An eclipse happens when one celestial object, such as a planet or the Moon, moves into another celestial body’s shadow. There are two fundamental types of eclipses that can be observed from the earth.
A solar eclipse happens when the new Moon (invisible) shows up in front of the Sun, slowly engulfing the Sun. This optical phenomenon continues until the Moon completely passes over the disk of the Sun. Hypothetically, if the Moon is in a perfectly circular orbit along the earth’s orbital plane, there will be total solar eclipses during all new moon days. In reality, the orbit of the Moon is slightly tilted about five degrees to the orbit of the earth. So, the Moon’s shadow usually misses the earth. Therefore, both the solar and lunar eclipses happen only when the ideal orientations occur. The number of solar eclipses varies from two to five per year. Among them, only a maximum of two can be total solar eclipses. This type of solar eclipse is comparatively rare because they need a more accurate alignment between the centres of the Moon and the Sun. In the sky, the apparent size of the Moon is sometimes too small to cover the Sun’s disk fully. Perfect total solar eclipses rarely happen at a given location — once every 375 years on average.
Solar eclipses are completely natural, and our technologies cannot interfere with them. In numerous ancient cultures, solar eclipses are considered to be supernatural events and bad omens. From the 4th century BC onwards, astronomers were able to predict eclipses. Now, we are able to predict eclipses that will happen hundreds of years in the future with pinpoint accuracy.
The video is about the shape-shifting of Moon in the sky
During this phenomenon, observing the Sun with naked eyes can lead to fatal eye problems. Special eyeglasses or apparatuses are required for the safe viewing of Solar eclipses. The total phase of total solar eclipses is only safe to observe with eye protectors.
Looking directly at the Sun’s photosphere with naked eyes can cause permanent problems to the eye’s retina. This is mainly due to the intense invisible and visible radiation that the Sun emits through the photosphere (even for a few seconds). This damage can damage normal vision and even cause blindness. The retina is not sensitive to pain, and the impact impairment may not be physically observable for hours. Thus, there is no physical warning that damage is happening to the eye.
Under usual conditions, the Sun is very bright, and it is very difficult to observe it directly. During an eclipse, it is quite easy to observe the Sun. Observing a solar eclipse with bare eyes is very dangerous except during the short period of totality when the entire Sun is blocked by the Moon. Totality happens only during total solar eclipses. It does not happen during an annular or partial eclipse. Viewing the disk of the Sun through optical devices without solar filters is extremely dangerous and can inflict irreversible retina damage within seconds of exposure.
Photographing a solar eclipse is possible with any modern camera. For imaging the Sun’s disk, a lens with a long focal length is required, at least a 200mm lens for a full-frame camera.
In order to fill the entire frame with the disk, a longer telephoto lens is required (around 500mm focal length). Just like viewing the Sun with naked eyes, observing through an optical viewfinder can also inflict eye damage. So, it is recommended to use an electronic viewfinder or the camera’s live view feature to compose the image. On the other hand, even camera sensors are susceptible to damage by the Sunbeams. So it is highly recommended to use authentic solar filters on the imaging lenses.
Important Solar Eclipse Questions with Answers
1) What is meant by the solar eclipse?
This eclipse is activated when the new Moon (dark) shows up in front of the Sun, slowly engulfing the Sun. This optical phenomenon continues until the Moon completely passes over the disk of the Sun.
2) What are the three types of solar eclipses?
Mainly, there are three versions of solar eclipses: partial solar eclipse, annular solar eclipse, and total solar eclipse.
A total solar eclipse is only typically observable only from a small area on the earth. If we are able to witness the total eclipse, then we should be in the centre of the shadow cast by the Moon onto the surface of the earth. During this celestial event, the entire sky becomes dark as if it is night. For an ideal total solar eclipse, the earth, the Moon and the Sun should be aligned in a direct line. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the earth, the Moon, and the Sun are not perfectly aligned. The Sun seems to have a shadow on a relatively small section of its surface. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned farthest from the earth. As the Moon is far away, it will seem much smaller. So, the Moon does not block the entire disk of the Sun. During this eclipse, the Moon is visible as a dark disk in front of the larger Sun, which will look like a ring around the Moon.
3) An ______ happens when one celestial object, such as a planet or the Moon, moves into the other celestial body’s shadow.
Answer: eclipse
Explanation: An eclipse happens when one celestial object, such as a planet or the Moon, moves into the other celestial body’s shadow.
4) Hypothetically if the Moon is in a perfectly ______ orbit along the earth’s orbital plane, there will be total solar eclipses during all new Moon days.
Answer: circular
Explanation: Hypothetically, if the Moon is in a perfectly circular orbit along the earth’s orbital plane, there will be total solar eclipses during all new Moon days.
