Why do solar eclipses happen? Why do solar and lunar eclipses occur?

Since ancient times, lunar and solar eclipses have been considered a sign from above. Some peoples were afraid of such a phenomenon and expected the end of the world, while others were confident that something positive would happen soon. What is a solar eclipse, astrologers began to study a long time ago. It was found that this is the most common natural phenomenon that occurs not so rarely.

What does it represent?

What is a solar eclipse, today every elementary school student knows. The earth moves around the sun, and the moon moves around our planet. Full or partial overlapping of the solar disk by the moon is called an eclipse. Earth, Moon and Sun become in one line. It is worth noting that an eclipse can only occur on a new moon. That is, when the Moon cannot be seen from the Earth at all.

A total eclipse is not always visible. The overlap of the solar disk depends on which orbit it moves in a certain period of time. Most often, you can see a partial eclipse. People who are busy with their own business and in the sun may miss the natural phenomenon altogether. Visually, a partial eclipse is similar to twilight. During the day it can get a little darker outside. It looks like it's going to rain soon.

Astrologers have long been able to calculate how many solar eclipses occur on average per year. This phenomenon is not so rare and is repeated 5-6 times. Most often, the sun is covered by the moon by no more than 70%. At the same time, it is not possible to observe a natural phenomenon from all points of the globe. In addition, the eclipse may not last very long. Complete overlap of the solar disk can last no more than 10 minutes.

What is a lunar eclipse?

A beautiful natural phenomenon can be observed not only in the daytime. At night, everyone can see a lunar eclipse from time to time. It represents the overlap of the lunar disk with the shadow of the Earth. Most often, a total eclipse can be observed in that part of the planet where the Moon at the time of the natural phenomenon is above the horizon. During an eclipse, the Earth's satellite does not disappear completely. Observers can see the outline of the moon colored bright orange. This is due to the fact that even at the time of the eclipse, the Moon continues to beat off the sun's rays with even greater intensity.

Lunar eclipses occur much less frequently than solar eclipses. You can observe this phenomenon no more than twice a year. A complete overlap of the earth's satellite disk is quite rare. Lunar eclipse people do not attach great importance. Most of the time this goes unnoticed. In fact, everything that happens in nature affects human health and behavior. Therefore, it is better for hypersensitive people to prepare in advance for such a phenomenon as a lunar eclipse.

Types of lunar and solar eclipses

Identical eclipses are rarely repeated. Depending on which part of the celestial body is covered by a shadow, there are partial and total eclipses. With a total solar eclipse, twilight occurs only at a certain point on the globe. At this time, happy observers can only see the outlines of the solar disk. This phenomenon is considered quite rare and unique. A partial solar eclipse happens much more often when the moon covers only a small part of the solar disk. Such a natural phenomenon can no longer be called unique. It is worth noting that the same eclipse can be total and partial for observers from different parts of the planet.

Lunar eclipses are also total and partial. If the satellite completely falls into the shadow of the Earth, it is not lost from the field of view. The outlines of the moon can still be seen. At the same time, the night sky body acquires a bright shade. The sun's rays continue to illuminate the moon. A partial eclipse is an overlap of the celestial body on only one side. This phenomenon is very similar to the new moon. In most cases, people do not even suspect that there is an eclipse in the night sky.

The effect of a solar eclipse on a person

Any natural phenomena affect the general condition of the human body. Hypersensitive people are especially affected. They can feel the deterioration of well-being a few days before the eclipse. Older people may feel a headache, general weakness, chronic diseases are exacerbated. Many have to limit their activity and take more care of their health. Hypersensitive people should clarify in advance when the next solar eclipse will be. On the day of the celestial phenomenon, it is generally advisable to stay at home. It is not recommended to go outside also for completely healthy people.

Pregnant women are sensitive not only to solar but also to lunar eclipses. Doctors advise not to be under the open rays of the heavenly body during a natural phenomenon. This is fraught not only with pathologies of fetal development. When two luminaries are at the same point, their energy has a strong impact on a person. At best, a young woman in position will feel a severe headache, and at worst, premature birth may begin. Meanwhile, people have noticed for a long time that children born at the time of a solar or lunar eclipse have good health and achieve success in life.

The influence of a solar eclipse on a person is also considered by psychologists. It is believed that during such natural phenomena, the mind and emotional sphere of people are too vulnerable. During eclipses, difficult tasks should not be solved. And people who suffer from mental disorders should not be left unattended. It is during lunar or solar eclipses that suicides most often occur.

How to properly observe a solar eclipse?

Although a unique natural phenomenon has a negative impact on human health, it cannot be ignored. Solar eclipse is really very beautiful. But in order to observe him without harm to health, you must follow some rules. In no case should you look at the heavenly body without protective devices. Many do not know how to observe a solar eclipse correctly and use a telescope or binoculars for this purpose. With the help of these devices, you can only see the celestial body at a closer distance. But first of all, you need to take care of the safety of the eyes.

