Question

An observer at a point on the earth where only the penumbra region of moon's shadow will move past, will observe a ______________.

• A. Total solar eclipse
• B. Partial solar eclipse
• C. Total lunar eclipse
• D. Partial lunar eclipse

Answer 1

The correct option is B Partial solar eclipse

A solar eclipse happens when the New moon comes between Earth and the Sun, while a lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon.

Solar eclipse and Lunar eclipse are of different types-

• Total solar/lunar eclipse- It happens when the Moon completely covers the light of the Sun, and only a narrow belt of light is visible from the Earth's surface. If Earth completely covers the Moon, then it is total lunar eclipse.
• Partial solar/lunar eclipse-During some eclipses, the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth do not form a perfectly straight line, so only the penumbra (shadow's light part) falls on the Earth's surface while the Umbra (the shadow's dark center), is cast into space. In that case, the eclipse is a partial solar eclipse, and there are no places on Earth where the Moon covers the Sun completely, and Earth's penumbra is involved in penumbral lunar eclipses.