Because of this regularity, ancient astronomers identified a pattern to eclipses. Called “The Saros Cycle,” they have used it to predict when and where eclipses would occur. That’s how Columbus knew there was going to be an eclipse (right when he needed one, it turns out).The post Famous Eclipses In
North America is preparing for a total solar eclipse on April 8, but exactly 18 years ago today, an almost identical event threw Africa into darkness. History is about to repeat itself.