Three centuries ago in parts of North America, a strange event turned morning to night. It remains wreathed in mystery – so what caused the Dark Day?
Halfway through the morning the sky turns yellow. Animals run for cover and darkness descends, causing people to light candles and start to pray. By lunchtime night has fallen. Is it the end of the world?
The Dark Day, as it's become known, took place on May 19, 1780 in New England and parts of eastern Canada. For the past 232 years historians and scientists have argued over the origins of this strange event.
Today there are many theories. Was it the result of volcanic eruption, fire, meteor strike – or something more sinister?
With little scientific knowledge amongst the populace in 1780, people would have been afraid. Some lawmakers in Connecticut believed it was the day of judgement. The sense that a decisive moment was afoot would have been bolstered by the fact that during the preceding days, the sun and moon glowed red.
"There are some verses in Matthew that might have led them to believe that this is the second coming of Christ. At the time, natural events – even birds fighting in the sky – were a sign of God's intentions. The Dark Day would have seemed like a warning to Man."
So what might explain 1780's Dark Day?