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Eclipses ( Solar and Lunar ) |
Introduction ( Solar )
Solar eclipses is where the moon comes between the Earth and Sun causing an area of the
planet to fall into complete darkness. The area of totality, I'll refer to it as the centre.
The further from the Centre you get, the less dark it gets. Once the Sun has been eclipses,
it will become slightly cold. There are four types of Solar Eclipses :-
| | Partial - |
The Sun is partly obscured by the moon. Whenever a Total Eclipse of the
Sun occurs, parts of the world outside the Centre will see a Partial Eclipse. The
further you are from the Centre, the less of the Sun occurs. |
| | Total - |
The Sun is completely hidden by the moon. |
| | Annular - |
An Annular eclipse of the Sun is in
a way similar to a Total eclipse. The difference is at totality, there is a corona
surrounding the Sun. |
| | Hybrid - | A Hybrid eclipse is
when part of the world sees a Total Eclipse and another part of the world an Annular
Eclipse. This is caused by the rotation of the Earth and the movement of the Sun. |
Below is table of a couple of forthcoming and recent Eclipses.
| | Type | When | Where |
| Total | August 11th 1999 | South-western England, mainland Europe and Middle East |
| Annular | 31st May 2003 | Northern Scotland near Inverness |
| Total | 23rd Nov 2003 | Antartica |
| Hybrid | 8th April 2005 | Just north of New Zealand and in South America |
Never Look Directly at the SUN even when Eclipsed
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To look at the sun, you will need to wear special visors which must be purchased from specialist places. If you
are unsure about the protection these provide don't wear them. The best way and safest to is to view the eclipse
in directly. Take two pieces of paper and make a tiny hole in one, place that in front of the other sheet, then look
at the second sheet which will now have the projected eclipse on it.
Introduction ( Lunar )
Lunar eclipses is where the Earth comes between the Moon and the Earth. These events are
more frequent in happening.
| | Partial - |
This is when only a portion of the moon is hidden from the Earth. |
| | Total - |
When the moon completely disappears from the night sky, it is referred to
as a total lunar eclipse. |
| | Penumbral - |
This is when the Moon is solar eclipsed but we don't see a Lunar Eclipse. |
Below is table of a couple of forthcoming and recent Eclipses.
| | Type |
When | Where |
| Total | 16th May 2003 | Americas, Europe, Asia |
| Total | 9th November 2003 | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| Total | 4th May 2004 | S.America, Europe, Asia, Oz, Africa |
| Total | 28th October 2005 | Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia |
| Partial | 17th October 2005 | Asia, Australasia, North America |
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