SOLAR ECLIPSE Solar eclipses are rare, but when they occur, they are a sight to see. The most recent one was the “Ring of Fire” solar eclipse on June 10th, 2021, a special type of solar eclipse that started at 9:55 UTC and is not projected to occur again for at least another two years. Solar eclipses occur when the Sun, Moon and Earth are all in a straight line with the Moon being in between. (If the Earth was in between, it would be a lunar eclipse.) The Moon’s shadow blocks the sunlight from shining on Earth, providing amazing sights in the sky. This only happens roughly twice a year because of the slight angle at which the Moon orbits the Earth; These two periods of time are known as eclipse seasons. The chances of a solar eclipse occurring are even slimmer than eclipse seasons, as for this phenomenon to take place, the Moon must be in the new moon phase of its cycle. There are three types of solar eclipses: total, partial and annular. The type depends on the part of the Moon’s shadow that blocks the sunlight.
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eclipses. A total solar eclipse is when the umbra (the central region of the Moon’s shadow) is apparent and the center of the Sun is blocked. The sky begins to darken, and the Sun’s atmosphere, the corona, becomes visible. The corona can only be seen during total solar eclipses, making this a crucial time for researchers and astronomers.
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