You're on exactly the right track, and you're thinking exactly right.
But it's not exactly the "moon's" penumbra ... it's the penumbra of
the moon's shadow.
The word "penumbra" means partial shadow. During a solar eclipse, you will be subjected to a lot of blinding glare from the part of the Sun that is still exposed to you. it also means that the atmosphere (and dust therein) will still be illuminated -- unlike being in the umbra, or complete shadow, where it is possible to see stars through the darkened sky.
During a solar eclipse, the "penumbra" of the moon's shadow is the region from which
you see part of the sun but not all of it. To us, the sun then resembles a giant cashew
in the sky.
The "umbra" is the central portion of the moon's shadow, from which the sun appears
completely blocked out by the moon, and the eclipse is "total".
The "umbra" is the darker part of the Earth's shadow, while the "penumbra" is the less-dark area of partial shadow. So when the Moon enters the Earth's "umbra", you will see a totallunar eclipse.
If you are standing in the penumbra of a lunar eclipse, I hope your helmet is tight and you have plenty of air - because you're on the Moon, with no way home for at least 10 years.
On the other hand, if you are in the penumbra of a SOLAR eclipse, then you are probably seeing a partial eclipse.
If your standing in the penumbra, you will see a partial eclipse.
solar eclipse
People in the penumbra of an eclipse see a partial eclipse.
They are the penumbra (think of a large circle) and the umbra (think of a small, darker circle in the center of the large circle). People who have the penumbra only pass over them see a partial eclipse. People who have the umbra pass over them see a total eclipse.
The umbra in a shadow is the portion where light from a source is completely blocked. This is in the middle of the shadow. The area around this, where light from part, but not all of the source shines is called the penumbra. In the shadow cast by the moon in an eclipse, the penumbra is the partial shadow that occurs before the total eclipse, and the umbra is the 'total eclipse' portion
The "penumbra" or outer shadow is the area of a shadow from which part of the light source, but not all of it, is visible.For a total solar eclipse, the regions where the Moon's shadow only partially covers the Sun is called the penumbra. Areas where the maximum shadow occurs, where the Moon is centered on the Sun, is the umbra. An eclipse where the Moon does not cover the entire Sun is called an annular eclipse, and the shadow area is called the antumbra.
Because the moon is small compared to the Earth, the shadow it casts isn't very large. The small size of the shadow and the rotation of the Earth mean that where you need to be to see a solar eclipse is very specific and changes from eclipse to eclipse. To see the next total solar eclipse, you'll have to travel to Northeastern Australia or North New Zealand on November 13, 2012. Good luck!
People in the penumbra of an eclipse see a partial eclipse.
Not all light is being blocked ..
You will see a partial eclipse if you are in the penumbra.
Yes, it is possible to see a total or partial solar eclipse on earth in an area within the penumbra.
To see a total solar eclipse, yes. However, you need only be in the penumbra to see a partial eclipse.
Definitely not! Two people standing right next to each other will generally have the same view, but if two people are a mile apart, its' possible that one will experience a total solar eclipse while the other will see only a partial eclipse. For people who are right on the edge of the path of totality, it's possible to do an interesting experiment; line up a set of telescopes every 10 yards or so, connected to photosensors and highly accurate clocks. Measure the precise time at which the Sun flickers into view through the valleys in the mountains on the Moon, and you can create amazingly accurate elevation maps of the lunar mountains.
They are the penumbra (think of a large circle) and the umbra (think of a small, darker circle in the center of the large circle). People who have the penumbra only pass over them see a partial eclipse. People who have the umbra pass over them see a total eclipse.
In the Moon's shadow. Particularly, the "penumbra" which is the lighter partial shadow, rather than the "umbra", the darker total shadow area.
Please note that in a penumbra lunar eclipse there is nothing to see; nothing spectacular. If you look at the Moon, you might not even notice that there is an eclipse going on; it will just get a bit darker (more on one side than on the other). There was a penumbra eclipse on 25 May 2013; there is going to be another one on 18 October 2013.
Penumbra, the part outside the Umbra. In the Penumbra you see the sun with a bite taken out of it, but you still get daylight.
And eclipse may be partial or total, or penumbral or umbral. In a total (umbral) eclipse, the umbra of an object's shadow falls upon another object. Umbral solar eclipses are significantly rarer than any other type of eclipse. In a penumbral eclipse, an object's partial shadow, or penumbra, falls upon the other object.
If a lunar eclipse is in progress, the moon is in the earth's shadow. If any part of the moon becomes almost as dark as the space around it, then that part of the moon is in the umbra of the shadow. If you can see the lunar eclipse, then you are on the night side of the earth. I guess that means you're also in the umbra of the shadow, because you can't see the sun at all.