Why does a Solar Eclipse Occur ?

Why does a Solar Eclipse Occur ?

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Surya Grahan, also known as a solar eclipse, is a natural phenomenon that occurs when the Moon comes in between the Sun and the Earth, blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow on the Earth's surface. The reason for a Surya Grahan to occur is due to the relative positions and movements of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

The Earth revolves around the Sun, while the Moon revolves around the Earth. The Moon's orbit around the Earth is inclined at an angle of about 5 degrees to the Earth's orbit around the Sun. This means that most of the time, the Moon passes above or below the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun, and the Sun's light falls on the Moon's surface without any obstruction.

However, when the Moon comes in line with the Sun and Earth during the New Moon phase, it casts a shadow on the Earth's surface, resulting in a Surya Grahan. The shadow is of two types: umbra and penumbra. The umbra is the darkest part of the shadow, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, and it falls on a small area of the Earth's surface. The penumbra is a lighter shadow where the Moon partially covers the Sun, and it falls on a larger area of the Earth's surface.

A Surya Grahan can be total, partial, or annular, depending on the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon completely blocks the Sun, and the sky becomes dark. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon partially covers the Sun, and an annular solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is at a greater distance from the Earth and appears smaller than the Sun, leaving a ring of light visible around the Moon's edge.

It is important to note that looking directly at a Surya Grahan can be dangerous to the eyes and can cause permanent damage or blindness. Therefore, it is recommended to view it with proper precautions or through specialized equipment, such as solar filters or eclipse glassess.