Solar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon and earth are in a straight line, astronomers call this phenomenon syzygy. During an eclipse, the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth, and from the point of view of an earthly observer, the Moon obscures (eclipses) the Sun, partially or completely. Such a celestial phenomenon can only occur during a new moon.
However, solar eclipses do not occur on every new moon because the Moon's orbit is tilted at an angle of 5 degrees to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun (the ecliptic). The points where the two orbits intersect are called the lunar nodes, and solar eclipses occur when the new moon occurs near lunar node. The sun must be close to the node so that it can form a perfect or nearly perfect straight line with the moon and earth. This period happens twice a year and lasts an average of 34.5 days - the so-called "eclipse corridor".
How many solar eclipses are there in a year?
In one calendar year there can be from two to five solar eclipses, but most often two (once every six months). Five eclipses in one year is a rare occurrence, last time it happened in 1935, and the next time will be in 2206.
Types of solar eclipses
According to astronomical classification, they can be various types: full, ring-shaped and private. You can see their differences in the photo below. There is also a rare hybrid form where the eclipse starts as an annular eclipse and ends as a total eclipse.
Myths and legends about solar eclipses
Throughout human history, they have been associated with myths, legends and superstitions. In ancient times, they caused fear, they were considered as bad omens that entail disasters and destruction. Therefore, many peoples had a custom to spend magical rituals to ward off possible troubles.
Ancient people tried to understand why the heavenly body sometimes disappears from the sky, so they came up with various explanations for this phenomenon. This is how myths and legends arose:
IN ancient india it was believed that the monstrous dragon Rahu periodically devours the Sun. According to Indian mythology, Rahu stole and tried to drink the drink of the gods - ambrosia, for which he was beheaded. His head flew up to the sky and swallowed the disk of the sun, so that darkness fell.
In Vietnam, people believed that a giant frog ate the Sun, while the Vikings believed that wolves ate it.
There is a legend in Korean folklore about mythical dogs who wanted to steal the Sun.
In ancient Chinese myth, the heavenly dragon ate the sun for lunch.
To get rid of the gluttonous demon, many ancient peoples during a solar eclipse had a custom to gather, beat pots and pans, making a loud noise. It was believed that the noise would scare away the demon, and he would return the heavenly body to its place.
The ancient Greeks viewed the eclipse as a manifestation of the wrath of the gods and were convinced that after it natural disasters and wars should follow.
IN Ancient China these celestial phenomena were associated with the success and health of the emperor and did not portend that he would be in any danger.
In Babylon they believed that solar eclipses bad sign for the ruler. But the Babylonians were skillfully able to predict them, and, in order to secure the reigning person, a deputy was chosen for a certain period. He occupied the royal throne and received honors, but his reign did not last long. This was done only so that the temporary king took upon himself the wrath of the gods, and not the real ruler of the country.
Modern beliefs
The fear of solar eclipses has survived to this day, and even in our time, many consider them a bad sign. In some countries, there is a belief that they are dangerous for children and pregnant women, so they need to stay indoors during an eclipse and not look at the sky.
In many parts of India, people fast on the day of the eclipse due to the belief that any food cooked will be unclean.
But not always popular beliefs ascribe to them a bad reputation. For example, in Italy, it is believed that flowers planted during a solar eclipse will be brighter and more beautiful than flowers planted on any other day.
On Saturday night, a unique phenomenon can be seen in the sky - the longest lunar eclipse in a century.
The eclipse will be clearly visible throughout Russia from 21:24 to 1:20 Moscow time. The full phase will last 1 hour 43 minutes. And Mars on the same night will approach the Earth at the minimum possible distance and become brighter than Jupiter, writes TJournal.
In Moscow full moon will rise above the southeastern horizon after 21:00, already partially covered by the shadow of the Earth. And in about an hour, Mars will appear there.
The maximum phase of the eclipse will occur at 23:30, the Moon will be 14 degrees above the horizon, and Mars will be visible six to seven degrees below the Moon at the southern horizon.
Vladilen Sanakoev, an engineer at the UrFU Educational Observatory, told E1.ru that the moon will plunge into the Earth's shadow so deeply that its brightness will be several times less than that of Mars. Both heavenly bodies will have a reddish tint.
In connection with the upcoming lunar eclipse, astrologers are already drawing apocalyptic pictures. "July 27 at 23:21 there will be a "bloody" lunar eclipse when the Moon will be next to Mars. I'm afraid that hostilities will break out. After all, Mars is the god of war, and here is the longest eclipse near it. Under such conditions, everything can be very dramatic," says astrologer and forecaster Vlad Ross.
