Astronauts
Astronomy
Constellation
Deep Sky Objects
Moon
Stargazing
Telescope
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Accuracy & Corrections Terms & Condition
COPYRIGHT. All contents of on the site comporting the StarLust branding are Copyright 2019. All rights reserved.
STARLUST.ORG / STARGAZING

Solar Eclipses

A solar eclipse is probably the most spectacular celestial event that people can experience.
UPDATED JUN 14, 2024
solar eclipse
solar eclipse

A solar eclipse is probably the most spectacular celestial event that people can experience. The Moon slowly turns broad daylight into night as it glides in front of the Sun, hiding it from view. If the eclipse is total, at mid-eclipse, the Sun has completely vanished, but its ephemeral corona surrounds the blackened Moon like a crown.

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, and casts its shadow on the Earth. For obvious reasons, an eclipse of the Sun can happen only when the Moon is new, and thus lies on the Sun-side of the Earth. If the Moon’s orbit lay in the same plane as that of the Earth, there would be an eclipse every month. However, because the lunar orbit is tilted at an angle of about five degrees, most times the New Moon passes unseen either above or below the Sun in the sky and no eclipse is seen on Earth.

Solar eclipses are of three types: total, partial and annular. Which kind you see depends on what part of the Moon’s shadow passes over you and the distance between the Earth and the Moon at the time of the eclipse.

Total solar eclipses are the result of a fortunate coincidence. Because the Sun and the Moon are almost exactly the same angular size as we see them from Earth, during a total eclipse the Moon covers the bright disk of the Sun, but little or none of the surrounding space. This allows us to see features of the Sun that would otherwise be invisible, except from outer space. These include the glorious corona, which stretches outwards from the Sun in all directions, and solar prominences – large arch-shaped structures observable in the corona.

Total eclipses can be observed only within the region of totality, a very narrow band – up to 169 miles wide – where the Moon’s shadow falls as the Earth rotates. For this reason, total eclipses are rare events in any given geographical area and it is no wonder that many eclipse-tour companies have sprung up, making it easy for any eclipse-chaser to experience the greatest sight of his lifetime.

Much more common are partial solar eclipses, in which the Moon obscures only part of the Sun. Observers located in the much broader outer shadow of the Moon (the penumbra) see such an eclipse. At the edge of the penumbra, the Moon seems to “take a bite out of the Sun”. Further within the penumbra, the Sun’s disk takes the shape of a crescent. Unfortunately, a partial eclipse is not as dramatic as a total eclipse; even with three-quarters of the Sun covered by the Moon, daylight still looks quite ordinary.

A special case of a solar eclipse is known as an annular eclipse. This occurs when the Moon is farther from the Earth than normal, and hence its apparent size is not quite sufficient to cover the Sun completely. Therefore, even though the Sun- Moon alignment is perfect, the Moon will appear slightly smaller in diameter than the Sun and a thin ring of sunlight will remain visible around the dark silhouette of the Moon. The name annular eclipse comes from the Latin annulus, meaning ring.

The next total solar eclipse visible from the United States will occur on August 21, 2017. In the meantime, there will be a few partial solar eclipses to entertain us! Just check the Table of Solar Eclipses for information on upcoming eclipses.

The greatest care must be taken when watching a solar eclipse – but nobody should ever pass up the chance to see the splendor of such a celestial event. Never look at the Sun unless you wear special solar eclipse eyeglasses, and even more importantly, make sure you have the proper filters if you plan to observe the Sun through a telescope.

Learn to navigate the night sky ?

This page is part of our collection of stargazing guides. If you enjoyed the read, then you'll love the following articles.

solar eclipse
solar eclipse

Solar vs. Lunar Eclipse: A Comparative Guide

DIY Eclipse Glasses
DIY Eclipse Glasses

How to make DIY solar eclipse glasses

observing a lunar eclipse
observing a lunar eclipse

Lunar Eclipses: Viewing Dates & Locations

stargazing date
stargazing date

Heavenly Romance: Tips for a Romantic Stargazing Date

MORE ON STAR LUST
Using the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT), astronomers analyzed the centuries-old debris of supernova SNR 0509-67.5, a truly striking observation.
14 hours ago
Alpha Capricornids distinguish themselves with slower, brighter meteors compared to the Southern Delta Aquariids' medium-speed and fainter display.
18 hours ago
In the constellation Vela, observers John Seach and Andrew Pearce discovered V572 Velorum, a 'new star' shining at a naked-eye magnitude of +5.7
18 hours ago
Following its greatest elongation, Mercury's brightness will diminish rapidly as its illuminated side turns away from Earth.
2 days ago
Astronomers anticipate prime conditions for a series of major alignments and events, marking July as a particularly significant month for experiencing the extraordinary sights in our night sky.
4 days ago
Each day, approximately 48.5 tons of early solar system debris collides with our atmosphere, burning up to create visible meteors.
Jun 25, 2025
Tonight, a minor to moderate geomagnetic event (G1-G2) is projected to create visible northern lights across up to 14 U.S. states.
Jun 25, 2025
To get the shot, the astrophotographer went to the scorching 129-degree desert, risking heatstroke and bringing ice for his gear and a cooler full of water.
Jun 24, 2025
'There may be enough dark matter in these MACHOs that their weak interactions with light collectively block light from passing through the cloud.'
Jun 23, 2025
North America won't see another total solar eclipse for quite some time, though a total eclipse will cross Europe in 2026.
Jun 20, 2025
Following its June 12 ASAS-SN detection at magnitude 8.7, the 'new star' was promptly spectroscopically analyzed by Yusuke Tampo of the South African Astronomical Observatory.
Jun 20, 2025
This captivating cosmic view vividly illustrates the striking interplay between dense, dark interstellar dust and brilliantly luminous reflection nebulae.
Jun 20, 2025
NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and the UK Met Office both forecasted these moderate (G2) geomagnetic storms.
Jun 16, 2025
Among the 20 best national parks in America for stargazing, Crater Lake topped the chart.
Jun 13, 2025
An incredible moment in space would capture three celestial bodies in the sky, making it look like a 'smiley face' staring at you from space.
Apr 23, 2025
A solar eclipse is probably the most spectacular celestial event that people can experience.
Nov 21, 2023
Star hopping is used whenever one intends to find a celestial object spreading a dim light, invisible to the naked eye.
Nov 21, 2023
To understand the working principle of binoculars, first you need to know a little about telescopes. In fact, this is exactly what binoculars are, two identical telescopes placed next to each other.
Nov 21, 2023
As spring awakens in the Northern Hemisphere, explore the unique celestial marvels in this transformative period.
Aug 11, 2023
April 2024 offers a double treat: flowers unfolding by day and stars unveiling by night. Here's your daily guide to the cosmic dance overhead.
Aug 11, 2023