What happens to the sun moon and earth during a solar eclipse?

Answer 1

During a solar eclipse, the moon comes between the sun and the earth, blocking view of the sun from some parts of the earth by casting its shadow. The longest this lasts in any one place on the earth's surface is about 6 minutes, but the alignment of sun, moon and earth that throws the moon's shadow on the earth can last for several hours while the shadow moves across the earth's surface.

Adjacent to those places where the sun's disk is totally blocked, where the eclipse is said to be total, there is a wider zone where the sun is never totally blocked, and there the eclipse is said to be partial. Even in places where the eclipse is eventually total, there are times before and after totality when the eclipse is partial.

While it is safe to look directly at a total solar eclipse, which is a very spectacular event, care must be taken to avoid looking directly at a partial solar eclipse. The portion of the sun that is not blocked by the moon during a partial eclipse is so bright that, even though it may not be painful, it can burn the retina (light-sensing cells in the back of your eyeball) literally before you can blink. Depending on severity, such burns can take months to heal, or can be permanent, resulting in vision defects or blindness.

Solar eclipses are rare in any one place, but occur somewhere in the world, generally twice every year. (See the catalog of all solar eclipses from 2000 BCE to 3000 AD on the NASA Eclipse Web Page, linked below.)

Indirect viewing of a partial solar eclipse can be accomplished by using a telescope or binoculars to project the sun's image on a screen, or by using a pinhole camera projector. NEVER view the sun directly through a telescope or binoculars unless you have a proper solar filter attached . Exposed film is inadequate and should never be used. Most welders goggles are also insufficient.

Answer 2

An eclipse is an alignment of objects in such a way that one object shadows another. A solar eclipse occurs when Earth, Luna (the moon), and Sol (the sun) align, so that the moon's umbra (total shadow) is cast upon Earth. From the perspective of an Earth-bound observer, the moon passes directly in front of the sun, causing the sun to appear to be black, rather than golden, and allowing direct observation of the sun's corona. Total solar eclipses are significantly rarer than partial ones, and may only be seen from certain points on Earth, because Earth's axis, the sun's axis, and the moon's axis are all angled differently.

Answer 3

During a solar eclipse, the moon moves between the sun and the earth, blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow on the earth. This aligns the sun, moon, and earth in a straight line, causing the moon to temporarily cover the sun from our perspective on earth.

Answer 4

During a solar eclipse the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun.

Answer 5

During a solar eclipse, the Sun, the Moon and the Earth are all lined up exactly, so that the shadow of the Moon hits the Earth.