You can not look at the eclipse also through sunglasses or smoked glass. These things do not fully protect against direct rays. With a long examination of the celestial body, you can get a retinal burn. How to observe a solar eclipse correctly? In order to see a unique celestial phenomenon without harm to health, it is necessary to use special solar filters. You can buy them in specialized stores of photo and video equipment. Without a protective device, only a complete overlap of the heavenly body can be observed. The effect of a solar eclipse on the eyes at this moment is minimal. But to determine visually whether there is a complete overlap of the solar disk or only a partial one, only a true professional can.

You can use solar filters on their own or together with binoculars. The second option is more preferable for those who want to see all the details of the eclipse. Those who seek to capture the moment in a photo or video should also not forget about filters.

The impact of eclipses on nature

Few people know that celestial phenomena affect not only human health, but also nature. A few weeks or days before the eclipse, the weather can change dramatically. Frosts often begin in warm May, and warm days suddenly come in winter. But such changes in nature are absolutely harmless. But the eclipse can provoke more dangerous changes in nature. These include tsunamis and hurricanes. It has long been noted that during lunar and solar eclipses, the activity of the World Ocean increases several times. When the next solar eclipse will be, every captain of the ship should know. This is the only way to avoid tragedy. It is not recommended to plan long trips by sea on the day when a natural phenomenon should occur.

The most dangerous changes in nature occur where a total lunar or solar eclipse can be observed. Scientists all over the world are studying Already today they managed to find out what a solar eclipse is and when it will happen next. The schedule of celestial phenomena is scheduled for decades ahead. Thanks to the hard work of astrologers, many natural disasters can be avoided and protected from tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes.

Solar eclipse 1999

One of the brightest solar eclipses occurred on August 11. Almost all inhabitants of Europe could observe the complete overlap of the disk of the heavenly body. The most fortunate observers in Bucharest. Such a natural phenomenon in the XX century could be seen for the first time. The total eclipse did not last long. For a unique phenomenon, people could observe no more than three minutes.

Observers could only partially see the solar eclipse in Moscow. The solar disk was covered only by 70%. Despite this, there were many who wanted to see the unique celestial phenomenon. And it is no coincidence. After all, the national TV channels began to talk about the fact that a solar eclipse would happen a few weeks in advance. Entrepreneurs were also not far behind. On sale there were special disposable glasses with which you could look at the sun without harm to your eyesight.

The solar eclipse had a limited time. However, everyone was able to see how the moon covers the solar disk. This performance was truly unique. Some artists even described the natural phenomenon in their works. For example, Elena Voynarovskaya wrote a whole poem, which was called "Sun, do not disappear." The eclipse is also described in the first part of the famous work "Day Watch".

A unique eclipse of the 21st century

The younger generation already knows perfectly well what a solar eclipse is. But how this phenomenon occurs, many schoolchildren have not been able to see before. The situation was corrected in March 2015. On this day, a natural phenomenon occurred, which will be remembered by many for a long time. On March 20, residents of the CIS countries could see the solar eclipse. Astrologers note that the most difficult period was from March 16 to April 8. The influence of a solar eclipse on a person at this time was the strongest. People with chronic diseases have experienced an exacerbation of ailments. But there was also a positive side. An eclipse is a time of release of a huge amount of energy. Those who used it wisely managed to make successful deals and make the necessary acquaintances.

The inhabitants of the planet could observe a total eclipse in the Arctic and in the north of the Atlantic Ocean. On the territory of Russia, the process could be best seen in the city of Murmansk. The solar eclipse in Moscow began around 13:00 in the afternoon. It was only partially visible. Many residents of the metropolis did not even pay attention to the fact that the Sun hid behind the Moon. It was possible to see the eclipse only with the help of special devices.

When will the next eclipse be observed?

Scientists have long studied the nature of various celestial phenomena. When and where will the next solar eclipse be? You can find out about it right now. During the entire 21st century, 224 solar eclipses should occur. Only 68 of them will be complete. But annular eclipses deserve much more attention. That was the solar eclipse of 1999. The next one that residents of Europe and the CIS countries will be able to watch will happen on February 26, 2017. In the same year, on August 21, a total eclipse will occur, the duration of which will be only 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

What should be remembered?

Those who want to witness a unique natural phenomenon should prepare in advance. A solar eclipse has a limited time. Therefore, you should know in advance the exact hours of its onset. You can always hear about a total or partial eclipse in the news or find out on astrological sites. Information is reported a few weeks before the onset of a natural phenomenon.

Eclipse can have an impact on health. The eyes are the first to suffer. Do not look at the sky without special protective devices. On March 20, only those who had protective filters could see the solar eclipse. You can buy them today without any problems in a specialized store.

