EclipseSOLAR ECLIPSE A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and the Earth, and the Moon fully or partially covers the Sun as viewed from some location on Earth. This can only happen during a new moon, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from Earth. At least two, and up to five, solar eclipses occur each year; no more than two can be total eclipses. Total solar eclipses are nevertheless rare at any particular location because totality exists only along a narrow path traced by the Moon's umbra. Eclipses recur in the same astrological signs over what is termed the Saros cycle, a period of approximately 18 years 11 days. A total solar eclipse is a natural phenomenon.
Nevertheless, in ancient times, and in some cultures today, solar eclipses have
been attributed to supernatural causes or regarded as bad omens. A total solar
eclipse can be frightening to people who are unaware of their astronomical explanation,
as the Sun seems to disappear in the middle of the day and the sky darkens in
a matter of minutes. The first solar eclipse of 2010 occurred on January 15th. This was a rare solar eclipse because it was the longest partial solar eclipse in the last 1,000 years. The solar eclipse was seen in India, China and Sri Lanka. This was an annular eclipse. The next annular eclipse will occur on the solar eclipse of May 20, 2012. Upcoming Solar Eclipse 2012
Solar Eclipses May 20, 2012 Annular - Will be visible in Asia, Pacific and North America. Annular: China, Japan, Pacific, Western U.S. Nov. 13, 2012 Total - Will be visible in Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific
adn Southern South America. 2013 Solar Eclipses May 10, 2013 Annular - Will be visible in Australia,
New Zealand, Central Pacific. Nov. 3, 2013 Hybrid - Will be visible in Eastern
Americas, Southern Europe and Africa. 2014 Solar Eclipses Apr. 29, 2014 Annular - Will be visible in Indian,
Australia, Antarctica. Oct. 23, 2014 Partial - Will be visible in Northern Pacific and North America. 2015 Solar Eclipses Mar. 20, 2015 Total Eclipse - Will be visible in Iceland, Europe, North Africa
and Northern Asia Sept. 13, 2015 Partial Eclipse - South Africa, South Indian and Antarctica. LUNAR ECLIPSE A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth's shadow falls on the moon. Lunar eclipses occur, on average, about every 6 months. A total Lunar Eclipse occurs when the entire moon enters the Earth's umbra (the darkest part of its shadow), this is called a total eclipse. A partial Eclipse is when only part of the moon enters the Earth's umbra, this is called a partial eclipse. During an average total lunar eclipse, the moon is within the Earth's umbra for about an hour. This is called totality. Since the plane of the moon's orbit is inclined about 5° from the plane of the Earth's orbit, lunar eclipses are relatively infrequent. There are about two lunar eclipses each year (visible somewhere on Earth). Upcoming Lunar Eclipses 2011
Lunar Eclipses June 15, 2011 Total Eclipse - Will be visible in South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia with a duration of 3h 39m. Of this time the eclipse will be total for 1h 40m. Dec. 15, 2011 Total Eclipse - Will be visible in Europe, East Africa, Asia and Australia with a duration of 3h 32m. Of this time the eclipse will be total for 51m. 2012 Lunar Eclipses June 4, 2012 Partial - Will be visible in Europe, East Africa, Asia, Australia, Pacific and the Americas with a duration of 2h 7m. Nov. 28, 2012 Penumbral - Will be visible in Europe, East Africa, Asia, Australia and the Pacific. 2013 Lunar Eclipses Apr. 25, 2013 Partial - Will be visible in Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia with a duration of 27m. May 25, 2013 Penumbral - Will be visible in the Americas and Africa. Oct. 18, 2013 Penumbral - Will be visible in The Americas, Europe, Africa and Asia. 2014 Lunar Eclipses Apr. 15, 2014 Total Eclipse - Will be visible in Australia, Pacific and the Americas with a duration of 3h 35m. Of this time the eclipse will be total for 1h 18m. Oct. 8, 2014 Total Eclipse - Will be visible in Asia, Australia, Pacific and the Americas with a duration of 3h 20m. Of this time the eclipse will be total for 59m. 2015 Lunar Eclipses Apr. 4, 2015 Total Eclipse - Will be visible in Asia, Australia, Pacific and the Americas with a duration of 3h 29m. Of this time the eclipse will be total for 5m. Sept. 28, 2015 Total Eclipse - Will be visible in Asia, Australia, Pacific and the Americas with a duration of 3h 20m. Of this time the eclipse will be total for 1h 12m. This is a great site for comprehensive information on Eclipses http://www.moongiant.com/SolarEclipseCalendar.php Eclipse
info from NASA
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By Celestial Design