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Solar Eclipse Geometry 1
FullMoon
To Sun
To Sun
Earth
Moon
Earth and Moon: Full Moon
The Moon orbits Earth once every 29.5 days with respect to the Sun
Solar Eclipse Geometry 2
To Sun
To Sun
Earth
NewMoon
Earth and Moon: New Moon
Moon
The Moon orbits Earth once every 29.5 days with respect to the Sun
Solar Eclipse Geometry 3
To Sun
To Sun
Earth
NewMoon
Earth and Moon: Solar Eclipse Geometry
Penumbra
Umbra
Moon
An eclipse of the Sun is only possible during the New Moon phase.
Solar Eclipse Geometry 4
To Sun
To Sun
Earth
NewMoon
Earth and Moon: Solar Eclipse Path
Penumbra
Umbra
Path of Totality
Moon
During a total solar eclipse the Moon’s two shadows sweep across Earth.
Partial Phases of a Total Solar Eclipse
Credit: Dennis Mammana
Every total eclipse begins with a series of partial phases which may last an hour or more. However, the total phase or “totality” never lasts more than 7.5 minutes.
This time series photo shows an entire total solar eclipse, from start to finish over a period of over two hours.
Eclipse Shadows
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When sunlight passes through gaps between leaves of a tree, the shadows on the ground show little images of the eclipse happening in the sky above. This is the same principle as the pinhole camera.
“Diamond Ring” Effect Before Totality Begins
In the last seconds before totality begins, the remaining bit of Sun resembles a dazzling jewel as the ring-like corona appears.
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Total Solar Eclipse VideoVideo of the June 21, 2001 eclipse in Africa shows the
Diamond Ring Effect as the Sun vanishes behind the Moon and Totality begins.
Click on image to play video
Glorious Solar Corona
The sun’s glorious corona is composed of hot, rarified plasma with a temperature of 1 to 2 million degrees Centigrade. It is only visible during a total eclipse when the Moon hides the Sun’s brilliant disk.
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Eerie Twilight During a Total Solar Eclipse
During “totality” the landscape is bathed in an eerie twilight. Bright stars and planets are visible.
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Earth and Eclipse from Space
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From space, the Moon’s umbra can be seen sweeping over Earth during a total solar eclipse. Only observers within the shadow’s path will see “totality” - outside the path a partial eclipse will be seen.
Total Solar Eclipse from Antarctica
It’s possible to see a total eclipse from anywhere on Earth. This image was shot in Antarctica in 2003.
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Partial Solar EclipsePartial eclipses are visible over a much larger part of Earth than total eclipses. So they are seen by many more people.
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Annular Solar Eclipse
Annular Solar Eclipse of May 10, 1994 (Toledo, Ohio)
The solar corona is NOT visible during an annular eclipse. The remaining ring of sunlight hides the corona in its glare.
Frequency of Solar Eclipse Types
Partial 35%Annular 33%Total 27%Hybrid 5%
Eclipses per Year: 2 to 7
Totals per Year: 0, 1 or 2
Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC
Total Solar Eclipse of March 29, 2006
QuickTime™ and aGIF decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Four Contacts of a Total Solar Eclipse
22ndnd Contact - Total Eclipse Begins Contact - Total Eclipse Begins
33rdrd Contact - Total Eclipse Ends Contact - Total Eclipse Ends
11stst Contact - Partial Eclipse Begins Contact - Partial Eclipse BeginsMoonMoonSunSun
44thth Contact - Partial Eclipse Ends Contact - Partial Eclipse EndsMoonMoon SunSun
Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC
USA Times for the 2006 Eclipse From Side, Turkey
22ndnd Contact - Total Eclipse Begins Contact - Total Eclipse Begins
33rdrd Contact - Total Eclipse Ends Contact - Total Eclipse Ends
11stst Contact - Partial Eclipse Begins Contact - Partial Eclipse Begins
MoonMoonSunSun
44thth Contact - Partial Eclipse Ends Contact - Partial Eclipse Ends
MoonMoon SunSun
Fred Espenak, NASA’s GSFC
09:38 GMT
04:38 EST 03:38 CST 02:38 MST 01:38 PST
10:55 GMT
05:55 EST 04:55 CST 03:55 MST 02:55 PST
10:59 GMT
05:59 EST 04:59 CST 03:59 MST 02:59 PST
12:14 GMT
07:14 EST 06:14 CST 05:14 MST 04:14 PST
Links for the 2006 Total Solar Eclipse
NASA’s Sun-Earth Connection Website for 2006 Eclipse:
– sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/index.phpNASA’s Sun-Earth Connection & Exploratorium Live Webcast of 2006 Eclipse:
– sunearthday.nasa.gov/2006/events/webcasts.php
NASA’s 2006 Total Solar Eclipse Website:
– sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEmono/TSE2006/TSE2006.htmlNASA’s 2006 Eclipse Bulletin (Web Version):
– umbra.nascom.nasa.gov/eclipse/20060329/rp.htmlNASA’s 2006 Eclipse Bulletin (PDF Version):
– sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEpubs/TP212762.html
NASA’s Eclipse Home Page:
– sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/eclipse.html