5) Viewing the disk of the Sun through optical devices without ______ is extremely dangerous and can inflict irreversible retina damage within seconds of exposure.
Answer: solar filters
Explanation: Viewing the disk of the Sun through optical devices without solar filters is extremely dangerous and can inflict irreversible retina damage within seconds of exposure.
6) _____ phase of total solar eclipses is only safe to observe without eye protectors.
Answer: Total
Explanation: Total phase of total solar eclipses are only safe to observe without eye protectors.
7) An _____ solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned farthest from the earth.
Answer: annular
Explanation: An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is positioned farthest from the earth.
8) What is meant by umbra and penumbra?
During a typical solar eclipse, the Moon produces two types of shadows on the surface of the earth. One type of shadow is known as the Umbra, which reduces size as it reaches the earth’s surface. This constitutes the dark centre of the total shadow of the Moon. The second one is known as the penumbra, which increases size as it reaches the earth’s surface. Those who are standing in the penumbra region will always observe a partial solar eclipse.
On average, solar eclipses occur every eighteen months somewhere on the earth. Lasting only a few minutes, they have much shorter lifespans than lunar eclipses.
9) What is the common way to photograph a solar eclipse?
Photographing a solar eclipse is possible with any modern camera. For imaging the Sun’s disk, a lens with a long focal length is required, at least a 200mm lens for a full-frame camera.
In order to fill the entire frame with the disk, a longer telephoto lens is required (around 500mm focal length). Just like viewing the Sun with naked eyes, observing through an optical viewfinder can also inflict eye damage. So, it is recommended to use an electronic viewfinder or the camera’s live view feature to compose the image. On the other hand, even camera sensors are susceptible to damage by the sunbeams. So it is highly recommended to use authentic solar filters on the imaging lenses.
10) What is meant by totality during a solar eclipse?
Observing a solar eclipse with bare eyes is very dangerous except during the short period of totality when the entire Sun is blocked by the Moon. Totality happens only during total solar eclipses. It does not happen during an annular or partial eclipse.
11) How many layers are there in the atmosphere of the Sun?
There are mainly three layers in the atmosphere of the Sun: the photosphere, the chromosphere and the corona.
12) What are the features of the Sun that can be visible during an ideal solar eclipse?
During a solar eclipse, many features of the Sun can be easily observed. Sunspots are comparatively cooler patches on the surface of the Sun. They look like dark spots on the Sun’s disk. Such black spots can be in clusters or alone. In order to observe these specks, a sufficiently filtered telescope is required as they will be tiny to see through a solar eclipse glass. With an H-alpha solar telescope, it is possible to view more than just sunspots. With this telescope, it is also possible to observe the chromosphere and prominences. The chromosphere is the second layer in the Sun’s atmosphere (a total of three layers). By using the same solar telescope, the chromosphere can be viewed as oscillating ruby gems moving around the Sun’s outer disk. During the short totality moment in a total eclipse, it is safe to look at the Sun with bare eyes (the disk of the Sun will be completely covered). The corona will be visible during the totality period. Corona is the outer atmosphere that exists over the chromosphere. It will shine like a halo encircling the darkened Sun, a glorious rim of white light.
13) Why is it recommended to use an electronic viewfinder or the camera’s live view feature to compose the solar eclipse image?
Just like viewing the Sun with naked eyes, observing through an optical viewfinder can also inflict eye damage. So, it is recommended to use an electronic viewfinder or the camera’s live view feature to compose the image. On the other hand, even camera sensors are susceptible to damage by the sunbeams. So, it is highly recommended to use authentic solar filters on the imaging lenses.
14) What is the historical significance of solar eclipses?
Eclipses are very valuable time points for historians. They enable historians to precisely date historical events mentioned related to eclipses. Ancient calendars and connected dates can be mapped using solar eclipse timelines. A solar eclipse in 763 BC described in an Assyrian scripture has become very significant for deducing the chronology of that region. The Book of Joshua mentions that the Sun stayed still for a full day in the sky. Researchers from the University of Cambridge deduced this phenomenon to be an annular solar eclipse that occurred on October 30, 1207 BC. A Chinese king beheaded two astronomers (4,000 years ago) who were unsuccessful in predicting an eclipse. The earliest solar eclipse claim is from the archaeologist Bruce Masse. He claimed that an eclipse that happened on May 10, 2807 BC has a direct timeline linked with a speculated meteor strike in the Indian Ocean that happened on May 10, 2807 BC. This was based on numerous ancient flood myths that described a total solar eclipse.
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Practice Questions
1) Which is the longest recorded solar eclipse?
2) What is the main difference between umbra and penumbra?
3) Why are solar eclipses rare?
4) What is the difference between a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse?
5) What is a solar filter?
6) What is the difference between a solar eclipse and lunar eclipse?
7) How was the general theory of relativity validated by observing solar eclipses?
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