Watching the eclipse? Wear red and green to see optical illusion – National [Video]

As space enthusiasts in some parts of Canada gear up to experience a once-in-a-lifetime total solar eclipse on Monday, they should know that red and green are optimal colours to wear during the event.

This is because of a phenomenon called the Purkinje effect, first described by Czech physiologist Johannes Purkinje in 1823.

Purkinje found that in bright environments, red colours appear more luminous than blue, but in low-light environments, those same blues appear much brighter than reds, according to a web book published by professor emeritus Peter Kaiser of York University.

Purkinje noticed this phenomenon while walking around in the early dawn. In the dim light, the red flowers around him appeared inky black, according to the Oxford Reference.

During the total solar eclipse, you should be able to see this phenomenon play out. Bright red clothing may appear darker and faded while blues and greens appear more vibrant.