Solar and lunar eclipses are astronomical phenomena. A solar eclipse is when the Moon completely or partially covers (eclipses) the Sun from an observer on Earth. During a lunar eclipse, the Moon enters the cone of shadow cast by the Earth.

Solar eclipse

Solar eclipses are already mentioned in ancient sources.
Solar eclipse possible only on new moon when the side of the Moon facing the Earth is not illuminated, and the Moon itself is not visible. Eclipses are possible only if the new moon occurs near one of the two lunar nodes(points of intersection of the apparent orbits of the Moon and the Sun), no more than about 12 degrees from one of them.

The moon's shadow on the earth's surface does not exceed 270 km in diameter, so a solar eclipse is observed only in a narrow band along the path of the shadow. If the observer is in the shadow strip, he sees total solar eclipse, in which the Moon completely hides the Sun, the sky darkens, and planets and bright stars can appear on it. Around the solar disk hidden by the Moon, one can observe solar corona, which is not visible under the normal bright light of the Sun. For a terrestrial observer, the total phase of the eclipse lasts no more than a few minutes. The minimum speed of the lunar shadow on the earth's surface is just over 1 km/s.
Observers near the total eclipse can see partial solar eclipse. During a partial eclipse, the Moon passes across the disk of the Sun not exactly in the center, hiding only part of it. At the same time, the sky darkens much weaker, the stars do not appear. A partial eclipse can be observed at a distance of about two thousand kilometers from the zone of total eclipse.

Astronomical characteristics of solar eclipses

Complete Such an eclipse is called if it can be observed as total at least somewhere on the surface of the Earth.
When an observer is in the shadow of the moon, he observes a total solar eclipse. When he is in the penumbra, he can observe partial solar eclipse. In addition to total and partial solar eclipses, there are annular eclipses. An annular eclipse occurs when, at the time of the eclipse, the Moon is at a greater distance from the Earth than during a total eclipse, and the shadow cone passes over the earth's surface without reaching it. During an annular eclipse, the Moon passes over the disk of the Sun, but it turns out to be smaller than the Sun in diameter, so it cannot completely hide it. In the maximum phase of the eclipse, the Sun is covered by the Moon, but a bright ring of the uncovered part of the solar disk is visible around the Moon. The sky during an annular eclipse remains bright, stars do not appear, it is impossible to observe the corona of the Sun. The same eclipse can be seen in different parts of the eclipse band as total or annular. This eclipse is sometimes called full annular (or hybrid).
Solar eclipses can be predicted. Scientists have long calculated eclipses for many years to come. From 2 to 5 solar eclipses can occur on Earth per year, of which no more than two are total or annular. On average, 237 solar eclipses of various types occur in a hundred years. For example, in Moscow from the 11th to the 18th centuries. there were only 3 total solar eclipses. In 1887 there was also a total eclipse. A very strong eclipse with a phase of 0.96 occurred on July 9, 1945. The next total solar eclipse is expected in Moscow on October 16, 2126.

How to watch a solar eclipse

When observing a solar eclipse, special attention should be paid to protecting the eyes from sunlight. To do this, it is recommended to use special light filters coated with a thin layer of metal. You can apply one or two layers of high-quality black and white photographic film coated with silver. A total solar eclipse can be observed through optical instruments even without darkening screens, but at the slightest sign of the end of the eclipse, observation should be stopped immediately. Even a thin strip of light, repeatedly amplified through binoculars, can cause irreparable damage to the retina, and therefore experts strongly recommend the use of darkening filters.

Moon eclipse

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon enters the cone of shadow cast by the Earth. This is clearly seen in the diagram presented. The diameter of the spot of the Earth's shadow is about 2.5 diameters of the Moon, so the entire Moon can be obscured. At each moment of the eclipse, the degree of coverage of the Moon's disk by the Earth's shadow is expressed by the phase of the eclipse F. When the Moon completely enters the Earth's shadow during an eclipse, the eclipse is called a total lunar eclipse, when it is partially - a partial eclipse. Two necessary and sufficient conditions for the onset of a lunar eclipse are the full moon and the proximity of the Earth to the lunar node (the point of intersection of the Moon's orbit with the ecliptic).

Observation of lunar eclipses

Complete

It can be observed on half of the Earth's territory where the Moon is above the horizon at the time of the eclipse. The view of the darkened Moon from any point of observation is almost the same. The maximum possible duration of the total phase of a lunar eclipse is 108 minutes (for example, July 16, 2000). But during even a total eclipse, the Moon does not disappear completely, but becomes dark red. This is due to the fact that the Moon, even in the phase of a total eclipse, continues to be illuminated. The sun's rays passing tangentially to the earth's surface are scattered in the earth's atmosphere and due to this scattering partially reach the moon. The Earth's atmosphere is most transparent to the rays of the red-orange part of the spectrum, so it is these rays that reach the surface of the Moon to a greater extent during an eclipse. But if at the time of the eclipse of the Moon (total or partial) the observer was on the Moon, then he could see a total solar eclipse (an eclipse of the Sun by the Earth).

