All that is now, all that is gone, all that’s to come, And everything under the Sun is in tune, But the Sun is eclipsed by the Moon…
Before getting to know Eclipses, let us know what a Syzygy is.
A Syzygy refers to the lining up of three celestial bodies in a straight line.
An Eclipse is also a kind of Syzygy. In an eclipse, one celestial body enters the shadow of another celestial body.
Before starting off, it will be good to know what the different parts of a body’s shadow are, in general:
Before getting to know Eclipses, let us know what a Syzygy is.
A Syzygy refers to the lining up of three celestial bodies in a straight line.
An Eclipse is also a kind of Syzygy. In an eclipse, one celestial body enters the shadow of another celestial body.
Before starting off, it will be good to know what the different parts of a body’s shadow are, in general:
Umbra: The innermost part of an object’s shadow, where the light source is perfectly blocked out of view. The darkest part of the shadow.
Penumbra: The region of an object’s shadow in which the light source is partially or completely obscured. Essentially, the Umbra is a part of Penumbra.
Antumbra: The region of the shadow where the occluding body (body whose shadow it is) appears to be contained inside the light source, and hence blocks a certain region of the light source and the unblocked parts of the light source are fully visible.
As Observed from earth, basically there are two types of eclipses: Solar and Lunar eclipses.
Let’s have some insights about them.
SOLAR ECLIPSES
A Solar Eclipse, as the name suggests, is a phenomenon where the Sun is ‘eclipsed’. What happens is, the moon moves between the Sun and Earth. Hence, the Earth ends up in the Moon’s shadow region and the Sun is obscured from the Earth’s view, or eclipsed.
Types Of Solar Eclipses:
1 Total Solar Eclipse:
This occurs when the Sun, Moon, Earth are aligned in the same exact line, and in that order.
Due to the fact that the diameter of the Sun is 400 times that of the Moon, and so is its distance from the Earth, a perfect eclipse of the Sun can be seen from the Earth.
The famous Diamond Ring phenomenon is a part of this type of Solar Eclipse.
2 Partial Solar Eclipse:
Due to the fact that the diameter of the Sun is 400 times that of the Moon, and so is its distance from the Earth, a perfect eclipse of the Sun can be seen from the Earth.
The famous Diamond Ring phenomenon is a part of this type of Solar Eclipse.
2 Partial Solar Eclipse:
This happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth don’t align in an exactly straight line.
The resultant is a partially eclipsed Sun.
3 Annular Solar Eclipse:
The resultant is a partially eclipsed Sun.
3 Annular Solar Eclipse:
In an Annular Eclipse, the Moon covers the Sun central region but leaves uncovered the outer regions which results in an apparent ‘ring’ ( or Annulus ) of fire.
Hence the name, ‘Annular’.
4 Hybrid Solar Eclipse:
Hence the name, ‘Annular’.
4 Hybrid Solar Eclipse:
Comparatively rare, it is an eclipse which from some parts of earth seems to be Total, whereas from some other parts seems to be Annular.
LUNAR ECLIPSES:
1 Total Lunar Eclipse:
LUNAR ECLIPSES:
1 Total Lunar Eclipse:
In a Total Lunar Eclipse, the Sun, Earth and Moon align in exactly the same line and in the given order.
As a result, the moon is completely obscured from view.
2 Partial Lunar Eclipse:
As a result, the moon is completely obscured from view.
2 Partial Lunar Eclipse:
It occurs when the Sun, Earth and Moon align, but not exactly in the same straight line.
3 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse:
3 Penumbral Lunar Eclipse:
This type of eclipse occurs when the Moon moves through the outer shadow of the earth, called the Penumbra. The part of the Moon covered in this one is very small.
4 Total Penumbral Lunar Eclipse:
4 Total Penumbral Lunar Eclipse:
These eclipses are very rare. They occur when the Moon enters the Earth’s Penumbra completely, but not going into the Umbra.
The bracket for the Moon to enter the Penumbra completely, without touching the Umbra is really narrow. Hence, the frequency of such eclipses is extremely small.