What is a solar eclipse ?

The Moon turns around the Earth and the Earth around the Sun. Nothing surprising that from time to time, the one shadows the other one. Not really ?

 

A solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon.

*More exactly...

There are 4 types of solar eclipse:

-the partial eclipse: phenomenon which occurs when the Sun and the Moon are not perfectly aligned and when the Moon darkens only partially the Sun.

-the total eclipse: phenomenon which occurs when the sun is completely and short-term covered, no more than 8 minutes.

-the annular eclipse: phenomenon which occurs when the Sun and the Moon are perfectly aligned with the Earth.

-the hybrid eclipse so called total ring finger or mixed eclipse: it is the intermediate state between a total eclipse and an annular eclipse.

 

On Septembre 1st, 2016 there was an annular eclipse in Reunion Island and we organised a festival in the school!

The next visible total eclipse in France will occur in 2081...It will be necessary to be patient !

So, small advice never looks at an eye unprotected solar eclipse !

How does it work ?

The moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. That is why the shadow of the Moon glides on the Earth, plunging the inhabitants of regions "affected" in the shade for a few minutes. It's what we call a total solar eclipse.

Seen fromthe Earth, is the Moon is directly in front of the Sun ? No, it's just an optical illusion !The diameter of the Sun is approximately 400 times as big as the Moon's diameter, but the distance between the Sun and the Earth is also 400 times as big, it compensates.