Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, blocking all or a portion of the Sun's light. This can only happen during a new moon when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from the Earth.

Types of Solar Eclipses

There are three main types of solar eclipses:

• Total Solar Eclipse: When the Moon completely covers the Sun, blocking all direct sunlight, turning day into darkness for a few minutes.
• Partial Solar Eclipse: When the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not exactly lined up, and the Moon only partially covers the Sun's disk.
• Annular Solar Eclipse: When the Moon is too far away from the Earth to completely cover the Sun, leaving a ring of sunlight visible around the edges of the Moon.

Path of Totality

The path of totality is the narrow track where the total solar eclipse is visible. It's important to be within this path to experience the total eclipse, as outside this area only a partial eclipse is visible.

Safety Precautions

It's crucial to take precautions when observing a solar eclipse to avoid eye damage. Special solar viewing glasses or handheld solar viewers must be used to safely view the eclipse.

Study Questions

1. What is a solar eclipse?
2. What are the three main types of solar eclipses?
3. What is the path of totality?
4. Why is it important to take safety precautions when observing a solar eclipse?