There are to parts that are less darker than the Umbra. One is called the Penumbra, that's where you see part of the light source, and the other is called an Antumbra, this is similar in effect to the Corona seen in a Solar Eclipse. But the largest part is the Penumbra.
The penumbra is the less-dark partial shadow.
it is called the penumbra
umbra a dark area especially the blackest part of a shadow from wich all ligth is cut of
There are two parts of a shadow: the UMBRA and the PENUMBRA. UMBRA is the inner darker part of a shadow. PENUBMRA is the outher lighter layer of a shadow. During a solar eclipse, the area on the planet that witnesses a complete total solar eclipse would be under the moon's shadow's UMBRA. The area that views a partial solar eclipse would be under the PENUMBRAL shadow.
"Umbra" is correct. However, another way to look at it is that the darkest part of the Earth's shadow is midnight, for what is night but the shadow of the Earth?
The darkest part of a shadow is called the "umbra" The lighter part of a shadow is called the "penumbra" An "antumbra" is the area of light which surrounds the object creating a shadow, as in a "ring of fire" eclipse (like the recent one in May, 2012). It can best be seen when the viewer is beyond the focal point of the umbra, but in line with it.
I think you are asking what is the lighter part of the Earth's shadow on the Moon that surrounds the darkest part. The penumbra is this lighter part of the shadow. The darkest part is the umbra.
There are two parts to the Earth's shadow. The dark narrower part is the Umbra (from Latin for shadow). The lighter part is called the Penumbra (from Latin, pane umbra - almost a shadow)
The Umbra is completely dark. Partially Dark is Penumbra.
penumbra cats a dull shadow. Umbra cats dark shadow.
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
There are two main shadows that Earth projects; one is called the 'umbra', which is the complete shadow where all direct light is blocked out, the other is the 'penumbra', which is a partial shadow. The effect is similar to standing in front of a light source and seeing both a dark shadow in the middle (the umbra) and a lighter shadow on the outer edge (the penumbra). During this eclipse the Moon will pass through both shadows.
The darker complete shadow is the "umbra". The lighter partial shadow is the penumbra.