For this April 8 total eclipse, there’s a crucial aspect many are overlooking: the color of what they wear.

While safety gear like eclipse glasses is vital during the partial phases, the colors you wear can enhance your viewing experience, thanks to the science behind the Purkinje effect.

It’s a phenomenon that affects how we perceive colors in low light conditions.

What Colors to Wear and Why?

Opt for REDS and GREENS if you’re watching the eclipse in groups or public venues. This advice is rooted in science, not style.

In Full Light (Photopic Vision): Our eyes use cone cells to see colors clearly. These cells work best in bright light, which is why the colors of what we wear look so clear and bright during the day.

When It Gets Darker (Scotopic Vision): The eclipse dims the sunlight, so our eyes switch to using rod cells, which are better at seeing in low light but not great with colors. However, they do pick up on blues and greens better than reds.

4-5 Minutes Before Totality (Mesopic Vision): This is the twilight zone. It’s not fully dark yet, but it’s getting there. Everything starts looking silvery and less colorful. 

In the fading light, cone cells get less active due to fewer photons left and rod cells start working more. However, they don’t completely adjust to the dark right away, especially since the change from day to night happens quite fast during an eclipse.

This leads to a:

• Decrease in the vibrancy or saturation of warm colors like red or orange. They look muted as if viewed through a gray filter. 
• Slight increase in the brightness of greens and blues against the dimming eclipse background. Unlike red that has the longest wavelength, these cool colors are at the shorter wavelength end of the visible light spectrum.

So, wearing red, green, or blue not only makes the eclipse more exciting but also enhances your photos. 

But to really notice the changes in color saturation, many people in a group need to wear these complimentary colors. Just a few won’t make much of a difference.

Proof From Past Eclipses

Dr. Gordon Telepun, creator of the Solar Eclipse Timer app, saw this in action.

In his YouTube video, he shared his personal experience. During the 2017 summer eclipse, the bright colors everyone wore against a green field really made the Purkinje effect noticeable. However, during the 2019 winter eclipse, when people wore more subdued colors and the surroundings were less colorful, the effect wasn’t as pronounced.

So, if you’re aiming for the full effect, skip the neutrals (black, white, gray, or brown) as they blend into the eclipse’s shadow.

Is Purkinje Effect Just An Eclipse Thing? 

No. This effect goes beyond eclipses. It is similar to observing garden flowers everyday.

In the sunlight, red flowers really stand out against green leaves. But when it gets darker, the reds start to look dark or almost black, and the green leaves or any blue flowers appear brighter.

Takeaway: The Purkinje effect emphasizes that watching an eclipse isn’t just about looking up at the sky; it’s also about observing the world around us – the surroundings, people around, and objects (if any).