Solar Eclipse
As the name suggest, is the shadowing of the sun by the moon. It takes place when the moon crosses the sun’s plane while orbiting the earth and comes in front of the sun, which obscures its view either partly or entirely. This event occurs only during the new moon when the moon is amid the sun and the earth. You can see the figure given below:
There are three types of solar eclipse:
- Total Solar Eclipse: When the moon fully covers the Sun, and its umbra and penumbra are casted on Earth, and then it is called as the total solar eclipse.
- Partial Solar Eclipse: If the moon covers only a part of the Sun and only its penumbra is casted on Earth, then this is known as Partial Lunar Eclipse.
- Annular Solar Eclipse: It is the situation when moon’s disc covers the center if the sun’s disc and its ant umbra are casted on Earth.
Lunar Eclipse
It can be described as the eclipse of the moon, in which it is behind the earth and forms a perfect alignment with sun and earth. When the earth moves between the sun and the moon, while orbiting the sun, the lunar eclipse takes place, in which the earth casts its shadow on the moon. We all know the fact that the moon does not have its own light, and reflects the light of the sun. It blocks the sunlight from falling on the moon, due to which moon appears darkened. This appears only during the full moon when it passes through earth’s shadow, i.e. umbra or penumbra.
- Total Lunar Eclipse: When the earth completely covers the moon and blocks the light from reaching the moon, it is called as the total lunar eclipse.
- Partial Lunar Eclipse: Partial lunar eclipse is when the moon enters the earth’s umbra, but not completely, such that the sunlight partially reaches the moon.
- Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: This occurs when the moon enters the penumbra of the earth, but sunlight reaches it because this region is not fully obscured from sun rays.
The difference between the solar eclipse and lunar eclipse can be drawn clearly on the following premises:
- A solar eclipse is described as the eclipse of the sun, i.e. in which sun is obscured by the moon. On the other hand, lunar eclipse implies the eclipse in which moon appears dim, as it passes into earth’s shadow.
- In the solar eclipse, the position of the three celestial bodies is sun, moon, and earth. Conversely, in the case of lunar eclipse, the positions of these are the sun, earth, and moon.
- A solar eclipse occurs in every 18 months, i.e. 1.5 years. As against, the lunar eclipse which takes place twice a year.
- As solar eclipse is the sun’s eclipse, it occurs during day time. In contrast, the lunar eclipse occurs in the night, because it’s a moon’s eclipse.
- The solar eclipse happens in the new moon phase, but lunar eclipse occurs during the full moon.
- Solar eclipse lasts for 5-7 minutes, whereas lunar eclipse lasts for few years.
- A solar eclipse can be observed only in a small area, while lunar eclipse can be noticed in the comparatively larger area.
- If one sees solar eclipse directly, i.e. through naked eyes, then there is a risk of loss in visibility as it damages the retina. On the contrary, it is safe to see lunar eclipse through bare eyes.
Conclusion
The phrase “total eclipse” is shared by both lunar and solar versions. But while a solar totality is a frenetic excursion into another dimension, with absolutely astounding short-lived marvels that make many people weep with rapture, such as pink flames shooting from the sun’s edge, a lunar totality is a lengthy phenomenon during which essentially nothing happens. We all are aware of the fact that earth revolves around the sun and the moon revolves around the earth. Due to this, there are certain times in a year, when these three are in tandem and forms and the exact and almost straight line called as Syzygy.
