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Why is it some people experience a total solar eclipse while others experience a partial eclipse or no eclipse at all?
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
The Sun is about a million miles across, while the Earth is only 8000 miles across and the Moon is only 2150 miles in diameter. Because the Sun is so much bigger than the Earth or the Moon, the shadows of the Earth and Moon are cone-shaped.
So the shadow of the small Moon gets even smaller by the time the shadow gets all the way to Earth, 240,000 miles away. In fact, the distance from the Sun to the Moon varies from 225,000 miles at the perigee to 252,000 miles at the apogee. When the Moon is in close, the diameter of the total part of the shadow - the "umbra" - is only about 300 miles. When the Moon is further away, the cone-shaped umbra of the Moon's shadow doesn't reach all the way to the Earth; that's when we have "annular" (ring-shaped) eclipses.
Where the umbra of the Moon's shadow touches the Earth, we have a "total" eclipse. Around that spot is a ring of "partial" eclipse where the Sun is peeking out from behind the Moon. Further away from the umbra, the Moon doesn't block the Sun at all.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoA partial solar eclipse takes place because the Sun and the Moon are not perfectly aligned. So, the Moon doesn't cover all of the Sun.
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Why people observe a total lunar eclipse rather than a total solar eclipse?
If there is a total lunar eclipse, everybody sees it as total. If there is a total solar eclipse, only people in a small part of Earth see it as total - most will see it as a partial eclipse, or not at all.
Can everyone see the solar 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.
Why do partial solar eclipses occur more than total solar eclipses?
There are 4 types of solar eclipse. Total, Hybrid, Annular and Partial eclipses.A Total Eclipse is when the sun totally covers the sun.An Annular Eclipse is when the whole moon is in line with the sun but the apparent diameter of the moon is less than the apparent diameter of the sun.A Hybrid Eclipse is when some places on Earth experience a annular eclipse and other places see a total eclipse.A Partial Eclipse is when the moon is not totally in line with the sun and only eclipses part of the sun.
A total solar eclipse can only be seen by people in the area of Earth within the Moon's umbra?
Short answer: True. Long answer: not entirely true as follows: The eclipse event as a whole is visible to anyone within either the umbra or the penumbra, however it appears as truly total only to those within the umbra. That is, those who are not in the umbra are seeing an event that will be called a "total eclipse", just not optimally, as it will appear only partial to them.
Do partial lunar eclipse occur more often than total eclipse?
Total solar eclipses are much less frequent because it is much more likely that part of a planet/moon/satellite gets partly in our way of the sun than a planet/moon/satellite gets 100% in our way.
What do people in the penumbra see during an eclipse?
People in the penumbra of an eclipse see a partial eclipse.
Why people observe a total lunar eclipse rather than a total solar eclipse?
If there is a total lunar eclipse, everybody sees it as total. If there is a total solar eclipse, only people in a small part of Earth see it as total - most will see it as a partial eclipse, or not at all.
Can everyone see the solar 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.
Why do partial solar eclipses occur more than total solar eclipses?
There are 4 types of solar eclipse. Total, Hybrid, Annular and Partial eclipses.A Total Eclipse is when the sun totally covers the sun.An Annular Eclipse is when the whole moon is in line with the sun but the apparent diameter of the moon is less than the apparent diameter of the sun.A Hybrid Eclipse is when some places on Earth experience a annular eclipse and other places see a total eclipse.A Partial Eclipse is when the moon is not totally in line with the sun and only eclipses part of the sun.
A total solar eclipse can only be seen by people in the area of Earth within the Moon's umbra?
Short answer: True. Long answer: not entirely true as follows: The eclipse event as a whole is visible to anyone within either the umbra or the penumbra, however it appears as truly total only to those within the umbra. That is, those who are not in the umbra are seeing an event that will be called a "total eclipse", just not optimally, as it will appear only partial to them.
What are the 2 shadows produced during 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.
Wise people get experience from others?
wise people don't get experience from others. It is a big generation brain power thing. ;1!
Do partial lunar eclipse occur more often than total eclipse?
Total solar eclipses are much less frequent because it is much more likely that part of a planet/moon/satellite gets partly in our way of the sun than a planet/moon/satellite gets 100% in our way.
Why are people in the umbra the only ones to expierence a total solar eclipse?
By definition, they are the only ones that cannot see any part of the Sun as the Moon passes in front of it. As opposed to "penumbra"... or partial solar eclipse.
Do the people in the umbra only see a partial solar eclipse?
NO they don't. First the Solar Eclipse is on the other side of Umbra. They don't git to see much of it.Because it is usually to dark to see the moon in Umbra.
When the moon is directly between the sun and earth. Some people one earth may experience a what?
Solar eclipse
How long was the solar eclipse in 1999 at Plymouth?
The solar eclipse lasted just a few minutes and people from all around the world went to Plymouth to watch it as it was a one in a life time experience. If you have any more questions about the solar eclipse just ask =)
