Tommorw billions of people in Asian countries like India, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Japan and China will see the longest total solar eclipse of this century. Thousands of amateur stargazers and scientists will travel long distances for the eclipse. This solar eclipse will last for about six minutes. Interestingly, the eclipse will first appear in the Gulf of Khambhat just north of Mumbai. The previous total eclipse occured in August 2008 which lasted for two minutes and 27 seconds. I am also very excited about this solar eclipse but I am wondering whether I will be able to see it or not. Today we will see what exactly is Solar Eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the earth’s only natural satellite moon passes between the Sun and the Earth so that the Sun is fully or partially covered. This can only happen during a new moon, when the Sun and Moon are in conjunction as seen from the Earth. At least two and up to five solar eclipses can occur each year on Earth, with between zero and two of them being total eclipses.

Total solar eclipses are nevertheless rare at any location because during each eclipse totality exists only along a narrow corridor in the relatively tiny area of the Moon’s umbra. Total Solar Eclipse has always been an interesting phenomenon. In ancient times, and in some cultures today, solar eclipses have been attributed to supernatural causes. Total solar eclipses can be frightening for 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.

There are four types of solar eclipses:

1. A total eclipse occurs when the Sun is completely obscured by the Moon. The intensely bright disk of the Sun is replaced by the dark silhouette of the Moon, and the much fainter corona is visible.
2. An annular eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moon is smaller than that of the Sun. Hence the Sun appears as a very bright ring, or annulus, surrounding the outline of the Moon.
3. A hybrid eclipse transitions between a total and annular eclipse. At some points on the surface of the Earth it is visible as a total eclipse, whereas at others it is annular. It is very rare.
4. A partial eclipse occurs when the Sun and Moon are not exactly in line and the Moon only partially obscures the Sun. This phenomenon can usually be seen from a large part of the Earth outside of the track of an annular or total eclipse. However, some eclipses can only be seen as a partial eclipse, because the umbra never intersects the Earth’s surface.

Total Solar Eclipse scene from Apocalypto movie ::

In this scene the Mayan priest sacrifices several captives by decapitating them after pulling out their beating hearts. When Jaguar Paw (main character of the movie) is about to be sacrificed, a solar eclipse takes place. He looks at the king, sitting nearby, and the two share a smile while the people below panic at the phenomenon. The priest declares the sun god Kukulkan is satisfied with the sacrifices. He asks Kukulkan to let light return to the world and the eclipse passes. The crowd cheers in amazement as the priest orders that the remaining captives be disposed of.