Hobbies And Interests
Solar Eclipse
Solar eclipses happen when the moon passes in front of the sun, blocking a portion of it from view. These usually occur during the daytime and only when the moon is in the new moon phase. You would think that this would mean that every lunar cycle you should get a solar eclipse, but the angle of the moon's shadow does not allow for this. The shadow is altered due to the angle at which the moon orbits around the Earth. This angle usually has the shadow falling either above or below the planet, out of sight. On the new moon, usually twice a year, the moon lines up so some part of its shadow falls onto the Earth and this is perceived as a solar eclipse.
Lunar Eclipse
Lunar eclipses are just the opposite, occurring when the moon moves in front of the Earth in such a way that it passes through the Earth's shadow. This results in part of the moon being shrouded in darkness. These are very easy to spot with the naked eye and do not require the use of a telescope.
Total Solar Eclipse
Total solar eclipses happen when the moon moves in such a way that it blocks the sun from view entirely. The sky changes color to resemble twilight, the sun's rays only visible as a halo around the dark round of the moon in front of this. It only lasts for a few minutes before the moon moves away and the sky returns to normal.
Total Lunar Eclipses
Total lunar eclipses are much different than the normal partial eclipse. When the moon passes completely through the Earth's shadow, it turns either an orange or deep red color. This is because the light from the sun is filtered through the atmosphere, catching the blue light. This leaves the orange and red to refract and light the moon during the total eclipse.