In and around totality — the brief moments during a total solar eclipse when the moon fully hides the sun — the sudden shift from light to darkness can profoundly change color perception.

Certain colors will appear brighter against dim surroundings due to the Purkinje effect, which changes how we perceive colors in low light.

Eclipses change the light around us, leading to unusual sights. Monday's solar eclipse also brings a chance to see crescent shapes in shadows and pinholes, as the moon moves in front of the sun.

As a solar eclipse approaches totality and our eyes adjust to dimming light, our color vision changes. It’s called the Purkinje effect.

In and around totality—the brief moments during a total solar eclipse when the moon fully hides the sun—the sudden shift from light to darkness can profoundly change color perception.

Eclipse map: What will tomorrow's solar eclipse look like from your state? Our perception of this color transformation arises from the specific anatomy of our eyes.