A solar or lunar eclipse can darken the sun and the moon, yet here the author’s mention also of the stars suggests we are not to think of an eclipse. Heavy cloud coverage can hide the sun, the moon, and/or the stars so that much of their light is darkened. The gloominess that comes with excessive cloud coverage hinders human thriving, leading to depression and feelings of melancholy. Volcanic eruptions can also put so much ash in the air that crops cannot thrive due to a shortage of light and heat, leading to hunger.
12 Le quatrième ange sonna de la trompette. Et le tiers du soleil fut frappé, ainsi que le tiers de la lune, et le tiers des étoiles, afin que le tiers en soit obscurci; le jour perdit un tiers de sa clarté, et la nuit de même.