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ECLIPSES
We know that the moon moves around the earth in a fixed orbit. Similarly, the earth also moves around the sun in its fixed orbit.
Sometimes, during their orbits, the moon and the earth from a line with the sun. When this happens , the light of the sun is blocked by the object in the middle ( either the moon or the earth ). It result in the shadow of the middle body formed on the other body. That is called an eclipse.
How many kinds of eclipses ?
There are two kinds of eclipse
- Solar eclipse and
- Lunar eclipse
Solar eclipse
A solar eclipse occurs when, during its course of revolution, the moon comes in between the sun and the earth.
When this happens, the moon casts a shadow on the earth. The sky gets slowly dark as the moon moves in front of the Sun. Since the sun gets hidden behind the moon , it is called a solar eclipse.
At some places, the moon does not cover the sun completely. Only a part of the sun is invisible. It is called a particle solar eclipse.
At some places , the sun is completely hidden behind the moon. It is called a total solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse is seen during the daytime. It lasts only a few minutes. One should never look at a solar eclipse with the nicked eyes. It can harm the eyes.
Lunar eclipse.
A lunar eclipse occurs when the earth comes in between the sun and the moon.
The earth blocks the sun's rays from reaching the moon.
At some places, the shadow of the earth covers the moon Partially. It is called a partial lunar eclipse.
At some places, the moon is completely hidden by the shadow of the earth. It is called a total lunar eclipse.
A lunar eclipse always take place on a full moon day. During a lunar eclipse, the full moons bright face slowly changes into a dark orange colour. It is because even through the moon is in the earth shadow, some sunlight is able to pass through the earth atmosphere and reach the moon, giving it an orange colour.
Lunar eclipse can last up to an hour and a half. They are save to look at with binoculars or a telescope.
