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In 2019, a remarkable event took place; a Total Solar Eclipse was visible in the South Pacific region and parts of South America, mainly Chile and Argentina. Interestingly, this event was also observed from one of the world’s clearest skies – the Atacama desert. However, this incredible spectacle was not visible in India. It was the only Total Solar Eclipse of the year, which made it an even more memorable occurrence.
Understanding Eclipses: Solar and Lunar
Eclipses can be divided into two major types: Solar and Lunar. A Solar eclipse takes place when the Sun, Moon and Earth align in such a manner that the Moon falls between the Earth and the Sun. This alignment leaves a moving region of shadow on the Earth’s surface. On the other hand, a Lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is positioned between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon.
Different Types of Eclipses
These celestial events can further be classified into four types: Annular, Total, Partial and Hybrid. The nature of an eclipse depends on the type of shadow involved. Both Earth and the Moon cast three kinds of shadows: umbra, the dark core; penumbra, a half-shadow; and antumbra, the lighter part of the shadow.
| Eclipse Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Annular | The Sun appears smaller than the Moon in the sky, and a ring of light remains visible. |
| Total | It is almost as dark as night. The Moon completely covers the disk of the Sun. |
| Partial | Only part of the Sun is blocked by the Moon. |
| Hybrid | This rare type looks like either an annular or total eclipse, depending on the observer’s location. |
Details of Different Types of Eclipses
The Earth orbits the Sun, and the Moon orbits the Earth in elliptical paths. Due to this, the distance between these celestial bodies changes, which influences whether an eclipse is Total, Annular, or a hybrid of the two.
During a Total Solar Eclipse, the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts its darkest shadow, known as the umbra. It makes the sky go dark, and temperatures can fall. It gets called Total because, at its maximum point, the entire disk of the sun gets covered by the moon, leaving only the Sun’s corona visible.
In contrast, an Annular Solar Eclipse happens when the Sun is closest to Earth, and the Moon is farthest. In this situation, the Moon does not appear large enough to cover the Sun completely, leaving a rim or ring of light visible in the sky.
A Hybrid Eclipse is a rare celestial event that appears like a Total or Annular eclipse based on the observer’s location. It alters as the Moon’s shadow moves across the Earth’s surface. During this eclipse, some parts of Earth come into the umbra, creating a Total Eclipse, while other areas are left out, leading to an Annular Eclipse.
Another category of eclipses is Partial Eclipses. A Partial Solar Eclipse occurs when the Moon’s penumbra falls on Earth, and its umbra doesn’t, leading to the Sun being partly covered. In a Lunar Partial Eclipse, the Moon passes only through a part of Earth’s umbra or penumbra.
In contrast to Solar eclipses, Lunar eclipses are visible from anywhere on the night side of Earth. The Moon rarely goes entirely dark during a Lunar eclipse but turns a distinct red color due to the refraction of sunlight in Earth’s atmosphere.
