You eclipses Solar eclipses are impressive phenomena that have captured people’s imagination and curiosity for millennia. They occur when the Moon passes directly between the Earth and the Sun, completely or partially blocking the Sun’s light.
For a long time, solar eclipses had no scientific explanation and were therefore related to beliefs and superstitions. Today, science has an explanation for this exuberant and curious phenomenon!
Continue reading to better understand how they happen.
Understand how solar eclipses happen
There are three types of them: total solar eclipse, partial solar eclipse and annular solar eclipse.
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned directly between the Sun and the Earth, completely covering the Sun and casting a shadow on the Earth’s surface. During the event, it is possible to observe the solar corona around the Moon, a rare and impressive phenomenon.
This type of eclipse can only be seen in a narrow strip of land, known as the zone of totality, and lasts only a few minutes. When it happens, people usually gather to watch.
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned between the Sun and the Earth, but does not cover it completely. In this case, part of the Sun is visible from the Earth’s surface, while another part is obscured by the Moon.
Finally, an annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned directly between the Sun and Earth, but is farther away from Earth, so that its shadow does not completely cover the Sun. In this case, a bright rim of the Sun remains visible around the Moon.
But why this phenomenon it happens?
Solar eclipses are related to the orbit of the Moon around the Earth and the Earth around the Sun. When the Moon passes in front of the Sun, blocking its light from reaching Earth, the phenomenon occurs.
This event can only happen during the new moon phase, when the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun. However, solar eclipses do not occur every month, as the Moon’s orbit is tilted relative to the Earth’s orbit around the Sun.
As a result, the Moon often passes above or below the Sun, rather than directly in front of it. Because of this, these phenomena are rare and fascinating events that attract the attention of many curious people around the world.
