What Are Eclipses?

Next Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: Fri, 10 Feb Sat, 11 Feb 2017 See animation
An eclipse is an astronomical event where one celestial body partially or totall
y covers another celestial object.
Eclipse History
A partial solar eclipse.
iStockphoto.com/Hans-Walter Untch
This happens when the eclipsing body comes between the observer and the eclipsed
object like in the case of a solar eclipse, or when the eclipsing body temporar
ily cuts off the source of illumination of the eclipsed object, like during a lu
nar eclipse.
When a planet comes between the Earth and the Sun, and becomes visible as a blac
k dot, it is called a transit.
Types of Eclipses
Eclipses and Transits 1900-2099
Observers from Earth can see two types of eclipses eclipses of the Sun (solar ec
lipses), and eclipses of the Moon (lunar eclipses). These occur when the Sun, Ea
rth and Moon align in a straight or almost straight configuration. Astronomers c
all this a syzygy, from the ancient Greek word syzygia, meaning to be yoked or c
onjuncted together.
The term eclipse also finds its roots in ancient Greek it comes from the word kle
ipsis, meaning to fail or abandoned.
Eclipses, solar and lunar, have fascinated scientists and lay people for centuri
es. In ancient times, eclipses were seen as phenomena to be feared many cultures
came up with stories and myths to explain the temporary darkening of the Sun or
the Moon. In recent centuries, eclipses have been sought after by scientists an
d astronomers who use the events to study and examine our natural world.
Solar Eclipses
Illustration image
Infographic: Types of solar eclipses. Click image for full version.
All Solar Eclipses 1900-2099
Solar eclipses can only occur during a New Moon, when the Moon moves between the
Earth and the Sun and the three celestial bodies form a straight line: Earth -
Moon - Sun.
There are 3 kinds of solar eclipses: total, partial, annular. There is also a ra
re hybrid that is a combination of two eclipses.
Total Solar Eclipses
All Total Solar Eclipses 1900-2099
A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun, as seen fr
om Earth. Totality during such an eclipse can only be seen from a very small are
a on Earth. This area is usually about 100 miles (160 kms) wide and 10,000 miles
(16,100 kms) long. Areas outside this track may be able to see a partial eclips
e of the Sun.
Looking at a solar eclipse without any protective eyewear can severely harm your
eyes. The only way to safely watch a solar eclipse is to wear protective eclips
e glasses or to project an image of the eclipsed Sun using a DIY Pinhole Project
or.
Partial Solar Eclipses
All Partial Solar Eclipses 1900-2099
A partial solar eclipse can be observed when the Earth, Moon and Sun do not alig
n in a perfectly straight line, and the Moon only partially covers the disc of t
he Sun.
Annular Solar Eclipses
All Annular Solar Eclipses 1900-2099
An annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon appears smaller than the Sun as it
passes centrally across the solar disk and a bright ring, or annulus, of sunlig
ht remains visible during the eclipse.
Hybrid Solar Eclipses
A hybrid solar eclipse is a rare form of solar eclipse, which changes from an an
nular to a total solar eclipse along its path.
Lunar Eclipses
All Lunar Eclipses 1900-2099
Illustration image
Partial lunar eclipse in 2008 seen in Germany.
iStockphoto.com/cinoby
The Moon does not have its own light. It shines because its surface reflects the
Sun's rays. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth comes between the Sun and the
Moon and blocks the Sun's rays from directly reaching the Moon. Lunar eclipses
only happen at Full Moon.
There are 3 kinds of lunar eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral.
Total Lunar Eclipses
All Total Lunar Eclipses 1900-2099
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth's umbra the central, dark part of it
s shadow obscures all of the Moon's visible surface.
Partial Lunar Eclipses
All Partial Lunar Eclipses 1900-2099
A partial lunar eclipse can be observed when only part of the Moon's visible sur
face is obscured by the Earth s umbra.
Penumbral Lunar Eclipses
All Penumbral Lunar Eclipses 1900-2099
A penumbral lunar eclipse happens when the Moon travels through the faint penumb
ral portion of the Earth s shadow.
Illustration image
A transit of Mercury. (Ill. not to scale)
Planet Transits
When a planet comes between the Earth and the Sun, it is called a transit. The o
nly two planets that can be seen transiting the Sun from Earth are Venus and Mer
cury, because they are the only planets which orbit inside Earth's orbit.
From 2000 2099, there will be 14 transits of Mercury. However, Venus transits are
even rarer with only two this