Great opposition of Mars
The opposition, or opposition, of the planet is its location relative to the Earth when it is on one side, and the Sun is on the opposite side. Simply put, the Earth is between the Sun and the planet. Confrontation - best time observations: the planet is visible during most of the night, its brightness is maximum and it is easy to find it in the sky, it faces us on the day side and, most importantly, the distance to it is minimal, so more details can be seen in the telescope.
Mars oppositions occur once every 780 days, that is, a little less than once every two years, TASS reports. However, due to the elongation of the orbit of Mars, the distance from it to the Sun varies from 207 million km to 249 million km. At opposition at aphelion (the farthest point of the orbit from the Sun), there will be about 100 million km between Earth and Mars. But at perihelion (the point of the orbit closest to the Sun), the planets are separated by less than 58 million km, and Mars looks almost twice as large. Such confrontations are called great and happen only once every 15-17 years, and the past was in 2003. Mars will get closest to the Earth on July 31, but on the 27th the planet will be visible no worse.
Eclipse almost 2 hours long
Lunar eclipses occur whenever the Moon, moving in its orbit, falls into the shadow cast by the Earth. The eclipse catalog of the 21st century has 229 entries, but only 85 eclipses are complete. During them, the moon is completely immersed in the shadow and turns red. Total eclipses usually come in series: every four years, 3-4 eclipses with a six-month interval. On July 27, the average of three eclipses of the current series will occur: the first was on January 31, the last will take place on January 21, 2019.
However, total eclipses are not the same: the Moon can pass along the edge of the earth's shadow or through the center. In the latter case, the eclipse is called central, its duration is longer, and the Moon darkens more strongly in the maximum phase. Of the 85 total eclipses of the 21st century, only 24 are central. The past was in 2011, and the next in Europe will be seen only in 2040. The current eclipse is not only central, but will also happen at the apogee of the lunar orbit, where the speed of our satellite is minimal. That is why the full phase will last a record 103.5 minutes in the 21st century.
Lunar eclipses always happen on a full moon when we look at the moon from the same side as the sun. In this phase, the brilliance of the Moon is maximum, it shines 10 thousand times brighter than Mars.
A solar eclipse is accompanied by a total, annular or partial (partial) occlusion of the Sun's surface by the Moon, which is well observed from planet Earth. Knowing when the next solar eclipse will be, you will be able to see this unusual astronomical phenomenon with your own eyes.
When is the next solar eclipse
A partial solar eclipse was promised by scientists on August 11, 2018. Earthlings will be able to witness a unique phenomenon that will be observed in almost all European countries, in Asia and in many Russian cities at 9:47 GMT and 12:47 Moscow time.
The next solar eclipse will also be visible in Russia
A total eclipse of the Sun will be observed in our country on August 12, 2026. It is on this day that the eclipse will begin from the northeastern part of the Taimyr Peninsula, after which it will pass through the territory of the Arctic Ocean and Greenland.
You may also be wondering which planet in the solar system is the largest:.
Then the astronomical phenomenon can be observed in Iceland and Spain. It will be the forty-eighth eclipse of 126 Saros, and the areas of its best visibility are represented by the subpolar and middle latitudes of the northern part of the globe. The cone of the lunar shadow will intersect the earth's surface, which will allow it to completely cover the Sun.
During a total eclipse, a "corona" of the Sun's rays will form around the Moon.
The nearest annular eclipses of the Sun 121 and 131 Saros can be observed on February 17, 2026 and February 6, 2027, respectively. The best visibility of this phenomenon will be represented by middle latitudes and subtropics in the southern hemisphere.
Annular or annular solar eclipses are the most interesting from an astronomical point of view. During such a period, the Moon finds itself on the Sun, leaving only its edges visible, due to which the so-called corona of solar rays breaks through against the background of a total eclipse. This phenomenon is observed when the Moon is located at a considerable distance from our planet.
Find out also when the next lunar eclipse will be:.
An annular solar eclipse is one of the most interesting for both ordinary observers and science
An eclipse of the Sun is one of the unique and rather rare astronomical phenomena that occurs when the Moon covers the surface of the solar disk. Not everyone manages to see such an incredible spectacle, but those who are lucky enough to observe the eclipse deservedly call it fantastic and extraordinary.
It is rare that natural or astronomical phenomena can surpass a solar eclipse in terms of the power of their drama and impact on a person. Understanding its internal processes and hidden mechanisms will allow you to broaden your horizons, take a step into the world of stellar science.
