Solar eclipse

Why in news?

• Earth witnessed its last solar eclipse of the year on December 14.

About Solar Eclipse:

• A solar eclipse occurs when a portion of the Earth is engulfed in a shadow cast by the Moon which fully or partially blocks sunlight.
• This occurs when the Sun, Moon and Earth are aligned. Such alignment coincides with a new moon (syzygy) indicating the Moon is closest to the ecliptic plane.
• In a total eclipse, the disk of the Sun is fully obscured by the Moon. In partial and annular eclipses, only part of the Sun is obscured.

• Solar eclipses happen only during eclipse seasons resulting in at least two, and up to five, solar eclipses each year; no more than two of which can be total eclipses.
• Since looking directly at the Sun can lead to permanent eye damage or blindness, special eye protection or indirect viewing techniques are used when viewing a solar eclipse.
• An eclipse season is one of only two periods during each year when eclipses can occur, due to the variation in the orbital inclination of the Moon.
• It is safe to view only the total phase of a total solar eclipse with the unaided eye and without protection.

Prelims Question

Consider the following statements: 
1.A solar eclipse typically lasts much longer than Lunar eclipse.
2.A lunar eclipse occurs only during the night of a full moon.
Which among the above statements is/are correct?
(a)1 only 
(b)2 only 
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to prelims question