What is solar eclipse?

 What is solar eclipse? 

           We know that the Earth is a planet of the solar system and revolves around the Sun. Similarly, the moon is a satellite of the Earth and revolves around it. The Earth and the moon both cast long shadows due to the Sun's light falls on them. Sometimes, when the Sun, the Earth and the moon come in one straight line, and the moon obstructs the light coming from the Sun, the moon obscures the Sun from our view. This is solar eclipse. For people living in that shadow of the moon falling on the Earth, it becomes dark during daytime. The situation in which the Sun, the moon and the Earth come in a straight line oCcurs only on new moon days. The solar eclipse, therefore, takes place only on new moon days.

            However, the solar eclipse does not take place on every new moon day. The reason for this is that the plane of Earth's orbit makes an angle of 5° with the orbit plane of the moon. Had their orbits been in the same plane, we would have seen solar eclipse on every new moon day. Because of this angle, the revolving moon is sometimes above and sometimes below the orbit plane of the Earth. It is only sometimes that they come in one straight line. By knowing the position of the Earth, the Sun and the moon, the solar eclipse and its duration can be predicted in advance.

            If the moon obstructs the full Sun, there is total solar eclipse and if the moon obstructs only a part of the Sun, it will be partial solar eclipse. In a total solar eclipse, the edge of the Sun is visible along the outer rim of the moon. 

            Total solar eclipses are of great importance to scientists as during the period of eclipse, the shining edge of the Sun and its parts can be easily studied. Solar eclipse can take place twice a year and up to five solar eclipses have been spotted in a year. In the year 1935, there were five solar eclipses while four solar eclipses took place in 1982.