Solar eclipses past and present
The oldest written sources telling about the sudden onset of night in the midst of a clear day were Chinese manuscripts written more than 2 thousand years ago. They, like later sources from other countries, tell of the extreme excitement and fear of the population at the sudden disappearance of the Sun.For many thousands of years of human history, eclipses were considered exclusively harbingers of great misfortunes and catastrophes. But times changed, knowledge multiplied, and in a historically insignificant period of time, from a harbinger of catastrophes, short-term disappearances of the sun turned for people into a grandiose show arranged by nature itself.
Prediction of the exact time of the beginning of astronomical events was also once the lot of dedicated priests. By the way, those who used this knowledge, based on considerations of benefits and the assertion of their power in society.
Scientists of our time, on the contrary, willingly share such information. For decades ahead, the years of solar eclipses are known, the places in which they will be observed. After all, the more people participate in observations, the more information flows into astronomical centers.
Below is a schedule of solar eclipses for the near future:
Understanding the causes of certain natural processes and systemic scientific knowledge allowed natural human curiosity to prevail over irrational fears, to comprehend the mechanism of this or that ongoing event in the Universe. Nowadays, not only professional astronomers, but also many amateurs are ready to travel many thousands of kilometers in order to observe this phenomenon again and again.
- September, 01, 2016. It will be observed in the Indian Ocean, Madagascar, and partly in Africa.
- February, 26, 2017. Southern Africa, Antarctica, Chile and Argentina.
- August, 21, 2017. Most US states, Northern Europe, Portugal.
- February, 15, 2018. Antarctica, Chile and Argentina.
- July, 13, 2018. South coast of the Australian continent, Tasmania, part of the Indian Ocean.
- August, 11, 2018. Most countries of the Northern Hemisphere, incl. territory of Russia, the Arctic, part of North Asia.
Conditions and causes of solar eclipses
In the infinite space of the Universe, the Sun and the planets surrounding it move at a speed of 250 kilometers per second. In turn, within this system, all the celestial bodies that make it up move around the central luminary, along different trajectories (orbits) and at different speeds.Most of these planets have their own satellite planets, called moons. The presence of satellites, their constant movement around their planets and the existence of certain regularities in the ratios of the sizes of these celestial bodies and the distances between them explain the causes of solar eclipses.
Each of the celestial bodies that make up our system is illuminated by the sun's rays and every second casts a long shadow into the surrounding space. The same cone-shaped shadow is cast by the Moon on the surface of our planet when, as it moves along its orbit, it finds itself between the Earth and the Sun. In the place where the moon's shadow falls, an eclipse occurs.
Under normal conditions, the apparent diameters of the Sun and Moon are almost the same. Being at a distance 400 times less than the distance from the Earth to the only star in our system, the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun in size. Thanks to this surprisingly accurate ratio, humanity has the opportunity to periodically observe a total solar eclipse.
This event can only occur during periods when several conditions are met at the same time:
During one calendar year there may be two such periods, i.e. at least 2 eclipses in 365 days. Moreover, during each period there may be several such phenomena, but not more than 5 per year, in different parts of the globe.
- New Moon - The Moon is facing the Sun.
- The moon is on the line of nodes: this is the name of the imaginary line of intersection of the lunar and earth orbits.
- The moon is at a fairly close distance from the earth.
- The line of nodes is directed towards the Sun.
Mechanism and timing of a solar eclipse
Descriptions of how a solar eclipse occurs have generally not changed over the entire recorded history of observations. At the edge of the Sun, a dark spot of the lunar disk creeping to the right appears, which gradually increases in size, becomes darker and clearer.The larger the surface of the luminary is covered by the Moon, the darker the sky becomes, on which bright stars appear. Shadows lose their usual outlines, become blurry.
The air is getting colder. Its temperature, depending on the geographical latitude along which the eclipse band passes, can decrease by up to 5 degrees Celsius. Animals at this time become anxious, often rushing about in search of shelter. The birds fall silent, some go to bed.
The dark disk of the Moon creeps more and more onto the Sun, leaving from it an increasingly thinning sickle. Finally, the Sun disappears completely. Around the black circle that covered it, you can see the solar corona - a silvery glow with blurry edges. Some illumination is given by the dawn flashing all over the horizon around the observer, an unusual lemon-orange hue.
The moment of complete disappearance of the solar disk usually lasts no more than three or four minutes. The maximum possible time of a solar eclipse, calculated using a special formula, based on the ratio of the angular diameters of the Sun and the Moon, is 481 seconds (a little less than 8 minutes).
