Candles are a leading cause of home fires and fatalities. Soot on the walls and furnishings is unsightly, and may also be a sign of serious problems. It may also be unhealthy, as inhalation of minute particles of soot has been documented to cause health problems.
It is a popular misconception that the phenomenon of a total eclipse of the sun is a rare occurrence. Quite the contrary. Approximately once every 18 months (on average) a total solar eclipse is visible from some place on the Earthâs surface. That's two totalities for every three years.
A solar eclipse always takes place within one fortnight of any lunar eclipse. For instance, in 2016, the total solar eclipse on March 9 comes one fortnight before the penumbral lunar eclipse of March 23. The annular solar eclipse on September 1 occurs one fortnight before the penumbral lunar eclipse of September 16.