Solar Eclipse

When the moon passes between the earth and the sun during the course of their motion, the moon’s shadow falls on the ground. This is referred to as a solar eclipse. A solar eclipse is a breathtaking sight to behold and a rare astronomical event to witness. Each one can only be seen from a specific geographic location. A solar eclipse can only occur during the phase of a new moon, when the moon passes directly between the sun and the Earth and the shadows cast by the moon fall directly on the surface of the Earth. However, whether the alignment results in a total solar eclipse, a partial solar eclipse or an annular solar eclipse is dependent on a number of factors, including the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth.

Types of solar eclipses

Solar eclipses can be classified into four types:

Total eclipse

A total eclipse occurs when the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the intensely bright light of the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible. A partial eclipse occurs when the dark silhouette of the Moon partially obscures the intensely bright light of the Sun. During any given eclipse, totality is only visible for a brief period of time on the surface of the Earth, at best. The path of totality is the name given to this narrow path.

Annular eclipse

It is possible to have an annular eclipse when the Sun and the Moon are exactly aligned with the Earth, but the Moon appears to be smaller in apparent size than the Sun (a total eclipse). Because of this, the Sun appears as a bright ring or annulus around the Moon’s disc, which is dark in contrast to the bright ring.

Hybrid eclipse

It is also known as an annular/total eclipse because it alternates between a total and annular eclipse in appearance. It appears as a total eclipse at certain points on the surface of the Earth, whereas it appears as an annular eclipse at other points. Hybrid eclipses are extremely rare occurrences.

Partial eclipse

The Sun and Moon are not exactly aligned with the Earth when a partial eclipse occurs and the Moon only partially obscures the Sun. Typically, this phenomenon can be observed from a large portion of the Earth’s surface that is not within the path of an annular or total eclipse. Most eclipses can be seen as total eclipses, but some can only be seen as partial eclipses due to the umbra passing above the Earth’s polar regions and never intersecting the Earth’s surface. Partial eclipses have little effect on the brightness of the Sun because it takes well over 90 percent coverage to notice any dimming at all. No darker than civil twilight would be achieved even at 99 percent opacity. Of course, if one is looking at the Sun through a darkening filter, one can see partial eclipses (and partial stages of other eclipses) (which should always be used for safety).

The Sun’s distance from Earth is approximately 400 times greater than the distance between the Moon and the Earth and the Sun’s diameter is approximately 400 times greater than the diameter of the Moon. Consequently, the Sun and Moon appear to be approximately equal in size when viewed from Earth, i.e., they are separated by approximately the same amount of time in angular measure (about 0.5 degree of arc).

Every 18 months, a solar eclipse will occur somewhere on the planet. Solar eclipses, in contrast to lunar eclipses, are brief, lasting only a few minutes.

Never look directly at the Sun:

This can result in permanent damage to your eyes! When viewing any type of solar eclipse, you must ensure that you are properly protected.

Protection from the sun during a solar eclipse

• Don’t stare straight into the sunlight.

• When viewing a Solar Eclipse or Surya Grahan, do not wear ordinary sunglasses or make your own home-made filters.

• To view the eclipse, you must only use special-purpose solar filters, such as eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers.

• Read the instructions on the solar filters and make sure to follow them exactly as written.

• It is not recommended to look directly at the sun through a camera, binoculars, telescope or other optical device during any stage of the eclipse. Solar rays may become concentrated at a single point through these devices, resulting in serious eye injuries (s).

• Before using the solar filter to view the eclipse, make sure it is free of damage or scratches by inspecting it thoroughly. Remove the solar filter from the system if there is any.

• If you normally wear eyeglasses, you should keep them on during an eclipse and place a solar filter over your lenses.

• You should keep your headlights on while driving during the solar eclipse or the Surya Grahan. It is also important to keep an eye out for distracted drivers, as sudden darkness in some areas during the maximum phase of the eclipse may result in an accident.

• When there is an eclipse, drive slowly.

• AVOID looking at the sun’s rays reflected in the water.

Conclusion

The Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, preventing some or all of the Sun’s light from reaching Earth during a solar eclipse. Solar eclipses can be classified into three categories. When the Moon passes in front of the Sun, a partial solar eclipse occurs, in which the Sun is only partially obscured. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely obscures the Sun’s light source. An annular solar eclipse is one in which the Moon does not completely cover the Sun, but only the outer edge of the Sun appears to be covered.