Then the black lunar disk shifts further to the left, exposing the blinding edge of the Sun. At this moment, the solar crown and the glowing ring disappear, the sky brightens, the stars go out. The gradually liberated Sun gives off more and more light and heat, nature returns to its usual form.
It is important to note that in the northern hemisphere the moon moves across the solar disk from right to left, and vice versa in the southern hemisphere - from left to right.
The main types of solar eclipses
The area of the globe where the above can be observed total solar eclipse, is always bounded by a narrow and long strip that forms in the path of the cone-shaped shadow of the Moon, rushing along earth's surface at a speed of more than 1 km per second. The width of the strip usually does not exceed 260-270 kilometers, and it can reach 10-15 thousand kilometers in length.The orbits of the Earth around the Sun and the Moon around the Earth are an ellipse, so the distances between these celestial bodies are not constant and can fluctuate within certain limits. Thanks to this principle of natural mechanics, solar eclipses are different.
At a much greater distance from the band of a total eclipse, one can observe partial solar eclipse, which in common parlance is often also called partial. In this case, for an observer located outside the shadow band, the orbits of the night and day luminaries intersect in such a way that the solar disk is only partially covered. Such phenomena are observed much more often and over a much larger area, while the area of a solar eclipse can be several million square kilometers.
Partial eclipses occur every year in almost every part of the globe, but for most people outside the professional astronomical community, they go unnoticed. A person who rarely looks at the sky will see such a phenomenon only when the Moon covers the Sun halfway, i.e. if the value of its phase will approach 0.5.
The calculation of the phase of a solar eclipse in astronomy can be carried out using formulas of varying degrees of complexity. In the simplest version, it is determined through the ratio of the diameters of the part covered by the Moon and the total diameter of the solar disk. The phase value is always expressed only as a decimal fraction.
Sometimes the Moon passes from the Earth at a distance slightly greater than usual, and its angular (visible) size is less than the apparent size of the solar disk. In such a case, there is annular or annular eclipse: The brilliant ring of the Sun around the black circle of the Moon. At the same time, the observation of the solar corona, stars and dawn is impossible, since the sky practically does not darken.
The width of the observation strip with a similar length is much higher - up to 350 kilometers. The width of the penumbra is also greater - up to 7340 kilometers in diameter. If during a total eclipse the phase is equal to one or can be even more, then during an annular eclipse the phase value will always be greater than 0.95, but less than 1.
It is worth noting the curious fact that the observed variety of eclipses falls just in the period of the existence of human civilization. Since the formation of the Earth and the Moon as celestial bodies, the distance between them has been slowly but continuously increasing. When the distances change, the scheme of a solar eclipse as a whole remains the same, similar to that described above.
More than a billion years ago, the distance between our planet and its satellite was less than now. Accordingly, the apparent size of the lunar disk was much over size sunny. Only total eclipses occurred with a much wider shadow band, the observation of the corona was almost impossible, as was the formation of annular eclipses.
In the distant future, after millions of years, the distance between the Earth and the Moon will become even greater. Distant descendants of modern humanity will only be able to observe annular eclipses.
Scientific experiments for amateurs
Observation of solar eclipses at one time helped to make a number of significant discoveries. For example, back in the days of the ancient Greeks, the then sages made conclusions about the possible movement of celestial bodies, their spherical shape.Over time, research methods and tools made it possible to draw conclusions about chemical composition our star, about flowing in it physical processes. A well-known chemical element helium was also discovered during an eclipse observed by the French scientist Janssen in India in 1868.
Solar eclipses are one of the few astronomical phenomena available for amateur observation. And not only for observations: to make a feasible contribution to science and to record the circumstances of a rare natural phenomenon anyone can do.
What can an amateur astronomer do:
Like any scientific experience, observing eclipses requires following a number of rules that will help make the process one of the most memorable events in life and protect the observer from very real harm to health. First of all, from a possible thermal damage to the retina, the probability of getting which increases to almost 100% with the unprotected use of optical devices.
- Note the moments of contact of the solar and lunar disks;
- Fix the duration of what is happening;
- Draw or photograph the solar corona;
- Participate in an experiment to refine data on the diameter of the Sun;
- In some cases, or when using instruments, prominences can be seen;
- Photograph a circular glow on the horizon line;
- Make simple observations of changes in the environment.
Hence the main rule of observing the sun: be sure to use eye protection. This can serve as special light filters for telescopes and binoculars, chameleon masks for welding. In the most extreme case, a simple smoked glass is suitable.