Private

If the Moon falls into the total shadow of the Earth only partially, then a partial eclipse is observed. With it, part of the Moon is dark, and part, even in the maximum phase, remains in partial shade and is illuminated by the sun's rays.

Penumbral

Penumbra - a region of space in which the Earth obscures the Sun only partially. If the Moon passes through the penumbra but does not enter the shadow, a penumbral eclipse occurs. With it, the brightness of the Moon decreases, but only slightly: such a decrease is almost imperceptible to the naked eye and is recorded only by instruments.
Lunar eclipses can be predicted. Every year there are at least two lunar eclipses, however, due to the mismatch of the planes of the lunar and earth orbits, their phases differ. Eclipses repeat in the same order every 6585⅓ days (or 18 years 11 days and ~8 hours - this period is called saros). Knowing where and when a total lunar eclipse was observed, one can accurately determine the time of subsequent and previous eclipses that are clearly visible in this area. This cyclicity often helps to accurately date the events described in the historical annals.

> > solar eclipse

Solar eclipse- description for children: phases and conditions, eclipse scheme, position of the Moon, Sun and Earth in space, total, partial, annular, how to observe.

For the little ones you should know exactly how this amazing event occurs - a solar eclipse. Children we must not forget that all objects in the solar system move along their own trajectory. On certain dates, the Moon becomes in the space between us and, covering a certain part of the Earth with its shadow. Of course, depending on the position of the bodies, there can be a total, partial or annular solar eclipse. But all this is based on specific factors that need to be explain to the children. The diagram below will show how an eclipse is formed and which solar eclipse you are looking at in a particular case.

Parents or teachers At school should start with a backstory. The moon appeared 4.5 billion years ago. But initially it was located much closer, until it began to gradually move away (by 4 cm every year). Now the Moon has receded so much that it fits perfectly into the outline of the Sun (in the sky, both objects seem to us the same size). True, it doesn't always work out that way.

When will the next eclipse be?

To give complete explanation for children, it would be good to study the conditions of a solar eclipse and give an example of the previous event - February 26. It has been visible from Argentina, the South Atlantic and parts of Africa. Although with modern technology, having a computer, you can watch it anywhere on earth.

The next solar eclipse will be visible from North America on August 21st. It will be complete and will pass through the US states: from Oregon to Georgia.

Types of solar eclipses

When people watch a solar eclipse, they don't always understand what they see. Children must remember only four varieties: full, ring, partial and hybrid.

Complete

To be honest, regarding the total solar eclipse, we are just very lucky. The solar diameter is 400 times that of the moon. But even for the little ones it is not news that the earth satellite is closer. Therefore, when their orbits intersect, the distance is equalized and the Moon can completely cover the solar disk. Usually this is observed every 18 months.

The shadow is divided into two types. The shadow is the part where all the sunlight is blocked (it takes the form of a dark cone). It is surrounded by shade. This is a lighter shadow, in the form of a funnel, from which the light is only partially blocked.

When a period of total eclipse occurs, the Moon casts a shadow on the surface. Should explain to children that such a shadow is able to cover 1/3 of the earth's route in just a couple of hours. If you are lucky enough to get under direct light radiation, you will see how the solar disk takes the form of a crescent.

There is a very short moment when the Sun is completely blocked. Then you will catch the glow of the corona (the outer ball of the solar atmosphere). This period lasts up to 7 minutes 31 seconds, although most total eclipses most often end earlier.

Partial

A partial eclipse occurs when only penumbra forms above you. At such moments, a certain part of the Sun always remains visible (which part will depend on the circumstances).

Most often, penumbra falls over the polar regions. Other regions near this zone observe only a thin solar strip hidden behind the Moon. If you are in the very center of events, then you can see the part covered by the shadow. Important explain to children that the closer they are to the epicenter, the bigger the event will appear. For example, if you are out of sight, you may notice how the Sun shrinks to a crescent shape, and then gradually returns to its usual form.

Ring

An annular eclipse is a type of partial eclipse and lasts 12 minutes 30 seconds (maximum). To make it clear explanation for children, it is worth noting that this happens rarely and does not seem to be complete. It all starts with the sky darkening, reminiscent of twilight, as most of the star is still visible.

Sometimes it is still confused with the full one, because the Moon occupies the entire central solar plane. But here lies the main difference. The fact is that our satellite is not close enough at this moment, so it seems small and does not cover the entire disk. Therefore, the tip of the shadow is not marked on Earth. If you are lucky enough to be in the very center, then you will see a "ring of fire" framing the moon. Parents or teachers At school can demonstrate this phenomenon if a coin is placed on a luminous flashlight.

hybrids

They are also called annular (A-T) eclipses. A similar thing happens when the Moon reaches its limit in distance, allowing the shadow to touch our surface. In most cases, the beginning resembles an annular type because the shadow tip has not yet reached the Earth. Then it becomes full, as in the very middle the shadow falls on the earth's roundness, after which it returns again to the ring type.

