RARE SOLAR ECLIPSE WILL TURN SUN INTO A “RING OF FIRE” NEXT WEEK!

Brittany Bosher
Posted by Brittany Bosher
| Internet Marketing Team
Updated on
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Published in Events & Entertainment

RING OF FIRE TO OCCUR NEXT WEEK!

Next Tuesday, April 29 a rare, solar eclipse will transform the sun into a ‘ring of fire. This unique solar eclipse occurs when the moon gradually passes between Earth and the sun, which is called a new moon 

This ‘ring of fire’ occurs during an ‘annular eclipse’. The annual eclipse is as rare a ‘total solar eclipse’, which can only be observed during the new moon period. They can only be observed during New Moon, when:

  • The Sun is near one of the nodes of the lunar orbit. (When the Earth, Sun and Moon form a straight line). 
  • The Moon is at apogee (the point of the moon’s orbit where the moon is farthest away from Earth). 
  • The observer is located in the path of the Moon's antumbra (part of the moon’s shadow). 

There are many different types of eclipses but there are only two distinct categories: lunar and solar eclipses. Within these two broad categories there are different levels of eclipse. 

TYPES OF SOLAR ECLIPSES: 

A solar eclipse may only occur when there is a new moon. A new moon means the moon has moved between the earth and the sun. So, the three celestial bodies have formed a straight line: Earth-Moon-Sun. 

  • Total Solar Eclipse: occurs when the moon completely covers the sun. This is seen from Earth. 
  • Partial Solar Eclipse: occurs when the lunar penumbra (the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an object) touches the Earth. 
  • Annular Solar Eclipse: occurs when the moon appears smaller than the sun as it passes centrally across the solar disk and a bright ring of light or annulus is formed (‘ring of fire’). 
  • Hybrid Eclipse: a very rare form of eclipse is the change form an annular eclipse to a total solar eclipse along its trajectory.  

SOLAR ECLIPSE

TYPES OF LUNAR ECLIPSES: 

A lunar eclipse may only occur during a full moon. During the full moon the Earth moves between the moon and the sun, thus the three celestial bodies form a line again but this time it is: Moon-Earth-Sun.

  • Total Lunar Eclipse: occurs when the Earth’s umbra (part of the Earth’s shadow) blocks the moon’s entire observable surface. 
  • Partial Lunar Eclipse: is only observable when part of the moon’s visible surface is concealed by the Earth’s umbra. 
  • Penumbral Lunar Eclipse: occurs when the moon travels through a faint portion of the Earth’s shadow. 
These are just some quick facts describing the different types of lunar and solar eclipses. To actually see one in your lifetime is a very special opportunity. The amazing ring of fire will be visible to people in Australia, Tasmania and a small area of Antarctica. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to see it here from south Florida but it is definitely something you will want to look for on the news or in your local newspaper. The ring of fire is an unbelievable display of our universe. 
 

The next eclipse Americans will be able to see will be a Total Lunar Eclipse taking place on October 8, 2014! Don’t miss it!

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