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There are two conditions required for the moon to produce total solar eclipse.
- First the moon must pass directly in front of the sun so that no portion of the sun shows at the top or bottom of the lunar disk.
- Secondly the moon must be at such a distance in its slightly elliptical orbit that its apparent disk size is a large or larger than the sun's. When the moon is slightly further away the disks do not match and there is an annular ring of light around the moon. The moons distance at perigee is 363,000 km and at apogee is 405,600 km.
A third condition is applicable to the observe. He or she must be present on the Earth at a point that the path of totality passes across the viewpoint. It is possible to see the eclipse as total in the path and partial outside (north or south ) of the path.
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What happened before the eclipse?
Before a total solar eclipse occurs, the moon aligns itself directly between the Sun and Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth's surface. This alignment creates the conditions necessary for the eclipse to happen.
Is the solar eclipse partial or total eclipse?
A solar eclipse may be partial, total, or annular.
What happens in a total solar eclipse?
In a total Solar Eclipse, the moon blocks the sun from being seen, revealing the Suns Corona.
What time is the next total solar eclipse?
The next solar eclipse will be a total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009. The eclipse will be visible in a path from northern India through China and across the Pacific ocean. It will not be visible in Europe or the Americas.
What lasts longer a solar or lunar eclipse?
A lunar eclipse typically lasts longer than a solar eclipse. A total lunar eclipse can last up to a few hours, while a total solar eclipse usually lasts only a few minutes at any given location.