Since the satellite appears to be crossing the solar line, total, annular, and hybrid eclipses are called "central" eclipses so as not to be confused with partial ones. If we take it as a percentage, we get: full - 28%, partial - 35%, ring - 32% and hybrid - 5%.

Eclipse Predictions

Certainly, for the little ones It is important to understand that eclipses will not occur with every new moon. The Moon's shadow most often passes above or below Earth level because the satellite's orbit is tilted by 5 degrees. But 2 times a year (maybe 5) the new moon becomes at the right point, allowing you to obscure the Sun. This point is called a node. Partiality or centrality will depend on the approach of the satellite to this node. But the formation of a total, annular or hybrid eclipse will be affected by the distance between the Earth and the Moon, as well as the planet and the Sun.

Parents should be reminded that these events do not happen by chance and can be calculated, so that people have the opportunity to prepare. There is a certain interval called the Saros cycle. Children they will be surprised, but the early Chaldean astronomers managed to calculate it 28 centuries ago. The word "saros" itself denoted a process of repetition and was equated to 18 years and 11⅓ days (of course, the number of days varies in a leap year). At the end of the interval, the Sun and Moon align to their previous positions. What does the third mean? This is the path of each eclipse, which with each new eclipse moves closer to the west in relation to longitude. For example, the total eclipse on March 29, 2006 passed through western and northern Africa, and then moved to southern Asia. On April 8, 2024, it will repeat, but will already cover northern Mexico, the central and eastern regions of the United States, as well as the Canadian coastal provinces.

Safe Surveillance

The closer the event is, the more actively the news tries to talk about the most important precautions regarding the observation of the eclipse. They forbid looking directly, as you can go blind. Because of this, many began to regard eclipses as something dangerous. No matter how!

Generally speaking, the Sun never loses its danger. Every second, it showers our planet with invisible infrared rays that can damage our eyesight. Children they probably checked this on themselves when they stared at the ordinary Sun for a long time. Of course, most of the time we don't, but an eclipse makes us look up.

But there are also safe methods...

Camera obscura guarantee maximum security. Binoculars or a small telescope on a tripod will also work. With it, you can find spots, and also notice that the Sun will be darker at the edges. Otherwise, you should never look directly at the Sun without protective equipment.

There is also a mirror with special holes. You can do it yourself. To do this, take paper with a small hole and cover it with a mirror (no larger than the palm of your hand). Open the window on the sunny side, and place the mirror on the window sill illuminated by the rays. You need to place it so that the reflective side reflects sunlight onto the wall inside the house. You will see the manifestation of the disk - this is a sunny face. The greater the distance from the wall, the better the visibility. Every three meters, the image appears only 3 cm. You need to experiment with the size of the hole, as a large one will add brightness to the image at the expense of loss of clarity. But a small one will make it darker, but sharp. Don't forget to close the other windows with curtains and don't turn on the lights. It is best to organize the maximum gloom in the room. Do not forget also that the mirror should be even and do not look at the reflection itself.

It is worth discarding the negatives of old camera film, as well as black and white film (it does not contain silver), sunglasses, photographic neutral density filters and polarizing filters. Of course, they do not let much sunlight through, but children must understand that they fail to protect the eyes from exposure to huge amounts of near infrared radiation, which can lead to retinal burn. And don't think that the absence of discomfort makes observation safe.

True, there is one moment when you can look at the Sun without fear - a total eclipse. At this time, the solar disk overlaps. But this lasts only a few seconds or minutes, but it becomes possible to admire the delightful radiance of the pearl-white crown. With each eclipse, it will change shades and size. Sometimes it seems soft, but it happens that several long rays seem to diverge from the star. But as soon as the sun appears, you need to quickly use protection.

Eclipses in antiquity

Explanation for children would be incomplete without mentioning historical events. The earliest records appeared 4000 years ago. The Chinese believed that this is a giant dragon trying to swallow the Sun. At the court of the emperor, there were even special astronomers who, during the event, shot arrows into the sky, played drums and made noise to scare the monster.

This is depicted in the book of ancient China Shujing (Book of Documents). It tells about two astronomers at court: Xi and Ho. They were caught drunk before the eclipse began. The emperor was so angry that he gave the order to cut off their heads. This event took place on October 22, 2134 BC.

Eclipses are also mentioned in the Bible. For example, in the book of Amos 8:9: "I will make the sun go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the midst of a bright day." Scientists say that we are talking about an eclipse in Nineveh on June 15, 763 BC.

