Solar and Lunar Eclipse
Eclipse - Eclipse is one when one heavenly body moves into the shadow of another.
Solar Eclipse - When moon blocks the light of the Sun from reaching the Earth. The moon casts a shadow onto the Earth. This is called Solar Eclipse.
Types of Solar Eclipse
- Total Solar eclipse - When Sun is completely blocked by the Moon. In this case Sun's Chromosphere and Corona is visible.
- Partial Solar eclipse - When Sun is partially blocked by the Moon.
- Annular Solar eclipse - When Moon is farthest from the Earth and thus is not able to block the entire Sun, creating a ring which is known as 'Ring of fire'.
Apogee - When moon is at the farthest distance from the Earth.
Perigee - When moon is at the closest distance from the Earth.
Lunar Eclipse - When the Earth comes in between the Sun and the Moon, blocking the light from the Sun which was supposed to be reflected by the Moon, the Earth's shadow to fall onto the Moon. This is known as Lunar eclipse.
Types of Lunar eclipse -
- Total Lunar eclipse - When Moon is completely shadowed, it is total lunar eclipse.
- Partial Lunar eclipse - When only the partial Moon is covered with the Earth's shadow, it is known as partial lunar eclipse.
- Penumbral Lunar eclipse - When Moon is completely inside the penumbra (Earth's shadow), it appears a bit darker due to reduced amount of light. It is known as penumbral lunar eclipse.
Blood Moon - When the Moon is completely shadowed, i.e., during total lunar eclipse, only the light from the Earth's atmosphere reaches the Moon which has light of maximum wavelength (red). Therefore, Moon looks reddish. It is known as Blood Moon.
Blue Moon - In case of occurrence of two full moons in a calendar month. The second full moon is referred as Blue Moon.
Super Moon - (Full Moon + Perigee) When full moon occurs in perigee, i.e., when moon is closest to the Earth; it looks a bot larger and brighter. It is known as Super Moon.
Super Blue Blood Moon - Blue Moon + Super Moon + Blood Moon
It's a very rare event. This rare event happened on January 31, 2018.
Difference between Solar eclipse and Lunar eclipse -
Solar Eclipse -
- happens on new moon
- happens during daytime
- happens for a very short period of time
- not safe to watch with naked eyes
Lunar Eclipse -
- happens on full moon day
- happens during night
- happens for a long period of time (whole night)
- safe to watch with naked eyes
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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own.
Hope! It will help you to achieve your dream of getting selected in Civil Services Examination 👍
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