Solar Eclipse vs Lunar Eclipse: Differences Explained

The sun is a source of light, but the earth and moon are not. When sunlight falls on the earth or moon, do they also cast a shadow? Can we see these shadows?

The answer to both the questions is yes.

Formation of eclipses is based on the principal of rectilinearpropagation.

Eclipse meaning: An obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination.

Eclipses are the shadows formed in nature.

Sometimes the moon and the earth also cast shadows on each other. This happen when the sun, moon and the earth align in a straight line

What is lunar eclipse?

In a lunar eclipse, the shadow of the earth falls on the moon. When the sun, the earth and the moon come in a straight line, with earth in the middle, the shadow of the earth falls on the moon.

 What is total lunar eclipse or eclipse of the moon?

Total lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes in between the sun and the moon. The earth covers the moon with its shadow; we observe a total lunar eclipse.  

The Moon's average orbital speed is about 1.03 km/s (2,300 mph), or a little more than its diameter per hour, so totality may last up to nearly 107 minutes.

Partial lunar eclipse

A partial lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and Moon but the three celestial bodies do not form a straight line in space. When that happens, a small part of the Moon's surface is covered by the darkest, central part of the Earth's shadow, called the umbra.

Notice that when a lunar eclipse occurs, its bright side faces the earth. That is, a lunar eclipse occurs on a full moon day.

Solar eclipse or eclipse of the sun

We all know that sun provides us light. We also know that the earth revolves around the sun while the moon revolves around the earth. Occasionally, the moon comes in between the sun and the earth.

 On this occasionally, if the sun, moon and earth are in a straight line, the moon very briefly blocks the light of the sun from reaching earth. In other words, the moon casts its shadow on the earth. This phenomenon is known as solar eclipse.

What is total solar eclipse?

Total solar eclipses occur when the New Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and casts the darkest part of its shadow, the umbra, on Earth. A full solar eclipse, known as totality, is almost as dark as night.

Partial solar eclipse

Partial solar eclipse happens when the Moon comes between the Sun and Earth, but the Moon only partially covers the Sun's disk. Sometimes, the Moon covers only a tiny part of the Sun's disk. Other times a partial eclipse looks almost like a total eclipse.

Notice that during a solar eclipse, the dark side of the moon faces the earth. Therefore a solar eclipse will always take place on a new moon day.

During a total solar eclipse, we see the dark moon surrounded by a ring of fire. This ring of fire is the sun’s corona. Just before and after the total solar eclipse, we witness a spectacular diamond ring in the sky.

Solar eclipse 2019 December India

An annular solar eclipse occurred on December 26, 2019. It was the last solar eclipse of 2019. The central path of the 2019 annular eclipse passed through Saudi Arabian Peninsula, southern India, Sumatra, Borneo, Philippines and Guam. A partial eclipse was visible thousands of kilometres wide from the central path. It covered small parts of Eastern Europe, much of Asia, North/West Australia, East Africa, Pacific and Indian Ocean.

An annular solar eclipse on 21 June 2020 will be visible in India as well as much of Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and the Indian Ocean. Parts of Europe and Australia will also witness the June 21 event.

Scientists have long investigated the causes behind a solar eclipse, which occurs when the Moon passes directly between the Sun and Earth, and blocks out the sunlight. During this phenomenon, the Moon casts its shadow over Earth. On the other hand, a lunar eclipse takes place when Earth moves in between the Sun and Moon and blocks out any light coming from the Sun to reach it. Both of these celestial events fascinate astronomers to this day!

Our solar system is located in the Milky Way galaxy and consists of eight planets, as well as numerous other celestial bodies such as asteroids, moons, comets, and dwarf planets. Just outside its boundaries lies a vast region called the interplanetary medium where we can find debris fields composed of particles including dust and gas left over from the formation of the sun and planets in our solar system. Beyond that is deep space - an area of very low density populated mostly by stars, nebulae and other distant galaxies.

FAQ

How long does solar eclipse last

The duration of a solar eclipse can vary depending on the location of the observer and the type of eclipse. A total solar eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, can last for a maximum of 7 minutes and 31 seconds. However, the duration of a total eclipse can be much shorter, as little as a few seconds in some locations. Partial eclipses, where the Moon only partially covers the Sun, can last for several hours. Annular eclipses, where the Moon is farther away from the Earth, can last for a maximum of 12 minutes and 55 seconds.

How often do lunar eclipses occur

Lunar eclipses occur relatively frequently compared to solar eclipses. On average, there are about 2 to 4 lunar eclipses per year. However, not all of these eclipses are visible from a particular location. A lunar eclipse can only occur during a full moon, and it only happens when the Earth is positioned directly between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. This alignment is not as rare as a solar eclipse because the Moon's orbit around the Earth is tilted, so it passes through the Earth's shadow at least twice a year.

Why lunar eclipse occurs on full moon

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon, casting a shadow on the Moon. For this to happen, the Moon must be in the full phase, as this is the point in its orbit when it is directly opposite the Sun in the sky. This is also the phase when the Moon is completely illuminated by the Sun's rays. During a full moon, the Moon, the Earth and the Sun are aligned in a straight line, the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon. This alignment causes the Earth's shadow to fall on the Moon, resulting in a lunar eclipse. It's important to note that, a lunar eclipse can only happen at full moon, because that's the phase when the Moon and Sun are opposite each other in the sky, and the Earth is positioned between them.

why solar eclipse is harmful to eyes

A solar eclipse can be harmful to the eyes because the sun's rays are much more intense than during a normal day. The sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation can cause damage to the retina, the part of the eye responsible for sensing light and sending visual signals to the brain. Staring directly at the sun during a solar eclipse, even if it is partially covered by the moon, can cause permanent damage to the eyes, including blindness. This is because during a solar eclipse, the sun's rays are still intense enough to cause harm, even though the sun may appear to be dimmer than usual.

When the sun is partially covered by the moon during a solar eclipse, it's called partial solar eclipse, during this time the sunlight is still dangerous to look at. It is important to use special eclipse glasses, or to project an image of the sun through a pinhole camera to safely view a solar eclipse. It is also important to note that it is never safe to look at a solar eclipse without proper eye protection, even during the brief period of a total eclipse when the sun is completely covered by the moon.

What lunar eclipse looks like

A lunar eclipse typically appears as a reddish-orange or copper-colored disc, as the sun's light is bent and filtered through the Earth's atmosphere before it reaches the Moon. This is why a lunar eclipse is sometimes referred to as a "blood moon." The color of the lunar eclipse can vary depending on the amount of dust and clouds in the Earth's atmosphere. During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon will appear to be completely obscured by the Earth's shadow, becoming nearly invisible.

During a partial lunar eclipse, a portion of the Moon will appear to be in the Earth's shadow, while the rest of the Moon will still be illuminated by the sun. A Penumbral Lunar Eclipse, the Moon passes through the Earth's penumbra (outer shadow) and only a portion of the Moon appears slightly darker. It is important to note that a lunar eclipse is safe to view with the naked eye, as the Moon's surface does not emit harmful radiation like the Sun's does.