What kinds? What’s the difference? The different kinds of eclipses are the TSE or the Total Solar Eclipse. Observers have to be within a certain 200 mile wide path that gives them a chance to see and experience a daytime darkness and an amazing solar corona. A PSE is a partial solar eclipse. It can be visible from multiple wide areas around the globe. Another type is the ASE, which is an annular solar eclipse. It is actually a rather special or rare partial solar eclipse that can only be seen from within a narrow path of annularity. An ATSE is an annular/total eclipse; it’s a combination that starts as an annular, then when it hits the middle a total then back down to an annular. NOTE: These types of eclipses should not be watched directly.

What kinds? What’s the difference? Continued Not only are there solar eclipses but there are lunar eclipses too. The solar eclipse is where the moon passes between the sun and earth. A lunar eclipse is where the earth passes between the Sun and moon. There are a few different types of lunar eclipses. One is a TLE which is other wise known as a Total Lunar Eclipse. This is when a full moon is engulfed in the Earth’s shadow during which the moon appears to be a dullish red color. A couple other types of Lunar Eclipses would be PTLE, and PNLE. A PTLE is a partial lunar eclipse where only part of the moon passes through the umbra. On the other hand a PNLE, or a penumbral lunar eclipse is when the moon only passes through a partial shadow of the Earth causing the moon to darken. However the darkening of the moon is negligible. NOTE: These types of eclipses are safe to watch.

This is what a Total Solar Eclipse looks like. Corona-the ring of light around the moon Moon-the dark circle in the middle Sun-behind the moon

This is what a lunar eclipse looks like. It goes from an early stage to a full then to a late stage in this image. Early Full Late Stage Eclipse Stage

Types of Solar Eclipses TSE or the Total Solar Eclipse – Observers have to be within a certain 200 mile wide path the actually gives them a chance to see and experience a daytime darkness as well as a solar corona. PSE or a partial solar eclipse – This type of eclipse can be seen from multiple wide areas around the globe. ASE or an annular solar eclipse – A rather rare type that can only been seen from a narrow path of annularity. ATSE or an annular/Total Solar Eclipse – starts off as an annular eclipse, then when it heads towards the center it becomes a total; then back down to an annular.

Types of Lunar Eclipses. TLE or a Total Lunar Eclipse – This is when a full moon is engulfed in the Earth’s shadow during which the moon appears to be a dullish red color. PTLE or a partial lunar eclipse – Where only part of the moon passes through the umbra. PNLE or penumbral lunar eclipse – This is when the moon only passes through a partial shadow of the Earth causing the moon to darken. However the darkening of the moon is negligible.

How? An eclipse happens when the Moon, Sun, and Earth move into direct alignment. Also, the Moon either needs to full or a new Moon. There are different alignments which cause different eclipses. A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun. Since the Moon and Sun appear the same size in the sky the Moon can completely block the Sun if the Moon and the viewer are in relatively correct positions. On the other hand a lunar eclipse is where the Earth passes between the Sun and Moon. The Earth’s shadow is bigger than the Moon which will cause the Moon to be completely blacked out.

How? (Images Lunar Eclipse)

How? (Images Solar Eclipse)

Where? Eclipses can occur anywhere, you just have to be in the “path of totality” to watch an eclipse. You can usually find out where and what time on Google websites. Like Google Sky and many other places.

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