Amazon Author Page: Thomas Jerome Baker
Thomas enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics. Thus far, he has written the following genres: romance, historical fiction, autobiographical, sports history/biography, and English Language Teaching. He has published a total of forty (40) books overall.
Solar eclipse: What's that?
Firstly, Wikipedia tells us: "Not to be confused with Lunar eclipse."
OK. Now what is it?
How about a photo?
Photo of 1999 total eclipse
As seen from the Earth, a Solar eclipse occurs
when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon
fully or
partially blocks the Sun.
This can happen only during a new moon, when the Sun and the Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth.
In a
total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In
partial and
annular eclipses only
part of the Sun is obscured.
If the Moon were in a circular orbit close enough to the Earth and in the same orbital plane, there would be total solar eclipses every single month. However, the Moon's orbit is angled at more than 5 degrees to the earth's orbit around the sun (see ecliptic) so its shadow at new moon often misses the Earth.
The Earth's orbit is called the
ecliptic plane as the Moon's orbit must cross this plane in order for an eclipse (both solar as well as lunar) to occur. In addition, the Moon's actual orbit is elliptical, often taking it far enough away from the Earth so that its apparent size is not large enough to block the Sun totally.
The orbital planes cross each year at a line of nodes resulting in
at least two, and
up to five, solar eclipses occurring
each year; no more than
two of which can be
total eclipses.[1][2]
Total solar eclipses are nevertheless
rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on the Earth's surface traced by the Moon's shadow or
umbra.
An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to
supernatural causes or regarded as
bad omens.
A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of their astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to
disappear during the day and the
sky darkens in a matter of minutes.
As it is
dangerous to look directly at the Sun, observers should use special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques.
People referred to as
eclipse chasers or
umbraphiles will travel to remote locations to observe or witness predicted central solar eclipses.[3][4]
Amazon Author Page: Thomas Jerome Baker
Thomas enjoys writing about a wide variety of topics. Thus far, he has written the following genres: romance, historical fiction, autobiographical, sports history/biography, and English Language Teaching. He has published a total of forty (40) books overall.
Solar eclipse: What's that?
Firstly, Wikipedia tells us: "Not to be confused with Lunar eclipse."
OK. Now what is it?
How about a photo?
Photo of 1999 total eclipse
In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses only part of the Sun is obscured.
If the Moon were in a circular orbit close enough to the Earth and in the same orbital plane, there would be total solar eclipses every single month. However, the Moon's orbit is angled at more than 5 degrees to the earth's orbit around the sun (see ecliptic) so its shadow at new moon often misses the Earth.
The Earth's orbit is called the ecliptic plane as the Moon's orbit must cross this plane in order for an eclipse (both solar as well as lunar) to occur. In addition, the Moon's actual orbit is elliptical, often taking it far enough away from the Earth so that its apparent size is not large enough to block the Sun totally.
The orbital planes cross each year at a line of nodes resulting in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses occurring each year; no more than two of which can be total eclipses.[1][2]
Total solar eclipses are nevertheless rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path on the Earth's surface traced by the Moon's shadow or umbra.
An eclipse is a natural phenomenon. Nevertheless, in some ancient and modern cultures, solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omens.
A total solar eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of their astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes.
As it is dangerous to look directly at the Sun, observers should use special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques.
People referred to as eclipse chasers or umbraphiles will travel to remote locations to observe or witness predicted central solar eclipses.[3][4]
Amazon Author Page: Thomas Jerome Baker
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