How many kinds of eclipse are there?

Answer 1

On Earth, we get solar eclipses and lunar eclipses. A solar eclipse is when the Sun is obscured by all or part of the moon so that there is a shadow cast directly onto the surface of the earth. A lunar eclipse is when the Moon passes wholly or partially through the shadow of the Earth caused by the Sun, which darkens the Moon, or changes it distinctly reddish. Obviously in other positions in space, other kinds of eclipses would be possible. For instance, Mars has two moons, so it two different kinds of lunar eclipses. On a planet orbiting a binary star, you might speak of an eclipse when one star passes behind another, etc. There are some other complicated kinds of eclipse like the "Analemma Eclipse" in this picture " http://bethlapides.com/images//tutulemma.jpg "

Answer 2

The two main types are the Lunar and Solar eclipses.

A lunar eclipse is an eclipse which occurs whenever the Moon passes through some portion of the Earth's shadow. This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned exactly, or very closely so, with the Earth in the middle. Hence, there is always a full moon the night of a lunar eclipse.

There are three different (sub)types of lunar eclipses:

1.) penumbral eclipse - occurs when the Moon passes through the Earth's penumbra (the region in which only a portion of the Earth is obscuring the Sun)

2.) partial lunar eclipse occurs when only a portion of the Moon enters the umbra (the region in which the Sub completely concealed by Earth)

3.) total lunar eclipse occurs when the entire Moon enters Earth's shadow (umbra)

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth so that the Sun is wholly or partially obscured. This can only happen during a new moon. There are four (sub)type of solar eclipse;

1.) A total eclipse occurs when the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon. During any one eclipse, totality is visible only from at most a narrow track on the surface of the Earth.

2.) An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the outline of the Moon.

3.) A hybrid eclipse (also called annular/total eclipse) transitions between a total and annular eclipse. At some points on the surface of the Earth it is visible as a total eclipse, whereas at others it is annular, based on the observars altitude. This type of solar eclipse is very rare.

4.) A partial eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are not exactly in line and the Moon only partially obscures the Sun. This phenomenon can usually be seen from a large part of the Earth outside of the track of an annular or total eclipse. Some eclipses can only be seen as a partial eclipse, because the umbra never intersects the Earth's surface

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclipse

Answer 3

An eclipse is where the earth is in a straight line with the Sun, and moon. Solar eclipse: moon in front of earth Lunar eclipse: earth in front of moon

Answer 4

Two: a Partial Eclipse, and a Total Eclipse. In a total eclipse, the whole sun is blocked, and in a partial eclipse, you can see part of the sun's corona.

Answer 5

There is the Lunar Eclipse and the Solar Eclipse.