What is Lunar and Solar Eclipse?...and why do we have these two eclipse?
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An eclipse occurs when one object in space blocks an observer from seeing another object in space. From Earth there are two main types of eclipses: solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. Solar Eclipse. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun causing a shadow to fall on certain portions of the Earth.
Solar eclipses are relatively rare; they happen when the Moon moves directly and precisely in front of the Sun. Why are they so infrequent, and why do solar eclipses always come in pairs with lunar eclipses?
It is all down to a mix of orbital alignments and cosmic coincidences. The Moon is able to cover the Sun’s disc precisely because the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, and also about 400 times further away, meaning they have the same size in our sky. That’s a huge coincidence! With all that sky above our heads though, what causes the Sun and the Moon to be in the same position in the sky at the same time?
WHY IT HAPPENS?
It’s all a question of orbits. Earth orbits the Sun along a plane that we call the ecliptic – all of the planets orbit along this plane, more or less. The Moon, however, orbits Earth at an angle that is tilted to the ecliptic, by about five degrees. This means that on each orbit around Earth (a lunar orbit lasts 27 days), the Moon only crosses the ecliptic at two locations and these are the only two opportunities for an eclipse, be it a solar or a lunar eclipse.
Solar eclipses are relatively rare; they happen when the Moon moves directly and precisely in front of the Sun. Why are they so infrequent, and why do solar eclipses always come in pairs with lunar eclipses?
It is all down to a mix of orbital alignments and cosmic coincidences. The Moon is able to cover the Sun’s disc precisely because the Sun is about 400 times bigger than the Moon, and also about 400 times further away, meaning they have the same size in our sky. That’s a huge coincidence! With all that sky above our heads though, what causes the Sun and the Moon to be in the same position in the sky at the same time?
WHY IT HAPPENS?
It’s all a question of orbits. Earth orbits the Sun along a plane that we call the ecliptic – all of the planets orbit along this plane, more or less. The Moon, however, orbits Earth at an angle that is tilted to the ecliptic, by about five degrees. This means that on each orbit around Earth (a lunar orbit lasts 27 days), the Moon only crosses the ecliptic at two locations and these are the only two opportunities for an eclipse, be it a solar or a lunar eclipse.
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Eclipses and transits are astronomical events where a celestial body partially or totally covers another celestial object.
The Moon covering parts of the Sun during a partial solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse happens when the New Moon moves between Earth and the Sun while a lunar eclipse occurs when Earth casts a shadow on the Full Moon.
If a planet comes between Earth and the Sun, and is visible as a black dot against the Sun, it is called a planet transit.
The Moon covering parts of the Sun during a partial solar eclipse.
A solar eclipse happens when the New Moon moves between Earth and the Sun while a lunar eclipse occurs when Earth casts a shadow on the Full Moon.
If a planet comes between Earth and the Sun, and is visible as a black dot against the Sun, it is called a planet transit.
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