Every time the Sun goes down, we delve into the darkness created by Earth's umbra. In fact, we travel through it quite regularly. Like the Moon, Earth always casts an umbra. If the Moon is close to its apogee, its farthest from Earth, during the eclipse, the umbra does not reach the Earth's surface at all, and it is replaced by the antumbra, producing an annular solar eclipse. This eclipse will be a hybrid solar eclipse. For example, the total solar eclipse on Decemwill last only 8 seconds at its maximum point, with partial phases before and after totality. The total phase of the solar eclipse then lasts only a short moment. If the eclipse occurs when the Moon's distance is greater, the tip of the Moon's cone-shaped umbra (see illustration) may only just reach the Earth's surface during parts of the eclipse, meaning that its diameter is close to zero. During some total solar eclipses, the umbra's path width reaches over 1000 km (600 mi) at the poles. At higher latitudes, the Sun's rays hit the Earth's surface at a shallower angle, so the umbra's size grows accordingly. In that case, the umbra's path across the Earth's surface typically has a width of roughly 150 km (90 mi) at the Earth's equator. If the Moon is at its closest to Earth (its perigee) during the eclipse, the Moon appears larger in the sky. The smaller the distance, the larger the umbra. The size of the area on the Earth's surface covered by the Moon's umbra during a total solar eclipse depends, amongst other things, on the Moon's current distance from Earth. What is a hybrid solar eclipse? How Large Is the Moon's Umbra? For example, the total solar eclipse on Apwill only be visible along a narrow belt stretching across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Even during a total solar eclipse, the umbra only covers a small area on Earth.Īs both the Moon and the Earth are in constant motion, the umbra moves across the face of the Earth during the eclipse, so the total phase can usually only be seen along a slim eclipse path. The reason why solar eclipses are so rare is that the Moon's umbra rarely hits the Earth's surface. This means that somewhere in space, on the dark side of the Moon, a total solar eclipse is happening right now. On its journey through space, the Moon always casts an umbra. If you are within the Moon's umbra and look into the direction of the Sun, you will see a total solar eclipse as the Moon blocks the all of the Sun.

The type of eclipse depends on the type of shadow that is involved. When the Earth enters the Moon's shadow, we see a solar eclipse when the Moon travels through the Earth's shadow, a lunar eclipse occurs.

Antumbra – the lighter part of the shadow that begins where the umbra tapers to a point.

Penumbra – the lighter outer part of the shadow.

If you are standing within the umbra, you will not be able to see any part of the light source as the object blocks all direct light rays. Imagine a light source and an object casting a shadow. Each shadow has 3 different areas: the umbra, the penumbra, and the antumbra.

Like any other opaque objects illuminated by a light source, the Moon and the Earth cast shadows into space as they block the sunlight that hits them. Business Date to Date (exclude holidays).

Annular lunar eclipse diagram