Monday, March 18, 2024

The Difference Between Solar And Lunar Eclipse

What Is The Difference Between Solar And Lunar Eclipses

What’s the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse?

Solar eclipses occur when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun leaving a moving region of shadow on Earths surface. Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon casting a shadow on the Moon. Whether an eclipse is total or annular depends on the distance between these three objects.

How Can I See The Next Solar Eclipse

The best time for you to see the partial solar eclipse will vary depending on your location.

For people in London, the partial eclipse will begin at 09:02, while the peak will be at 10:46.

You can find out the best time to see it in your area here.

This partial eclipse will be most visible to people in North/East Europe, North/West Asia, North in North America and the Arctic.

On a worldwide scale, the partial eclipse will last around 3.5 hours, starting at sunrise in northeastern North America and ending at sunset along the Asian Pacific Coast.

Occurrence Of Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse normally occurs somewhere between 2 to 5 times a year. In fact, as per the available astronomical writings of the past century, the earth encounters an average of 2.4 eclipses of the sun every year.

Well, if I talk about the recent and upcoming solar events, here is the list of some of the recent and upcoming solar eclipses.

Recent Solar Eclipses

  • Annular solar eclipse
  • Total solar eclipse
  • Annular solar eclipse

Upcoming Solar Eclipses

  • Partial Solar Eclipse

Read Also: Can You Switch From A Sole Proprietorship To An Llc

What Is The Ring Of Fire Eclipse

Solar eclipses happen when the moon passes in front of the sun from the viewpoint of our planet. A ring of fire or annular eclipse happens when the moon is near its farthest point from Earth during an eclipse so the moon appears smaller than the sun in the sky and doesnt block the whole solar disk.

Types Of Solar Eclipses

Solar eclipse 2019: July

Depending on the fact that how much moon is obscuring the sunlight from falling on the earth, it can be further bifurcated into four types.

Total Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks out the suns disk entirely. And, for that to happen, the moon has to be near its perigee i.e the closest distance of the moon from the earth.

Not to mention, during the solar eclipse totality, the magnitude of the eclipse is greater than or equal to 1.

Annular Solar Eclipse

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon does not block out the suns disk entirely. In other words, it only covers the central part of the suns disk, leaving the suns outer edge to form a thin ring of fire.

And, for that to happen, the moon has to be near its apogee i.e the farthest distance of the moon from the earth. Not to mention, during the annular solar eclipse, the magnitude of the eclipse is less than 1.

Partial Solar Eclipse

As the name suggests, a partial solar eclipse occurs when the moon partially blocks the sunlight from falling on the earth.

Moreover, just because the visibility of the partial solar eclipse varies, the magnitude of the partial solar eclipse does not have any fixed value.

Hybrid Solar Eclipse

A hybrid solar eclipse is nothing but a combination of the total and the annular solar eclipse. To put it differently, at one location, a hybrid kind of solar eclipse looks like the total solar eclipse.

Read Also: Is Solar Worth It In Texas

Difference Between Solar Eclipse And Lunar Eclipse

Last updated on by Surbhi S

Eclipse alludes to the blocking of light from an astronomical object by the passage of another amidst it. It is an event in which three celestial bodies, i.e. the sun, moon and earth are in tandem. When the moon is in the middle of sun and earth, a solar eclipse occurs, and if the earth is in between sun and moon, it is the case of the lunar eclipse.

The reason for the occurrence of the eclipse is that there are two points where the orbit of the moon passes through suns plane called as nodes. When the earth travels along its orbit, these points are in alignment with the sun, and it happens about two times in a year. Read out this article to have a better understanding of the difference between solar eclipse and lunar eclipse.

Difference Between Solar And Lunar Eclipse With Diagram

Whats the difference between solar and lunar eclipse? In layman, when the sun gets darker, we call it a solar eclipse. On the other hand, when the moon gets darker, we call it a lunar eclipse. Not to mention, there are so many types of solar and lunar eclipse, depending on the fact that how much of the sun or moon is obscured by another celestial object.

But, before going deep into these kinds of questions like how much of a sun or a moon gets darker and by what astronomical phenomena. Let me present you with a quick review regarding the basic difference between solar eclipse and lunar eclipse. Keep reading for a proper understanding of the subject.

Avoid seeing the solar eclipse with naked eyes. Enjoy the glimpse of the lunar eclipse with naked eyes.

Don’t Miss: How To Put Solar Panels On Your Rv

Definition Of Lunar Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse, in simplest terms, can be described as the eclipse of the moon, in which it is behind the earth and forms a perfect alignment with sun and earth. We all know the fact that the moon does not have its own light, and reflects the light of the sun. So, when the earth moves between the sun and the moon, while orbiting the sun, the lunar eclipse takes place, in which the earth casts its shadow on the moon.

