Eclipses - Blog Posts

Solar Eclipses

What are solar eclipses?🤨

That's a good question. As you probably knew, Solar eclipses are spectacular astronomical phenomena that occur when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, partially or completely covering the Sun's disk depending on the geometric alignment of these celestial bodies. But... did you know that there are different types of solar eclipses?

1. Total Solar Eclipse 

    The Moon completely covers the Sun, revealing a phenomenon called the "corona," which is the outer part of the Sun's atmosphere.  

   The total phase of the eclipse is usually brief, lasting only a few minutes.  

   It can be observed only from areas within a specific path called the "path of totality."

2. Partial Solar Eclipse

    The Moon covers only a part of the Sun, leaving the rest of its disk visible.  

    This is the most common type of eclipse and can be seen from a broader area compared to total eclipses.

3. Annular Solar Eclipse 

   Occurs when the Moon is farther from the Earth in its elliptical orbit and appears smaller than the Sun. Thus, it does not completely cover the Sun and creates a bright ring around the Moon, often referred to as the "ring of fire."

4. Hybrid Solar Eclipse

    A rare type that combines aspects of total and annular eclipses. In some areas, it appears as a total eclipse, while in others, as an annular eclipse.

Facts & Interesting Points:  

 Solar eclipses can only happen during the New Moon phase.  

 To safely observe them, special ISO-certified solar glasses or suitable telescope filters are required.  

Historically, solar eclipses have inspired awe and fear, as they were often associated with mythological and religious interpretations.

Now you know all about solar eclipses! 🤓