A solar eclipse could stop the war

Herodotus said that the Lydians and the Medes waged a 5-year war. When it was to stretch out for another year, Thales of Miletus (Greek sage) said that the moment would soon come when the day would become night. And it happened on May 17, 603 BC. The warriors thought it was a warning sign from the gods and reconciled.

For sure children may have heard the expression "scared to death." So this has a real reference to the son of Charlemagne Emperor Louis of Bavaria. May 5, 840 AD he noticed a total eclipse that stretched for as much as 5 minutes. But as soon as the Sun emerged from the shadow, Louis was so amazed that he died of horror!

Modern research

Astronomers have been studying our system for a long time, trying to figure out what an eclipse is. And although then it was very difficult to obtain information (people could not go into space), but by the 18th century a lot of useful knowledge had been collected.

To follow the total solar eclipse of October 27, 1780, Harvard professor Samuel Williams organized a trip to Panebscot Bay, Maine. It was dangerous, because at that time this territory was in the enemy zone (War of Independence). But the British appreciated the importance to science and let it pass without pretensions to political differences.

But all this turned out to be in vain. Williams made a serious miscalculation, so he placed people in Islesboro, which was right outside the event. He watched in disappointment as the crescent moon slid around the dark edge of the moon and began to gain strength.

During the period of a complete cycle, several bright red spots can be seen around the black disk of the satellite. These are solar prominences - hot hydrogen escaping to the surface of a star. The phenomenon was traced by Pierre Janssen (an astronomer from France) on August 18, 1868. Thanks to this, he discovered a new element, which later other astronomers (J. Norman Lockyer and Edward Frankland) called helium (the Greek word "helios" meant "Sun"). He was identified only in 1895.

A total eclipse is also interesting because at that moment the sunlight is blocked, so the surrounding stars are much easier to observe. It is under these conditions that astronomers manage to test the general theory of relativity, which predicted that starlight would pass beyond the Sun and go astray. To do this, we compared two images of the same stars, taken during the total eclipse of May 29, 1919, and during the day.

Modern technology can do without eclipses to track other stars. But a total eclipse will forever remain a long-awaited and amazing event that everyone should see. You have studied the description and conditions for creating a solar eclipse. Use our photos, videos, drawings and live models online to better understand the description and characteristics of the star. In addition, the site has online telescopes that observe the Sun in real time, and a 3D model of the solar system with all the planets, a map of the Sun and a view of the surface. Be sure to visit the calendar pages to find out when the next solar eclipse will be.

The period from 2018 to 2033 was chosen because it is quite interesting in relation to solar eclipses visible from the territory of Russia and the CIS countries. During these years, 14 solar eclipses will be observed from the territory of our country, which include two total eclipses, two annular eclipses and 10 partial eclipses. Of particular interest will be the annular solar eclipse on June 1, 2030, the annular phase band of which will pass through the entire country from west to east from Crimea to Primorye!

It is worth noting that, for example, in the period from 2034 to 2060 (twice as long), only two total and three annular solar eclipses will be observed in our country! The difference is obvious, so we can say that Russians and residents of the CIS are lucky with solar eclipses in the next fifteen years.

How do solar eclipses happen? Solar eclipses are caused by our celestial neighbor, the Moon. The apparent diameters of the Sun and Moon, observed from the Earth, are approximately the same. This means that the Moon, moving along its orbit, at some point can completely (total eclipse) or partially (partial eclipse) cover the Sun (during the new moon phase).

A total solar eclipse is the most spectacular and spectacular astronomical event! If night falls in the middle of the day and stars become visible in the sky - this is very impressive! Unfortunately, the visibility of such a phenomenon extends only to a small area where the lunar shadow falls. But during the movement of the lunar shadow, it forms a narrow strip on the surface of the Earth (an average width of about 200 kilometers). The length of such a strip is several thousand kilometers, but this is still not enough for a total eclipse of the Sun to be seen by all the inhabitants of the hemisphere of the Earth facing the daytime luminary. Total solar eclipses can occur every six months, but due to the peculiarities of the movement of the Moon in its orbit, they occur most often only once a year.

You can learn more about the possibility of solar eclipses, for example, from the book "Total solar eclipse of March 29, 2006 and its observation" (link at the end of the article).

Watch total solar eclipses from the same locality possible on average only once every 300 years. This makes it necessary to travel into the visibility band of the eclipse. A total solar eclipse is accompanied by a partial solar eclipse, which is visible on both sides of the total eclipse band, where the lunar penumbra falls. The farther from the central line of the eclipse, the less the disk of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. But the bandwidth of a partial solar eclipse is much larger than that of a total eclipse, so partial eclipses can be observed from the same observation point much more often. Due to the large territory of our country, we can observe solar eclipses more often than residents of countries with a small territory.

