What is an eclipse?
An eclipse happens when a planet or a moon gets in the way of the Sun’s light. Here on Earth, we can experience two kinds of eclipses: solar eclipses and lunar eclipses
What is a solar eclipse??
A solar eclipse happens when the moon gets in the way of the sun’s light and casts its shadow on Earth. That means during the day, the moon moves over the sun and it gets dark. Isn’t it strange that it gets dark in the middle of the day?
This total eclipse happens about every year and a half somewhere on Earth. A partial eclipse, when the moon doesn’t completely cover the sun, happens at least twice a year somewhere on Earth
On December 26, 2019, the third and final solar eclipse of the year will provide a visual treat to several parts of India between 08:00 am and 11:30 am IST. Since a New Moon is slightly further away than usual, it will appear smaller in the sky so will only block the center of the Sun’s disk. Observers will therefore see a ring around the Sun, and for a maximum of 3 minutes and 40 seconds.
Types of solar eclipse
There are four types of solar eclipses:
- A total eclipse occurs when the dark silhouette of the Moon completely obscures the intensely bright light of the Sun, allowing the much fainter solar corona to be visible. During any one eclipse, totality occurs at best only in a narrow track on the surface of Earth. This narrow track is called the path of totality.
- An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line with the Earth, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the dark disk of the Moon.
- A hybrid eclipse (also called annular/total eclipse) shifts between a total and annular eclipse. At certain points on the surface of Earth, it appears as a total eclipse, whereas at other points it appears as annular. Hybrid eclipses are comparatively rare.
- A partial eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are not exactly in line with the Earth and the Moon only partially obscures the Sun. This phenomenon can usually be seen from a large part of the Earth outside of the track of an annular or total eclipse. However, some eclipses can only be seen as a partial eclipse, because the umbra passes above the Earth's polar regions and never intersects the Earth's surface. Partial eclipses are virtually unnoticeable in terms of the Sun's brightness, as it takes well over 90% coverage to notice any darkening at all. Even at 99%, it would be no darker than civil twilight.Of course, partial eclipses (and partial stages of other eclipses) can be observed if one is viewing the Sun through a darkening filter (which should always be used for safety).
Things to remember
1. Viewing the eclipse can cause permanent visual loss.
2. Damage occurs rapidly without any pain.
3. Loss of vision does not occur until after the eclipse.
4. There is no treatment and children are especially at risk.
Dangerous to eye
Staring at the sun without protection, may cause damage to your retina (the tissue at the back of your eye) called “solar retinopathy.” This damage can occur without any sensation of pain. The injury can be temporary or permanent. Visit your local doctor of optometry immediately if an accident occurs.
Timing and location ( as per Indian Astronomical Society)
The timings and maximum fraction of the Sun getting covered in this eclipse will differ with your location. All places in India will see this completely and early in the morning. The shadow of the moon will be seen earlier in the West and the Moon's limb will cover the Sun later for those who reside eastwards in Longitude. For example
| City | Maxima Time | Sun coverage |
| Ahmedabad | 09:22 IST | 67% |
| Coimbatore | 09:30 IST | 93% (Annular) |
| New Delhi | 09:30 IST | 47% |
| Vizag | 09:40 IST | 66% |
| Kolkata | 09:50 IST | 45% |
| Dibrugarh | 10:12 IST | 27% |
See Live Solar Eclipse
Sources
1. NASA
2. ASI
3. Wikipedia
4. ARPANSA
