.TOTAL SOLAR eclipses have awed people considering that opportunity out of thoughts. The initial document of one, preserved on a clay tablet computer found at Ugarit, right now in Syria, is actually believed coming from its own grow older and also site to define either an eclipse that occurred in 1375BC or even one in 1223BC. Fabulous explanations for eclipses feature the Sunlight being actually consumed through pet dogs, frogs or monsters. The reality is actually a lot more prosaic. Eclipses are caused by the Moon moving between Sunlight and also The planet in such a way that projects a shadow on portion of The planet's surface area. Why are overall ones, like the one crossing portion of The United States and Canada on April 8th, therefore rare?