Science
Difference between a Solar Eclipse and a Lunar Eclipse
An eclipse is an astronomical phenomenon in which the light of one celestial body is blocked by another. In the case of Earth, eclipses involve the Sun and the Moon, thus giving rise to solar and lunar eclipses. In order for either of these two to take place, it is necessary that the three celestial bodies align in such a way that either the Earth itself or the Moon blocks the light of the Sun or the Moon towards the Earth.
Solar eclipse |
Lunar eclipse |
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| How does it happen? | It happens when the Moon prevents the passage of light from the Sun to Earth by interposing between them. For this to happen, the Moon must be in its new moon phase.
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On the other hand, lunar eclipses happen when the Earth comes between the Moon and the Sun. These eclipses can only occur when the Moon is in its full phase.
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| Types | The Moon may block all of the Sun’s light from a region, or just part of it. Depending on this, it can be an annular, partial or total solar eclipse. | Lunar eclipses are divided into total, partial and penumbral. This depends on whether the Moon passes through the shadow cone that the Earth casts or only through its penumbra. |
| Frequency | Total eclipses are rarer than annular and partial ones. | As for lunar eclipses, these are much more common than solar ones. |
| examples | Solar eclipses can only be seen in certain regions at a time. In the case of total eclipses, in some regions they can be seen while in others they are perceived as partial eclipses. | When a lunar eclipse occurs, it can be seen in an entire hemisphere.
Also, lunar eclipses can be seen with the naked eye, while solar eclipses cannot (you need to see them through a special screen to avoid hurting your eyes). |