There are only partial eclipses, when the shadow of the Moon passes above or below the polar regions of the Earth, and only the lunar penumbra falls on our planet, showing the appearance of the defective Sun. An annular eclipse is different in that the Moon completely sets on the disk of the Sun, but cannot completely close it due to its smaller apparent diameter (when the Moon is near the apogee, i.e., the point of its orbit that is farthest from the Earth). As a result, the solar ring around the dark disk of the Moon is visible from the Earth.

It should be noted that a total eclipse in the European part of Russia can only be observed in 2061. If you look at the map of the bands of total and annular eclipses for 20 years, you can see how rare total solar eclipses are even for such a large country as ours.

The next total solar eclipses in 2019 and 2020 will be observed in Chile and Argentina. Therefore, those who want to see this wonderful phenomenon as soon as possible need to prepare for a transatlantic flight!

But let's get back to the eclipses of the period 2018-2033 described here, and consider them in more detail.

For convenience, which you can download and print.

Solar eclipses in Russia and the CIS in 2018 - 2033

(universal time)

The 2018 solar eclipse will be partial. It will occur at the new moon on August 11, and the eclipse band will cover the northeastern part of our country with a maximum phase of 0.736 in Chukotka. Private phases will also be seen by residents of North America, Scandinavia and China. The duration of the eclipse will be a little less than 3.5 hours. The eclipse will take place in the constellation Leo.

Another solar eclipse in 2019 will be an annular. It will occur at the new moon on December 26, and the band of the annular phase will pass through the waters of the Indian and Pacific oceans, crossing Arabia, southern India and Indonesia from west to east. The maximum duration of the annular phase will reach 3 minutes 40 seconds at a phase of 0.97. Residents of the southern regions of our country, countries of Africa, Asia and Australia will see private phases. The eclipse will take place in the constellation Sagittarius.

The solar eclipse of 2020 will be an annular. It will occur at the new moon on June 21, and the band of the annular phase will pass through the territory of Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and the Asian continent. The duration of the annular phase at the maximum of the phenomenon will reach only 38 seconds at a phase of 0.994. In this case, the thinnest ring of this eclipse will be observed. On the territory of Russia and the CIS, the eclipse band will cover the entire southern half of the country. The maximum phase of about 0.7 can be observed in the Central Asian countries of the CIS. The eclipse will take place in the constellation Taurus.

The solar eclipse of 2022 will be partial. It will occur at the new moon on October 25, and the eclipse band will cover the western half of Russia. The maximum phase of the eclipse 0.861 will be available for observation from the territory of our country in Siberia. The eclipse will take place in the constellation Virgo.

The solar eclipse of 2026 will be total. It will occur at the new moon on August 12, and the total eclipse will pass through the waters of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans, Western Europe and Russia. A total eclipse will be observed in Taimyr (the duration of the total phase is 2 minutes), and a partial eclipse will cover the Far North of the country. The eclipse will take place in the constellation Leo.

The solar eclipse of 2029 will be partial. It will occur at the new moon on June 12, and the eclipse band will pass through the waters of the Arctic Ocean, as well as across North America and the Far North of our country. The maximum eclipse phase of 0.458 will be available for observations from North America. In Russia, the smallest phases of the eclipse will be visible (about 0.2 or less). The eclipse will take place in the constellation Taurus.

The solar eclipse of 2031 will be annular. It will occur at the new moon on May 21, and the band of the annular eclipse with a maximum phase of 0.959 will pass through the Indian Ocean, as well as Africa, India and Indonesia. On the territory of our country, the eclipse will be observed in its southern part with small phases (Central Asian countries of the CIS). The eclipse will take place in the constellation Taurus.

Everyone has seen such an astronomical phenomenon as a solar eclipse at least once in their life. Even in ancient sources, people mentioned it, and today, at least once or twice a year, partial or complete eclipses can be seen all over the Earth. Eclipses occur regularly, several times a year, and even the exact dates of the next ones are known.

What is a solar eclipse?

Objects in outer space are arranged in such a way that the shadow of one can overlap another. The moon provokes a solar eclipse when it covers the fiery disk. At this moment, the planet becomes a little colder and noticeably darker, as if it were evening. Animals and birds are frightened in this incomprehensible situation, plants fold their leaves. Even people used to treat such astronomical jokes with great excitement, but with the development of science, everything fell into place.

How does a solar eclipse happen?

The moon and the sun are at different distances from our planet, so they appear to people to be almost the same size. On the new moon, when the orbits of both cosmic bodies intersect at one point, the satellite closes the luminary for the earthly viewer. A solar eclipse is a bright and memorable astronomical event, but it is impossible to fully enjoy it for several reasons:

1. The blackout band is not wide by earthly standards, no more than 200-270 km.
2. Due to the fact that the diameter of the Moon is much smaller than the Earth's, you can see the eclipse only in certain places on the planet.
3. The so-called "phase of darkness" lasts several minutes. After that, the satellite moves aside, continuing to rotate in its orbit, and the star again "works in the usual mode."

