April 8, 2024 was a very special day for Americans as it was the day of the solar eclipse. Millions of people flocked to the epicenters of the total eclipse’s path to view this spectacular event of the moon passing over and blocking the sun. This eclipse was a very special one as the totality lasted approximately four  minutes and thirty seconds and covered these areas from the sun’s light completely. Not only did the eclipse leave spectators in awe but also mystery as there were several strange, obscure events that happened during the eclipse such as unusual red dots spotted and a new object in a solar system. Here are three  strange sightings that occurred during the eclipse which further escalated this event.

One strange sighting was that many people insisted on spotting several red dots around the edge of the sun during totality. Through further research, close-up photos proved these red dots to be plasma plumes that appear to have exploded from the sun, which people assumed were the result of solar flares. However, experts said there were no solar flares present during the duration of the eclipse and what people were seeing was most likely a spectacle known as solar prominences. 

Another unusual and very crazy discovery during the eclipse was a very small comet called SOHO-5008 that was spotted by a novice astronomer before the eclipse. It was thought that the comet would become even more noticeable during the eclipse, allowing photographers to view and take pictures of it and they were right. Though it could not be seen by eye, a few photographers did manage to take some blurry pictures of the comet as it was seemingly heading towards the sun. Shortly after the eclipse ended, the newborn comet seemed to explode as it progressively got closer to the sun, probably due to how close it got to it.

One final strange sighting that took place during the solar eclipse was the strange behaviors and interactions among animals, specifically at zoos. As humans, the eclipse was an event that we were prepared for and knew what was going to happen, but for animals on the other hand, totality can come as a large shock to animals, which can result in interesting behavior and interactions. In Texas at the Fort Worth Zoo, several animals such as gorillas, elephants, and turtles began to head back inside their homes as they mistook this darkness as night. At the Texas Zoo, signs of anxiety could be seen from multiple animals as zebras, giraffes, and chimps took a more scared approach where they roamed around their enclosure. Many of the birds in the zoo remained quiet during the duration of the eclipse, but when totality ended, some gave honks of happiness, symbolizing greetings as a new day has dawned.

Though some of these occurrences may be a bit strange, the eclipse was without a doubt a very exciting and unique experience for millions of people. The next total solar eclipse will not be occurring for many years until 2044. In the meantime we can reminisce about the memories we have of this one.