Social media user ignores abundant evidence, falsely claims 2024 eclipse was fake | Fact check

The claim: The 2024 solar eclipse was ‘fake’

Partial eclipse over the Washington Monument is seen on Monday, April 8, 2024.

An April 7 Facebook video (direct link, archive link) shows a woman talking about the April 8 total solar eclipse.

“Apparently there’s a bunch of fake solar eclipse glasses,” the woman says while pointing to a picture of a man wearing the special glasses. “So if you bought one of these fake solar eclipse glasses – it’s alright because the solar eclipse is fake.”

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The post was shared more than 1,000 times in two days.

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Our rating: False

There is abundant evidence showing the April 8 solar eclipse was real, including livestream footage, photos and millions of witnesses.

Eclipse viewed by millions, captured in photos, videos

The total solar eclipse that passed over 13 states April 8 had tens of millions of Americans buzzing, buying special eclipse glasses and traveling to states in the eclipse’s path of totality for viewing parties.

Scientists were able to predict the eclipse within a fraction of a second using computer programs and knowledge of planetary movements, according to NASA.

The notion that it was fake is nonsense.

NASA broadcast livestream footage of the rare astronomical event, as did multiple news outlets. The videos showed the moment the moon crossed in front of the sun, shrouding areas in the path of totality in several minutes of darkness. Crowds were recorded looking at the sky as they sported specialty eclipse glasses.

Photos of the event were captured by news outlets nationwide, in places such as Wapakoneta, Ohio; Bloomington, Indiana; and Eagle Pass, Texas.

Millions of people – including many who attended watch parties – witnessed the eclipse, and social media was flooded with photos of it throughout the day.

Fact check: No, NASA is not launching ‘three rockets at three moons’ during eclipse

The next total solar eclipse viewable from the U.S. will happen Aug. 23, 2044, according to NASA.

USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Social media user ignores abundant evidence, falsely claims 2024 eclipse was fake | Fact check