Introduction
Ancient civilizations used to believe that a solar eclipse signalled impending disaster, and it is easy to see why. A total eclipse is an awe-inspiring sight. Birds and animals fall silent, stars and planets appear over head to eight minutes the world below falls into the night. As incredible as this sight may be, it is important never to look directly at the sun, Even during an eclipse.
Special Effects
A total eclipse of the sun can be a frightening sight, turning day into a night in spectacular fashion. However, as the moon appears to devour its celestial ruler, some incredibly beautiful special effects takes place. Just sun disappears, a brilliant bright spot can be seen on the edge of the moon like a diamond on a ring. This is caused by the last fingers of suns light filtering through valleys and mountains ranges on the moon. Some times some bright spots can appear as an arc called arc of growing pearls, an effect known as Bailey's Beads.
Total Eclipses
Solar eclipses occur when the moon orbits around the earth takes it in the front of the sun blocking its light. When this happens, the moon and the sun appear to be exactly the same size in the sky. This is because although the moon is much smaller, it is also much closer. During a total eclipse, the moon covers up the sun completely. All that can be seen of the sun is its faint outer atmosphere, the corona, like a cloud gas around a dark center.
Some Facts....
1) Total eclipses occur once every 18th months around our planets. However, it is estimated that anyone place on earth only sees Total eclipse every 360 years.\
2) A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the earth and the sun. The moon blocks out the suns light and its shadow falls on earths surface. People at different locations on earth will see different things. Anybody inside the complete shadow of the moon, called "UMBRA", will see a total eclipse. Anybody in "PENUMBRA" the lighter, outer shadow, will see only a partial eclipse.
3) During an annular eclipse, the moon is at its farthest point from the earth. Because of this, its shadow doesn't reach the earth's surface. Those directly beneath the "UMBRA" will see the sun's photosphere like a ring of fire around the moon.
4) This image is formed from different photograph taken as the moon covers up the sun. This is an annular eclipse, as the moon is not close enough to earth to cover the sun completely.
Annular Eclipses
The moon's orbit around earth is elliptical rather than circular. This means that at some times the moon is farther away from earth than at others. Because of this, the moon is sometimes don't enough to cover the sun completely during an eclipse. This is called an annular eclipse because a ring of brilliant sunlight which looks like a circle of fire, appears around the moon.
Facts And Figures
Solar eclipses
21 June 2001: Total
14 Dec 2001: Annular
10 June 2002: Annular
4 Dec 2002: Total
31 May 2003: Annular
23 Nov 2003: Total
8 April 2005: Total
3 Oct 2005: Annular
1 Aug 2008: Total
26 Jan 2009: Annular
2 July 2009: Total
11 July 2010: Total
13 Nov 2012: Total
Ancient civilizations used to believe that a solar eclipse signalled impending disaster, and it is easy to see why. A total eclipse is an awe-inspiring sight. Birds and animals fall silent, stars and planets appear over head to eight minutes the world below falls into the night. As incredible as this sight may be, it is important never to look directly at the sun, Even during an eclipse.
Special Effects
A total eclipse of the sun can be a frightening sight, turning day into a night in spectacular fashion. However, as the moon appears to devour its celestial ruler, some incredibly beautiful special effects takes place. Just sun disappears, a brilliant bright spot can be seen on the edge of the moon like a diamond on a ring. This is caused by the last fingers of suns light filtering through valleys and mountains ranges on the moon. Some times some bright spots can appear as an arc called arc of growing pearls, an effect known as Bailey's Beads.
Total Eclipses
Solar eclipses occur when the moon orbits around the earth takes it in the front of the sun blocking its light. When this happens, the moon and the sun appear to be exactly the same size in the sky. This is because although the moon is much smaller, it is also much closer. During a total eclipse, the moon covers up the sun completely. All that can be seen of the sun is its faint outer atmosphere, the corona, like a cloud gas around a dark center.
Some Facts....
1) Total eclipses occur once every 18th months around our planets. However, it is estimated that anyone place on earth only sees Total eclipse every 360 years.\
2) A solar eclipse occurs when the moon comes between the earth and the sun. The moon blocks out the suns light and its shadow falls on earths surface. People at different locations on earth will see different things. Anybody inside the complete shadow of the moon, called "UMBRA", will see a total eclipse. Anybody in "PENUMBRA" the lighter, outer shadow, will see only a partial eclipse.
3) During an annular eclipse, the moon is at its farthest point from the earth. Because of this, its shadow doesn't reach the earth's surface. Those directly beneath the "UMBRA" will see the sun's photosphere like a ring of fire around the moon.
4) This image is formed from different photograph taken as the moon covers up the sun. This is an annular eclipse, as the moon is not close enough to earth to cover the sun completely.
Annular Eclipses
The moon's orbit around earth is elliptical rather than circular. This means that at some times the moon is farther away from earth than at others. Because of this, the moon is sometimes don't enough to cover the sun completely during an eclipse. This is called an annular eclipse because a ring of brilliant sunlight which looks like a circle of fire, appears around the moon.
Facts And Figures
Solar eclipses
21 June 2001: Total
14 Dec 2001: Annular
10 June 2002: Annular
4 Dec 2002: Total
31 May 2003: Annular
23 Nov 2003: Total
8 April 2005: Total
3 Oct 2005: Annular
1 Aug 2008: Total
26 Jan 2009: Annular
2 July 2009: Total
11 July 2010: Total
13 Nov 2012: Total
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