The Eclipse

The sun has its own light. The moon and the earth are the opaque and non-luminous objects. Sometimes, the moon, the earth and the sun lie in a straight line. In this condition, either the moon or the earth obstructs the light of the sun. It makes the whole or a part of the sun or the moon dark. The situation is termed as the eclipse. The eclipses are of two types:
   
          1. Lunar eclipse
          2. Solar eclipse
Lunar Eclipse 
We know that the moon always revolves round the earth and the earth round the sun. One side of both the moon and the earth always faces towards thew sun and receives light. Sometimes, the earth comes between the sun and the moon in a straight line. When the earth obstructs the sun's light and its shadow casts on the moon, the lunar eclipse occurs. If the moon is completely in the umbra of the earth, it causes the total lunar eclipse. Total lunar eclipse remains for 1 hour and 40 minutes.
          When the moon is in the penumbra or partially in umbra, it causes the partial lunar eclipse. Lunar eclipse occurs on the full moon.

Solar Eclipse            

When the moon comes between the sun and the earth, a solar eclipse occurs. At this time, the shadow of the moon is cast on the earth. As the moon blocks the sunlight, the sun blocks the sunlight, the sun looks dark. It occurs on the new moon.
When the light of the sun is blocked completely by the moon, it is known as the total solar eclipse. From the point 'A' in the figure, the total solar eclipse is seen. When the light of the sun is blocked partially by the moon, it is a partial solar eclipse. It is seen from the points 'B' and 'C' in the figure.
At a particular place of the earth, a total solar eclipse repeats after 360 years and its lasts maximum for 8 minutes only.