Therefore, it ultimately blocks the sunlight from falling on the moon, due to which moon appears darkened. This appears only during the full moon when it passes through earths shadow, i.e. umbra or penumbra. You can see the figure provided below:

  • Total Lunar Eclipse: When the earth completely covers the moon and blocks the light from reaching the moon, it is called as the total lunar eclipse.
  • Partial Lunar Eclipse: Partial lunar eclipse is when the moon enters the earths umbra, but not completely, such that the sunlight partially reaches the moon.
  • Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: This occurs when the moon enters the penumbra of the earth, but sunlight reaches it because this region is not fully obscured from sun rays.

What Happens When You Look At It

Difference between a Solar and Lunar Eclipse

We all know that looking directly at the Sun is bad for our eyes, but the blackout associated with a solar eclipse can lull people into a false sense of security.

It’s hard to look at the Sun on a normal day because it’s so bright, but during an eclipse the shade created by the Moon passing in front of the Sun makes it easier.

But don’t be fooled. Looking at the Sun, even during an eclipse, can cause permanent eye damage.

Read Also: When Should Babies Eat Solid Food

Types Of Lunar And Solar Eclipses

The type and extent to which the eclipse occurs can vary. Lunar eclipses are of four types – penumbral, partial or horizontal. Penumbral eclipses happen when the moon happens to fall into the penumbral shadow of the Earth, which is the outer shadow of the Earth. In this case the moon appears darker in some areas than others. A partial eclipse is seen when part of the moon enters the umbra, which is the darkest shadow of the Earth where there is no radiation from the Sun. Similarly, during a total eclipse, the moon lies totally in the umbra and completely obscured by the Earth. A horizontal eclipse is when the Sun and the eclipsed moon can be seen together at the juncture of sunrise and sunset.

Solar eclipses are of different types too. A total solar eclipse, as the name suggests, is when the Sun is completely blocked by the moon, only a faint corona radiating out from the eclipse and a partial eclipse is when the Sun is only partially blocked by the Moon. An annular eclipse is when the Sun appears as a bright ring outside the darkened circle. A rare hybrid solar eclipse is a combination of a total and annular eclipse, visible differently from different places on the Earth.

What Are Lunar Phases And Eclipses

The moonlight we see on Earth is sunlight reflected off the Moon’s grayish-white surface. The amount of Moon we see changes over the month lunar phases because the Moon orbits Earth and Earth orbits the Sun. Everything is moving.

During a lunar eclipse, Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the sunlight falling on the Moon. Earth’s shadow covers all or part of the lunar surface.

Read Also: How To Stop A Solar Farm

Safe Practices During An Eclipse

Solar eclipses and lunar eclipses are both types of solar eclipses, but there are some key differences you should be aware of before watching either one. Heres what you need to know about each:

1. What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting its shadow on our planet. During a solar eclipse, the suns light is temporarily blocked by the moon. This can make it difficult to see things especially if youre in an area with dense vegetation. So, its important to take precautions before viewing a solar eclipse, including wearing sunglasses and protective clothing.

2. What is a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between Earth and the sun, casting its shadow on our planet. During a lunar eclipse, the suns light is not blocked by the moon. This means that observers see a much brighter blood red or tear-drop moon as it moves in front of the sun. Unlike during a solar eclipse, where you need special protective gear to view safely, you dont need any special

Whats The Difference Between A Solar And Lunar Eclipse Then

The Difference Between A Solar And Lunar Eclipse

So weve established that a solar or lunar eclipse is a syzygy. That means the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a straight line togetherbut not necessarily in that order. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is between the Earth and Sun. On the other hand, a lunar eclipse is just when the Earth is between the Moon and Sun. That means during a solar eclipse, the Moon casts a shadow on the Earth by covering the Sun. During a lunar eclipse, the Earth is the one casting the shadowthis time on the Moon.

Solar eclipses only occur around once every 18 months, while a lunar one will probably come around once every 6.

Don’t Miss: How Long Do Solar Roofs Last

What Eclipse Occurs Every 100 Years

Solar eclipses are fairly numerous about 2 to 4 per year but the area on the ground covered by totality is only about 50 miles wide. In any given location on Earth a total eclipse happens only once every hundred years or so though for selected locations they can occur as little as a few years apart.

The First Solar Eclipse Of 2020 Is Around The Corner And Will Be Witnessed On June 21 2020 Here Is What Makes It Different From A Lunar Eclipse

The Ring of Fire Annular Solar Eclipse will occur on June 21, 2020. This marvellous celestial event can be witnessed in many countries around the world. Here is everything you need to know before witnessing the eclipse.

Recommended Reading: What To Do With Broken Solar Panels

Solar And Lunar Eclipses

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, casting the Moon’s shadow on Earth. A solar eclipse can only happen during a New Moon. The Moon’s orbit is titled 5 degrees to Earth’s orbit around the Sun. Therefore a solar eclipse is a relatively rare phenomena and a Total or Annular eclipse even more rare, with the Hybrid eclipse the rarest of all.

