Wanna know about the top 6 solar eclipse facts in six minutes? IF YES, then you are at the right place at the time. We, humans, have already known about the phenomena of the solar eclipse for millennia. Still, I would dare you never knew about these exclusive facts about the solar eclipse.
Just to mention, the next solar eclipse will occur on Saturday, April 30, 2022. It will be a partial solar eclipse. This means the moon will only be able to partially block the sunlight from falling from the earth.
Editor’s Choice: Why my top 6 Lunar Eclipse Facts are BETTER than Yours?
Top 6 Solar Eclipse Facts in SIX Minutes
If you think that you already knew about the top 6 exclusive facts about the solar eclipse, well, here is your chance to think again!!!
- Moon is the Cause
- A solar and lunar eclipse always occurs in pairs
- Earth encounters an average of 2.4 solar eclipses in a calendar year
- The life of a solar eclipse is only for minutes
- The whole of the earth can never observe a solar eclipse at once
- In future millennia, a solar eclipse would be a myth
Moon is the Cause
Yup, you heard me right. A solar eclipse occurs because the moon comes between the earth and the sun. In other words, when the moon comes between the earth and the sun, it obstructs the sunlight from falling on the earth’s surface. Hence, a Solar eclipse occurs.
Not to mention, depending on the fact that how much moon is obscuring the sunlight from falling on the earth, a solar eclipse can be bifurcated into three types. Such that: when the moon completely covers the entire surface of the sun’s disk, we get to see a total solar eclipse.
Must Read: The Science Behind The Solar Eclipse
When the moon partially covers the surface of the sun’s disk, we get to see a partial solar eclipse. In a similar way, when the moon only covers the central part of the sun’s disk, we get to see an annular solar eclipse i.e the ring of fire. One quick mention: An eclipse of the sun can only occur on the day of the new moon.
A solar and lunar eclipse always occurs in pairs
The next one in my list of top 6 unconventional solar eclipse facts is that a solar and lunar eclipse always occurs in pairs. Well, not like that they both occur on the same calendar day. A solar eclipse always occurs within the two weeks after the occurrence of the lunar eclipse.
For example, in the Month of May-June 2021, we observed a total lunar eclipse of May 26. Just after two weeks, we have an annular solar eclipse on June 10, 2021.
In fact, this type of ecliptic pair will again happen in the month of November-December 2021. Such that, we have a partial lunar eclipse on November 19, and, we have a total solar eclipse on December 4, 2021.
Editor’s Choice: Difference Between Solar and Lunar Eclipse (Tabular Form)
Earth encounters an average of 2.4 solar eclipses in a calendar year
The next one in my list of top 6 fun facts about the solar eclipse is the unusual occurrence of the solar eclipse. A solar eclipse normally occurs somewhere between 2 to 5 times a year. However, as per the available astronomical data of the past century, the earth encounters an average of 2.4 eclipses of the sun in a calendar year.
Check Out: Earth Facts – Top 6 Interesting Facts About Earth
If I talk about the occurrence of the different types of solar eclipses, they all vary in their respective frequency. Such that: a total solar eclipse is the rarest among all. On average, they occur once in about 18 months. On the other hand, both the partial and annular solar eclipse occurs every 5 to 6 months.
The life of a solar eclipse is only for minutes
Since the size of the moon is too small as compared to the size of the sun, the life of a solar eclipse is only for minutes. According to the Universe Today, the diameter of the sun is 1.4 million km across. On the other hand, the diameter of the moon is merely 3,474 km.
Therefore, as a result, during the occurrence of the solar eclipse, the moon is not able to obscure the sun for a very long time. On average, the duration of a solar eclipse is at most between 5 to 10 minutes.
Must Read: The Unconventional Guide to Top 6 Interesting Facts About the Moon
However, if I talk in reference to the different types of the solar eclipse, they all vary in their respective frequency. For example, the longest duration of a total solar eclipse is about 7.5 minutes. Just to let you know that the duration of June 10, 2021, annular solar eclipse will be around 3 minutes and 51 seconds.
The whole of the earth can never observe a solar eclipse at once
Well, not only the solar eclipse, the lunar eclipse too can never be observed by the whole of the earth at the same time. WHY? Because the earth is round not a flat surface.
In other words, just because the earth is round, when half of the earth’s surface is observing the eclipse, the other half doesn’t even know about it. Ahh, a small correction, the other half does know about it.
They just can’t observe it with their own eyes. However, there are so many digital media online platforms where you can see it live.
Check Out: Sun Facts – Top 6 Interesting Facts About The Sun
In future millennia, a solar eclipse would be a myth
The last but not the least one in my list of exclusive facts about the solar eclipse is the disappearance of the solar eclipse. Yup, it’s TRUE. I know, I know, you are thinking how?
Well, just because the moon is moving away from the earth, as a result, there would be no occurrence of the eclipse of the sun. In other words, if there is no moon to obstruct the sunlight from falling on the surface of the earth, there won’t be the occurrence of the solar eclipse.
As a matter of fact, it would take millennia for the moon to completely move away from the earth. So, just chill…!!! There is nothing to worry about, at least, for millennia.
Editor’s Choice: Why Can’t We See The Dark Side of The Moon?
That’s it for this post. If you like this article, share it if you like, like it if you share it. You can also find us on Mix, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook. Hey man, If you have come this far, do give us feedback in the comment section. It would make my day. You can also make a donation. Your donations will help us to run our website and serve you BETTER. Cheers!!!
You might also like:
- The Ultimate Guide to Top 6 Facts About Venus
- Space Facts – Top 6 Interesting Facts About Space
- Mercury Facts -Top 6 Interesting Facts About Mercury
- Jupiter Facts – Top 6 Interesting Facts About Jupiter
- Mars Fact -Top 6 Interesting Facts About Mars
