How many kinds of eclipses are there, according to their nature and visual effect?

The universe and all the stars that make it up go through periods and processes every certain cycle of time, many of them at levels that we cannot see with the naked eye from our planet earth. Some of these cosmic events have such a long periodicity that our lives would not be enough to be able to witness them, however, eclipses are events that we have probably all been able to appreciate, but what?Do you know how many kinds of eclipses there are??

There is still a lot of misinformation about these cosmic events, and let's say that eclipses are, commonly, the moment in which the moon imposes itself on the colossal sun, dulling its brightness for a few moments. This could be a situation that remains in us under a deep philosophical reflection of life, perhaps like the well-known story of the fight between David and Goliath.

But not all eclipses have the same visual effect, since it is undoubtedly a matter of visual perspective, or in this case of light, since an eclipse consists of the disappearance, either total or partial part of a celestial body by the effect of another celestial body.

Eclipses occur when the light from a celestial body is blocked by another regardless of its size, which we call eclipsing body. We regularly talk about 2 types of eclipses: Solar eclipse and Lunar eclipse or in other terms known as: solar and lunar eclipse, respectively. In turn, each one offers different characteristics which help to classify them again.

Beyond the visual effect of the moment, when can we know that an eclipse will take place

Eclipses, as cosmic phenomena, can be inferred in 2 different ways.

First form

This became possible with the development of information technology and technological development, it consists of calculating with great precision the earth orbits and of the Moon our natural satellite, predicting in this way, the exact positions of their shadows and registering the moments in which the shadows are projected one on the other celestial body.

Second way

This is the one that has been used from the time of the Assyrians and Babylonians to our days, which deals with recording the cyclical repetitions of these phenomena or cosmic events.

The most relevant period with which they are repeated is, without a doubt, the so-called saros cycle. A saros contains 6 days or in another metric unit: 585,3 years, 18 months, 10 days and about 11 hours, and after this period orbital circumstances are repeated almost identically, so an eclipse with very characteristic characteristics is produced. similar, however displaced about 140° to the west, due to the 8 hour difference, which means that the Earth has rotated 1/3 of a revolution.

According to the above, there are planets that cannot experience such cosmic events, for example Mercury and Venus, since they lack satellites. However, we can observe how these planets they are interposed between the Earth and the Sun, what is strictly called astronomical transit, and in this case they would act as the form of eclipse with our natural satellite: the Moon

Learn more about this topic: 19 CURIOUS FACTS OF MARS THAT SHOW THE WONDERS OF THIS PLANET

Similarly, on Mars, only partial eclipses are possible, because none of its natural satellites are large enough to cover the disk it describes. the sun star. Scientists have photographed partial eclipses from the planet's surface and from vehicles orbiting it. The view of Mars from Earth can be obscured by the Moon at night, which cosmologists have termed an occultation.

The gas giants and other stars of similar dimensions, which have many moons, give rise to or experience frequently eclipses. The most prominent ones that are known affect Jupiter, since its four large moons and its low axis of inclination make the eclipses very periodic on its surface.

You can expand this information here: 12 INCREDIBLE CURIOSITIES OF THE MOON OBSERVE THEM!

There are 2 types of eclipses according to their effect and nature

Did you know how many types of eclipses there are in our vast universe, let's say then that the following can:

sun type

1) Partial solar eclipse

This type of eclipse occurs when only a part of the Solar star and the Moon overlap, the phenomenon happens when the penumbral shadow of our satellite touches the Earth, These are the most harmful to look at directly or with naked eyes, because an important part of the Sun can still be seen very brightly.

2) Total solar eclipse

It happens when the sun is absolutely hidden for the moon When the dark shadow of the satellite pans over the surface of the Earth, it gives rise to this type of cosmic phenomenon, In order to observe the Sun totally eclipsed by the Moon, one must be situated in the path of totality.

The entire phase of a solar eclipse It happens for a little while. It rarely lasts more than a few 5 minutes. These few short minutes provide one of the most incredible views there is: that of the Sun's corona, which is when day turns to night,

3). annular eclipse

In an annular eclipse, the Moon does not completely cover the solar star, but leaves a ring of light, thus a ring of the Sun can still be seen around the Moon, which obscures the rest of the Sun.

According to experts these eclipses they are usually the longest, because the ring can be glimpsed for more than 10 minutes, since in these cases the Sun is not completely covered by the Moon, its corona is hidden from view.

4). hybrid eclipse

This type of star phenomenon It arises when the curvature of the Earth gives rise to a double eclipse, which can be seen as total in some places on the planet and as annular from other terrestrial latitudes.

Moon-type

1) Total Lunar Eclipse

A total lunar eclipse occurs when the entire moon passes through Earth's threshold shadow. Or in other terms, the earth is intercepted between the Moon and the Sun. This is how it produces the phenomenon known as the Red Moon or Blood Moon.

2) Partial Lunar Eclipse

This  eclipse it can be observed when a part of the Moon passes through the Earth's threshold shadow, thus a dark red color, or a charcoal gray, can be seen in the shaded part of the lunar surface.

the Earth that crosses between the Moon and the Sun. However, technically it is the Moon that enters one of the zones of shadow or gloom of our world.

3). penumbral lunar eclipse

This eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through the penumbral shadow of the Earth. This causes a slight darkening in the moon surface. Its observance from the earth depends on the lunar portion that enters the penumbral region. The smaller, the more difficult its observation.

In this way, the next time you see an eclipse, keep in mind that it cannot be seen directly with your naked eyes, since the UV light of the sun can affect your visual organs.