What is the difference between a total solar eclipse and an annular solar eclipse?

Solar and lunar eclipses are astronomical events that occur every year, but it is not always possible to see them; The ‘type’ of eclipse is due to some specific motion of these celestial bodies.. Terrestrial viewers will be able to watch a dramatic scene in the sky, such as the show that will take place on October 14, 2023, depending on how the Sun and Moon are aligned with the Earth.

There are solar eclipses When the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, it casts an incredibly visible shadow on the Sun.. Lunar moons can be observed when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon and ‘places’ the shadow on the natural satellite. The next event will be an annular solar eclipse.

In all, There are four types of solar eclipses; these are: complete, cyclic, partial and hybrid. But the ones that stand out the most are the ringed and total versions. There are so many names and terms that some may get confused; After all, have you ever wondered what the differences are between an annular eclipse and a total eclipse?

To explain a little better the differences between the annular and total versions, TecMundo gathered information from scientists and experts in the field.

“Traditionally, eclipses are divided into two main types: solar and lunar. Solar eclipses occur when the Moon comes between the Earth and the Sun, leaving a moving shadow region on the Earth’s surface. Lunar eclipses occur when the Earth passes between the Sun and the Moon and the Moon’s shadow falls.” It is explained on one page of the Britannica encyclopedia.

What is the difference between a total and annular solar eclipse?

It is important to remember this It is extremely important to use special sunglasses so that they do not affect your eye health.Be it a total, annular, partial or hybrid solar eclipse. If you don’t have sunglasses at home, you can make a pinhole projector to ensure your safety; This is a type of ‘camera’ that allows you to view the event without looking directly at the Sun.

Annular Solar Eclipse

An annular solar eclipse only occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, but in this case it is at the farthest point of our planet’s elliptical orbit. Precisely because of its long distance, Since the Moon’s shadow cannot completely cover the Sun, it causes a golden ring to be seen around the Moon. – in fact the word ‘annular’ itself is a reference to the circular shape of a ring.

Annular solar eclipses tend to be more unusual than others, such as the event that will occur on October 14. Since the Moon is near its zenith, it must be in a position to pass between the Earth and the Sun; Having a ‘smaller’ size in the sky, the natural satellite cannot cover the entire star; The Moon becomes smaller simply because it is further away, so it has not ‘reduced’ in size.

total solar eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, thus managing to completely block out the ‘fire star’. Unlike the gold ring seen in the ring-shaped version, A total solar eclipse casts a shadow that completely covers the Sun, leaving the sky looking dark as if it were dawn or dusk.

During the brief period of the total eclipse, observers can remove their glasses to observe the beauty of the view., but only when the Moon completely occludes the Sun. The next total solar eclipse will be visible in the United States and will occur on April 8, 2024.

Partial, hybrid eclipses and more

A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon comes between the Sun and the Earth, but the celestial bodies are not perfectly aligned, so Only part of the star will appear to be covered in shadow. Its shape resembles a crescent moon.

The curvature of the Earth’s surface can also cause hybrid solar eclipses in some cases; This is because the natural satellite’s shadow moves between the annular and total eclipse, changing the view.

Although a total solar eclipse is a more common astronomical event, It can be considered the most difficult to view as it is more limited regarding geographical location. So, you need to be at the right time and place to experience the total solar eclipse.

Both eclipses can last from a few seconds to seven minutes, but the average observation of the event usually ranges from one to three minutes. The eclipse, whether end-to-end, annular, full or partial, occurs for several hours, but only allows for a few minutes of incredible visuals.

“Lunar eclipses, on the other hand, occur about once a year somewhere on the planet. However, since solar eclipses can be seen over a very limited area of ​​the Earth at a time, and lunar eclipses can be seen over the entire hemisphere, solar eclipses may appear less frequently,” the encyclopedia Britannica describes lunar versions of the event.

Did you like the content? Stay up to date with more astronomical curiosities on TecMundo and, if you wish, take the opportunity to discover what a solar eclipse looks like from an airplane.