An eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when an astronomical object or spacecraft is temporarily obscured, by passing into the shadow of another body or by having another body pass between it and the viewer. This alignment of three celestial objects is known as a syzygy. Apart from syzygy, the term eclipse is also used when a spacecraft reaches a position where it can observe two celestial bodies so aligned. An eclipse is the result of either an occultation (completely hidden) or a transit (partially hidden).
The term eclipse is most often used to describe either a solar eclipse, when the Moon's shadow crosses the Earth's surface, or a lunar eclipse, when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow. However, it can also refer to such events beyond the Earth–Moon system: for example, a planet moving into the shadow cast by one of its moons, a moon passing into the shadow cast by its host planet, or a moon passing into the shadow of another moon. A binary star system can also produce eclipses if the plane of the orbit of its constituent stars intersects the observer's position.
For the special cases of solar and lunar eclipses, these only happen during an "eclipse season", the two times of each year when the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun crosses with the plane of the Moon's orbit around the Earth. The type of solar eclipse that happens during each season (whether total, annular, hybrid, or partial) depends on apparent sizes of the Sun and Moon. If the orbit of the Earth around the Sun, and the Moon's orbit around the Earth were both in the same plane with each other, then eclipses would happen each and every month. There would be a lunar eclipse at every full moon, and a solar eclipse at every new moon. And if both orbits were perfectly circular, then each solar eclipse would be the same type every month. It is because of the non-planar and non-circular differences that eclipses are not a common event. Lunar eclipses can be viewed from the entire nightside half of the Earth. But solar eclipses, particularly total eclipses occurring at any one particular point on the Earth's surface, are very rare events that can be many decades apart.
Mwaka huu kutatokea tukio la kupatwa kwa jua ila kwa huku Tanzania hatutaliona vizur kama watu wa Mexico na Marekani
Ila imekunimbusha tukio kama hili nililishuhudia na nikiwa na utimamu wa akili kuanzia mida ya saa saba mpaka saa tisa kulikua na kivuli flani hivi japokua jua lilikua linawaka...
Penumbral Eclipse: Where Science Meets Celestial Wonder
The Whispered Warning
In ancient times, a darkening Moon signaled disruption, a celestial battle...or worse. While science has replaced superstition, there's still a thrill when the Earth's shadow paints the lunar face. On March 26, 2024...
Habari,
Leo asubuhi kulikuwa na utando mwekundu angani--Kuna mtu mwingine ameshuhudia hili jambo leo?
TMA-au mwenye ujuzi inamaanisha nini? Na kwanini itokee asubuhi?
Kesho Ijumaa usiku Mwezi utapatwa kififio siku ya tarehe 6 Juni sawa na ile iliyotokea mwanzoni wa mwaka huu Januari 10.
Kiasi cha kufifia kwa mwanga wa Mwezi hakutakuwa kubwa safari hii kwa hiyo ifikapo saa 4:25 usiku Ijumaa hii, kama anga itwakuwa wazi bila mawingu tutaona tofauti kati ya...
JamiiForums uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.