What a solar eclipse looks like - look at the video:
It is relatively safe to observe only a short period, only a few minutes, while the total eclipse lasts. Take special care in the initial and final phases, when the brightness of the solar disk is close to maximum. It is recommended to take breaks in observation.
Several times a year, lovers of stars and romance gather in the open air to see a mesmerizing spectacle - a solar eclipse. This is an unusual phenomenon that affects the rhythm of the planet as a whole, makes a person break away from his routine and think about the eternal. For scientists, the eclipse is an incredible opportunity to study new phenomena of the planet, space, universe…
A solar eclipse occurs when the solar and lunar orbits intersect and the lunar disk obscures the sun. The picture is truly bewitching: a black disk appears in the sky, framed by a border of sun rays that look like corona rays. It becomes dark around, and with a total eclipse in the sky you can see the stars ... Why don't you like a plot for a romantic date? But a date during a solar eclipse will not last long, about 4-5 minutes, but we guarantee it will be unforgettable!
When and where will the next solar eclipse be?
In 2020, it will be possible to enjoy the amazing phenomenon three times: February 15, July 13 and August 11.
Eclipse February 15
The eclipse of February 15th, unfortunately, has already passed. It was partial, the moon did not completely cover the sun, and total darkness did not come. The southern part of our planet has become a more favorable observation point. To be precise, the best place to view the solar eclipse was Antarctica. But not only there was the disk of the moon framed by the solar corona visible. Also lucky were the inhabitants of Australia and partly the population South America and Africa. The inhabitants of Russia were not at all lucky, the eclipse was not visible at any point in a large and vast country. Many photographs of the inhabitants of Antarctica, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay can be found in various in social networks. You can also watch a video, but which captures the entire eclipse, on YouTube video hosting.
Eclipse July 13
For those who are too lazy to get out of a warm and cozy bed in winter, there was an amazing opportunity to see a bewitching phenomenon in the summer. In 2020, another partial solar eclipse will take place on July 13, 2020. It will be possible to enjoy the phenomenon in Tasmania, Australia (in the southern part), in Antarctica (in the eastern part). Therefore, we book tickets, hotel rooms and countdown! The exact time of this partial solar eclipse is 06:02 am Moscow time.
Eclipse August 11
Well, if you do not have the opportunity to leave for a couple of days in another country, on another continent, to look at the solar corona, do not be discouraged. On August 11, the solar eclipse can also be observed in Russia, in Moscow. Of course, not only in Moscow, but also in the North-Eastern part of China, in Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Far East and in Siberia. Also, people in the central part of Russia, in Scandinavia, in Greenland and in Canada, in the northern part, will be able to see the phenomenon.
There will only be partial solar eclipses in 2020. It turns out that we will not have the opportunity to see the all-consuming darkness, and the appearance of stars in the sky during the day? Maybe there has never been a total solar eclipse at all?
History of eclipses
Let's dwell on this issue with you and recall the course of literature in high school. After all, the most famous solar eclipse is the eclipse of May 1, 1185. It was on this day that Prince Igor Svyatoslavovich set off on an unsuccessful campaign against the Polovtsy. It is known about him thanks to the ancient Russian work "The Tale of Igor's Campaign", which we study at school at the desk.
The version that there was no total solar eclipse at all disappears. But now it’s not 1185, but the 21st century already, has there really been no more total solar eclipses on Earth since the 12th century?
We specify, and it turns out that the last total solar eclipse was not so long ago. It could be observed on March 20, 2015. The phenomenon occurred in the North Atlantic Ocean and in Africa. More recently, a solar eclipse occurred on November 14, 2012 in Australia. The longest total solar eclipse occurred on July 22, 2009. The phenomenon lasted 6 minutes and 4 seconds. To see the longest eclipse of the sun by the moon, people traveled to the central and northeastern parts of India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China and the Ryukyu.
The phenomenon of a total solar eclipse has been confirmed, but, unfortunately, it is not expected in 2020. The next one will happen on July 2, 2020, and in order to see what is happening with your own eyes, you will need to move to the central parts of Argentina and Chile, or to the Tuamotu. But those who do not like to travel will have to wait to see a total solar eclipse in Russia. You will have to wait until March 30, 2033, it is in March that the phenomenon of a black lunar disk with a solar corona can be observed in the eastern part of Russia, and also in Alaska, maybe by the total eclipse the territory of the peninsula will also become part of the Russian Federation ...
We remind you that in 2020 it will be possible to watch 2 more partial solar eclipses: on July 13 and August 11. Take a pen, go to the calendar and circle the dates indicated above, then you will definitely not miss these events and will be able to enjoy the beauty and originality of a brief moment.
