The Impact of the 2024 Eclipse on Flat Earth Research

The upcoming total solar eclipse in April 2024 is a celestial event that has the potential to impact discussions and beliefs within the flat Earth community. However, it is important to clarify that the flat Earth stance does not constitute scientific research, but rather a belief system that lacks empirical evidence and follows no structured methodology.

Lack of Scientific Research in Flat Earthism

The flat Earth community does not engage in research but rather consumes prepackaged content on platforms such as YouTube. Their understanding of phenomena like eclipses is often based on personal interpretation and incredulity rather than empirical evidence or scientific inquiry. Flat Earthers often mock scientific explanations for events like eclipses, viewing them as mere subjective perceptions rather than verifiable facts.

Observations and Flat Earthism

Observations of celestial events, such as eclipses, have not historically changed the flat Earth stance. Due to the core beliefs in a flat Earth model, flat Earthers tend to dismiss or misinterpret scientific explanations. In the context of the upcoming 2024 eclipse, flat Earthers are likely to view it as an opportunity for further ridicule of scientific explanations rather than a chance to validate their own hypotheses.

Detailed Analysis and Flat Earth Research

Some flat Earthers believe that a detailed analysis of the total eclipse will prove that the Moon is a flat disk. This belief is based on a series of unverified hypotheses. For instance, Irwin Cory, observing the annular eclipse in South America in 2023, proposed that rather than being a partial eclipse, it was due to the Moon's rotation from its edge-on position. He suggested that during a total eclipse, the flat Moon will not rotate, allowing for the observation of diffraction around the edges, which would prove the flat Moon theory. However, these hypotheses are not supported by empirical evidence and are more aligned with speculative beliefs.

Barrel Distortion and Flat Earth Beliefs

Flat Earthers also claim that the apparent distortion of craters on the Moon's edge is merely a barrel distortion due to the wide-angle lens effect of the atmosphere. They theorize that the Earth's atmosphere forms a paraboloid dome, which prevents you from breathing at the edge of the Earth and makes aircraft appear to dive into the horizon. This theory, while not supported by scientific evidence, is used to support the flat Earth stance.

No Need for Flat Earth Research

It is important to note that no scientific field of study dedicated to flat Earth research exists. Claims of observations refuting the flat Earth model are often dismissed by flat Earthers. The biblical reference to the Earth being flat is not a scientific method but a religious or philosophical stance, not backed by empirical evidence.

Ignoring the 2024 Eclipse

Considering past experiences, it is highly likely that flat Earthers will ignore the 2024 eclipse, similar to their reactions in 2017. They often rely on round Earth models for accurate eclipse calculations. Despite being knowledgeable about round Earth models and having precise predictions, numerous flat Earthers did not provide their calculations for the 2017 solar eclipse.