10 INTERESTING FACTS
ABOUT THE SOLAR
ECLIPSE
Eclipses are one of the world's most anticipated natural phenomena. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of the Sun, casting a shadow across the Earth. It's also referred to as an occultation. Solar eclipses occur because the distance between the Sun and the Earth is approximately 400 times greater than the Moon's distance from the Sun, and the Sun's diameter is approximately 400 times greater than the Moon's.
This means that the Sun and the Moon are very similar in size when viewed from Earth, so when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, it prevents light from reaching Earth.
An eclipse is defined in astronomy as the complete or partial covering of one celestial body by another, and an eclipse occurs when three celestial objects align. When the moon passes between the sun and the earth, the sun is eclipsed, and the moon is also eclipsed when it passes into the Earth's shadow cast by the sun. Furthermore, eclipses of natural satellites such as the moon or spacecraft in orbit occur as the bodies move into the shadow of the Earth. An occultation occurs when the apparent size of the eclipsed body is significantly smaller than that of the eclipsed body. Examples include when a star, nebula, or planet disappears behind the Moon or when a satellite or planet is destroyed.
Below are ten interesting facts about the solar eclipse.
1. A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely obscures the Sun, leaving only the faint solar corona visible.
2. A solar eclipse occurs at the New Moon, which occurs when the moon is between the sun and the Earth.
3. Before or after a total solar eclipse, there are wavy lines of alternately dark and light running parallel at colored surfaces, and these bands are shadowy. These are caused by the refraction of the solar crescent by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere.
4. A hybrid eclipse is a type of solar eclipse that alternates between a total and annular eclipse depending on where you are on Earth. These are relatively uncommon.
5. A total solar eclipse has a maximum duration of 7 minutes and 30 seconds.
6. People in the North and South Poles can only see partial solar eclipses.
7. An annular eclipse occurs when the Moon is too far away from Earth and appears as a black circle surrounded by sunlight.
8. The first solar eclipse recordings were made in China. These recordings were extolled on bone fragments known as 'oracle bones.' They date from around 1050 BC.
9. Hundreds of solar eclipses occur on Mars each year. However, because Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos are smaller, only partial solar eclipses are possible. Furthermore, Phobos can occasionally block out Deimos.
10. After 18 years and 11 days, almost identical eclipses occur, which is known as the Saros Cycle.
