![]() ![]() In areas where the moon partially covers the sun, a lighter shadow is projected on the earth's surface which is called the penumbra. The sun appears as a ring around a dark moon when viewed from within the antumbra (annular eclipse). The shadow formed by such an eclipse extends beyond the umbra and is called the antumbra. When the moon is further away from the earth, it appears small and does not cover the sun's disk completely. A total eclipse occurs in the places this dark shadow, also called the zone of totality, happens to fall. One is the umbra, which is the dark shadow formed when the moon completely blocks the sun's light. The shadow of the moon during an eclipse has three parts. ![]() What is meant by umbra, penumbra and antumbra? ![]() If it is a partial solar eclipse, there may be a twilight-like appearance during the day, and daylight returns once the phase of the eclipse is over. The day plunges into total darkness just like a night in these regions in the case of a total solar eclipse. This causes the shadow of the moon to fall on some parts of the earth's surface. So, what exactly is a solar eclipse?ĭuring its orbit around the earth, the moon comes in between the sun and the earth. Even today in some cultures, it is considered a bad omen and people shut themselves indoors and refuse to touch food or drinks. In China, people believed that a dragon had swallowed the sun and traditionally banged drums and pots to scare it away. In ancient times, the solar eclipse was believed to be a supernatural phenomenon and attributed to the act of gods. The solar eclipse is the most spectacular celestial event visible from the earth. On earth, we can experience two types of eclipses: When the moon's shadow falls on the earth it is called a solar eclipse.Ī lunar eclipse happens when the earth blocks the sun's light causing its shadow to fall on the moon. This is commonly seen when the earth and the moon form a line with the sun. An eclipse is a natural phenomenon that occurs when one celestial object passes into the shadow of another. ![]()
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