<P> As the light filters through leaves of trees during a partial eclipse, the overlapping leaves create natural pinholes, displaying mini eclipses on the ground . </P> <P> Phenomena associated with eclipses include shadow bands (also known as flying shadows), which are similar to shadows on the bottom of a swimming pool . They only occur just prior to and after totality, when a narrow solar crescent acts as an anisotropic light source . </P> <P> The observation of a total solar eclipse of May 29, 1919, helped to confirm Einstein's theory of general relativity . By comparing the apparent distance between stars in the constellation Taurus, with and without the Sun between them, Arthur Eddington stated that the theoretical predictions about gravitational lenses were confirmed . The observation with the Sun between the stars was only possible during totality since the stars are then visible . Though Eddington's observations were near the experimental limits of accuracy at the time, work in the later half of the 20th century confirmed his results . </P> <P> There is a long history of observations of gravity - related phenomena during solar eclipses, especially during the period of totality . In 1954, and again in 1959, Maurice Allais reported observations of strange and unexplained movement during solar eclipses . The reality of this phenomenon, named the Allais effect, has remained controversial . Similarly, in 1970, Saxl and Allen observed the sudden change in motion of a torsion pendulum; this phenomenon is called the Saxl effect . </P>

When does the solor eclipse start and end