Solar Eclipse Passed, But What About The ‘7-Second Gravity Loss’? NASA Responds

News viral Solar Eclipse Passed, But What About The ‘7-Second Gravity Loss’? NASA Responds

Solar Eclipse Passed, But What About The ‘7-Second Gravity Loss’? NASA Responds

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Last Updated: August 13, 2026, 11:15 IST

A claim that Earth would briefly lose gravity during the August 12 solar eclipse had sparked questions online, but NASA has confirmed that no such change took place.

The theory was linked to a supposed NASA project. (News18 Photo)

The solar eclipse on August 12 came with more than just a rare view of the sky. Alongside the event, a strange claim had people wondering if something unusual could happen to Earth for a few seconds.

The claim was linked to a supposed change in gravity during the eclipse, with some posts even putting a specific time and duration to the alleged event. But there was a problem with the story behind it.

NASA Says The Gravity Claim Was False

As the eclipse took place, the predicted seven-second loss of gravity did not happen. NASA had already clarified that a solar eclipse cannot cause Earth to suddenly lose its gravitational force.

“The Earth will not lose gravity. Earth’s gravity, or total gravitational force, is determined by its mass," a NASA statement said. The agency explained that Earth’s gravity depends on the planet’s mass.

For Earth to actually lose its overall gravitational force, there would have to be a major loss of mass from the planet itself. That would involve the combined mass of the Earth’s core, mantle, crust, oceans, land-based water and atmosphere. The brief blocking of sunlight by the Moon does not cause such a change.

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun and blocks sunlight from reaching parts of the planet. During a total eclipse, the sky can become unusually dark for a short period, but the event does not turn off or weaken Earth’s gravity.

The Theory Mentioned A Supposed NASA Project

The gravity claim was also connected to something called “Project Anchor". Posts claimed that NASA had secretly worked on the project because of an expected seven-second loss of gravity during the eclipse.

The theory also claimed that NASA had spent $89 billion on the supposed programme and was preparing for an event caused by gravitational waves. However, there is no credible evidence for these claims. No reliable NASA document, government announcement, scientific paper or budget record has been provided to show that such a project exists.

Similar claims about Earth losing gravity during a solar eclipse have appeared before and have also been debunked.

What Actually Happened During The Eclipse

The August 12 eclipse caused the expected changes in daylight in areas where it was visible. The Moon covered the Sun, creating a period of darkness during the total phase.

But there was no seven-second period in which people or objects lost their normal weight. Earth’s gravitational force remained intact throughout the event.

The eclipse therefore passed without the dramatic effect predicted by the viral theory, while NASA’s explanation makes clear why the planet’s gravity was never at risk of suddenly disappearing.

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First Published: August 13, 2026, 11:15 IST

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