesting effects of the eclipse can be seen right on the ground. The reduction of solar radiation can cause, within a few minutes, physical, atmospheric and biological changes in the surrounding environment.
In Albania, the eclipse will be partially visible and the intensity will vary according to the area. Since the phenomenon will occur near sunset, some effects will be mixed with the normal twilight ones.
1. Tree shadows turn into hundreds of crescents
If you are near a tree with many leaves, look at the ground under its shadow. Hundreds of small crescent-shaped shapes can appear during the eclipse. The spaces between the leaves act like the tiny pinholes of a pinhole camera, projecting images of the Sun onto the ground.
Normally these images are circular and barely discernible, but during an eclipse they take the shape of the Sun partially obscured by the Moon. So it is not about an optical illusion, but about real images projected naturally.
2. The temperature drops and the “eclipse wind” may appear
At the moment of maximum darkness, the reduction of solar radiation may bring a temporary decrease in temperature near the ground. This phenomenon has been documented during many eclipses.
Cooling can also affect local air movement, creating temporary changes in atmospheric circulation. However, it is not certain that you will feel an “eclipse smell”, as it all depends on the meteorological conditions. In our country, the effect can be even harder to see, as the eclipse coincides with sunset and the normal cooling of the evening.
With the Sun very close to the horizon, the gradual darkening can make the landscape appear darker than usual. Colors, shadows and contrasts can take on an unusual appearance, as the effects of the eclipse merge with those of the twilight.
However, the spectacular phenomenon of the “360-degree sunset”, with illumination across the horizon, is mainly characteristic of the total eclipse. In Albania, the eclipse will remain partially visible.
4. A “false twilight” can change the behavior of animals
The sudden drop in light can temporarily affect organisms that are oriented by the day-night cycle. During eclipses, birds that stop singing, nocturnal insects that start activity and bees that return to the hive have been observed.
Even plants can react to the change in light, temporarily changing the position of the leaves or the opening of the flowers. However, scientists warn that these reactions are not yet fully understood and may be difficult to distinguish from normal behavior during twilight.
When the light decreases, the way the eye perceives colors also changes. This phenomenon is known as the ‘Purkinje effect’. In bright light, the cells that perceive colors predominate, while in the dark the role of cells more sensitive to blue and green light increases.
As a result, red and orange can appear darker, while blue and green relatively brighter. Even this effect, however, will be mixed with the natural changes of light during sunset.
An important warning: even during a partial eclipse, the Sun should not be viewed directly without certified solar filters. To observe the phenomenon safely, use only special equipment or indirect methods. tesheshi.com
Source: prizrenpost