To understand the difference between a Total and Annular eclipse of the Sun, it must be understood that the Moon has an elliptical orbit around Earth. In fact, the Moon’s distance from Earth varies from a minimum of 221,000 to a maximum of 252,000 miles. Therefore the Moon’s apparent size in our sky will vary by 13%. When the Moon’s orbit is toward its minimum distance from Earth, the Moon will appear visually as a larger disk than the Sun. If an eclipse occurs during this time, it will be a Total solar eclipse because the Moon has totally obscured the Sun’s disk, producing the beautiful solar corona ejecting outward from the Sun. One important element to remember though is that the Moon’s shadow will obviously become narrower as it is cast from the Moon to Earth . Therefore the path of totality on Earth is narrow. It is also very short-lived as the Moon is moving quickly away from its perfect location of being situated between the Sun and Earth.

Okay Whats An Eclipse Though

Types of Solar and Lunar Eclipses

Youre probably kind of familiar with what an eclipse is, at least in the context of both the solar and lunar ones. Eclipses are a thing outside the scope of just the Sun and Moon, though. An eclipse, in the context of astronomy, just means an object has been obscured by one of two means. The first is passing through the shadow of something else. The other way is for something to pass between the obscured object and the viewer.

Fun trivia fact, if three things get themselves in a line its called a syzygy. This happens more often than you might thinksince every solar and lunar eclipse is actually a syzygy.

The word eclipse also has a pretty foreboding history. Its derived from the Latin eclipsis or Greek ekleipsis. The Greek word literally means an abandonment or a forsaking. It was commonly also used in the context of the Sun and Moon.

Eclipses kind of have an anatomy. When it comes to observing them, youre probably concerned with the umbra, antumbra, and penumbra.

Don’t Miss: How Much Does 1 Solar Panel Produce

Types Of Solar Eclipse

  • Partial: When the moon does not align completely with the sun and only a portion of the sunlight is blocked from reaching the earth.
  • Annular: When the moon covers the sun but still sun can be seen around the edges of the moon giving an impression of the sun is a bright ring surrounding the dark disc of the moon.
  • Total: When the sun is completely covered by the moon, the sky becomes so dark it seems to appear like night. But, this happens in only a small spot on the Earth.

Solar Vs Lunar Eclipse

AN eclipse that is the solar eclipse, happens when the moon passes in between the sun and the earth. During a solar eclipse the satellite moon fully or partially hides the suns rays that are for a few minutes. This Happens once in around 18 months. The three types of eclipse that are said to be the solar are total solar eclipse partial solar eclipse and then we can say that the annular solar eclipse. The Solar eclipse that is seen from a few places that are only. These all things happen during the day. AN eclipse that is the solar eclipse happens on a moon or more clearly a new moon day. It is said to be not safe to see a solar eclipse that is through naked eyes. We need glasses that are protective to avoid any harm to the eyes.

A lunar eclipse that we can see generally happens when the earth passes in between the sun and the moon. That is during an eclipse that is the lunar eclipse the earths shade partially or we can say fully hides the moon for a brief period of time. This whole process occurs two times in a year. We can conclude here that the three types of lunar eclipses are total lunar eclipse and then the partial lunar eclipse and a penumbral lunar eclipse. The Lunar eclipses that are spotted from many places not only from earth.this process occurs during nights that is a lunar eclipse that happens on a full moon day. It is said that it is perfectly safe to see a lunar eclipse too with naked eyes. we do not need any protective covering to view it all alone.

Also Check: How Much Does It Cost For 1 Solar Panel

Types Of Lunar Eclipses

Depending on the fact that how much earth is obscuring the sunlight from falling on the moon, it can be further bifurcated into three types.

Total Lunar Eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the moon completely passes through the earths umbra. Not to mention, an umbra is the darkest part of the earths shadow.

Therefore, when the moon is completely immersed into the earths umbra, the umbra covers the entire surface of the moon. Moreover, the total eclipse of the moon is also known as the blood moon.

Partial Lunar Eclipse

As the name suggests, a partial lunar eclipse occurs when the moon partially passes through the earths umbra.

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the earths penumbra. Not to mention, a penumbra is the lightest part of the earths shadow.

Lunar Vs Solar Eclipse

Lunar &  Solar Eclipses for Beginners

Difference between Lunar and Solar Eclipse can only be understood if you get to understand clearly the position of the Earth, the Sun, and the Moon during each phenomenon. Lunar eclipse and solar eclipse are two phenomena that take place in our solar system. These two phenomena are different from each other. Hence, have to be understood with precision. The moon moves around the Earth and while moving, at certain instances, it casts a shadow on the Earth. The area on the Earth where the moons shadow falls experiences darkness. This is the main concept involved in the occurrence of an eclipse.

You May Like: Do Home Warranties Cover Solar Panels

Popular Articles
Related news