What does a solar eclipse look like?

When an earthly satellite obscures a heavenly body, the latter from the surface of the planet looks like a dark spot with a bright crown on the sides. The fireball is closed by another, but of a smaller diameter. A pearl-colored radiance appears around. These are the outer layers of the solar atmosphere, not visible at normal times. The "magic" lies in one moment, which can only be caught from a certain angle. And the essence of a solar eclipse is in the shadow falling from the satellite, which blocks the light. Those in the eclipse may see the full eclipse, others only partially or not at all.

How long does a solar eclipse last?

Depending on the latitude at which a potential terrestrial viewer is located, he can observe the eclipse from 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, there are three conditional stages of a solar eclipse:

1. The Moon appears from the right side of the star.
2. It passes along its orbit, gradually obscuring the fiery disk from the beholder.
3. The darkest period begins - when the satellite completely obscures the luminary.

After that, the Moon departs, revealing the right edge of the Sun. The glowing ring disappears and becomes light again. The last period of a solar eclipse is short, lasting an average of 2-3 minutes. The longest recorded duration of the full phase in June 1973 was 7.5 minutes. And the shortest eclipse was visible in 1986 in the North Atlantic Ocean, when the shadow obscured the disk for only one second.

Solar eclipse - views

The geometry of the phenomenon is amazing, and its beauty is due to the following coincidence: the diameter of the star is 400 times larger than the moon, and from it to the Earth is 400 times further. Under ideal conditions, you can see a very "accurate" eclipse. But when a person looking for a unique phenomenon is in the penumbra of the moon, he notices partial obscuration. In total there are three types of eclipses:

1. Total solar eclipse - if the darkest phase is visible to earthlings, the fiery disk is completely closed and there is a golden crown effect.
2. Private, when one edge of the Sun is obscured by a shadow.
3. An annular solar eclipse occurs when the earth's satellite is too far away and a bright ring is formed when looking at the luminary.

How dangerous is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse is a phenomenon that has both attracted and terrified people since ancient times. Understanding its nature, there is no point in being afraid, however, eclipses really carry colossal energy, which sometimes poses a danger to people. Doctors and psychologists consider the impact of these phenomena on the human body, arguing that hypersensitive people, the elderly and pregnant women are especially vulnerable. Three days before the event and three days after the event, health problems such as:

• headache;
• pressure surges;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases.

What not to do during a solar eclipse?

From a medical point of view, looking at the sun during an eclipse is very dangerous, because the sun produces a large amount of ultraviolet radiation (and during an eclipse, the eyes are not protected and absorb dangerous doses of UV radiation), which is the cause of various eye diseases. Astrologers also talk about the impact of a solar eclipse on people's lives and their behavior. Experts in this field do not recommend starting new business during this period in order to avoid failures, taking on something spontaneously and making difficult decisions on which the future fate depends. From what you should not do during a solar eclipse, we can distinguish:

• alcohol and drug abuse;
• conflict resolution, as people become more irritable;
• performing complex medical procedures;
• participation in mass actions.

When will the next solar eclipse be?

In ancient times, the moment when the luminary would disappear behind the lunar disk could not be predicted. Nowadays, scientists name the exact dates and places where it is best to look beyond the eclipse and the moment of the maximum phase, when the Moon completely covers the fiery disk with its shadow. The calendar for 2018 is as follows:

1. Partial dimming will be visible in Antarctica, southern Argentina and Chile on the night of February 15, 2018.
2. On July 13, at southern latitudes (in Australia, Oceania, and Antarctica), one can observe a partial closure of the Sun. The maximum phase is 06:02 Moscow time.
3. The nearest solar eclipse for residents of Russia, Ukraine, Mongolia, China, Canada and Scandinavia will come on August 11, 2018 at 12:47.

Solar eclipse - interesting facts

Even people who do not understand astronomy are interested in: how often a solar eclipse happens, what causes it, how long this outlandish phenomenon lasts. Many facts about him are known to everyone and surprise no one. But there is also interesting information about the eclipse, known to few.

1. It is possible to observe the situation when the fiery disk is completely hidden from view in the entire solar system only on Earth.
2. At any point on the planet, eclipses can be seen on average once every 360 years.
3. The maximum area of ​​overlapping of the Sun by the lunar shadow is 80%.
4. In China, data were found on the first recorded eclipse, which happened in 1050 BC.
5. The ancient Chinese believed that during an eclipse, the "solar dog" eats the Sun. They began to beat the drums to drive the celestial predator away from the luminary. He should have been frightened and returned the stolen to the sky.
6. When a solar eclipse occurs, the lunar shadow moves across the surface of the Earth at a tremendous speed - up to 2 km per second.
7. Scientists have calculated: after 600 million years, eclipses will stop completely, because. the satellite will move away from the planet at a great distance.