What's An Eclipse?
An eclipse is a celestial event that occurs when one celestial body passes through the field of view of another. When 2 Celestial bodies pass across another one, it obscures the view point and can create various types of brilliant effects. In order for an eclipse to happen, the prospect of what is known as syzygy has to come into effect. This is when three celestial bodies themselves are in alignment. One will be known as a field of view, and the other two will be either blocking each other out, or using the shadow from another object to cascade against one another. This causes multiple different types of eclipse effects.
Why can't you look at the Sun during the solar eclipse?
The sun is extremely dangerous and radioactive, and under normal circumstances you cannot look at it at all. The solar eclipse is no different. The only slight difference is the fact that the moon is blotting out the sun, and you can partially look at the sun even though it may not be as bright. Even though it's not as bright though, it does not mean it is just as dangerous. You are essentially now giving yourself more time to stare directly at the Sun that you would not do under normal circumstances, or that your body would physically allow you to at all! This is why staring at a solar eclipse is dangerous. It is allowing your body to stare at the sun for a longer period of time.
Types of Eclipses
Annular Eclipse
An annular eclipse takes place when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, but happens to be at its farthest distance away from the earth during its orbit. This creates a different type of effect than a solar or total eclipse because the moon does not completely cover the sun, but only partially covers it creating a ring effect. An annular eclipse takes place every 2 years. These are small eclipses, and are only approximately 166 kms wide. An annular eclipse will follow a specific path and be visible on the earth in that area. This area is called an annularity.
*The next annular eclipse is going to take place in October 2024. It will be visible in the United States, Mexico and in the Central and South areas of the Americas.
Total Solar Eclipse
The total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth completely blocking out the sun, leaving thing visible ring around the edge.
*The last Total Solar Eclipse was on April 8th, 2024.
Lunar Eclipse
A lunar eclipse takes place when the moon passes through Earth's shadow.
Penumbral Eclipse
This happens when the moon passes through the penumbra of the Earth's shadow. This event does not involve the moon actually passing between the Sun and Earth like other eclipses. It is less visually spectacular then other types of eclipses.
Sun Radiation
Solar radiation is broken down into several different categories. The sun's rays include both visible and non-visible light spectrums. The light and radiation that is emitted by the sun is called ultraviolet, or UV.
Eye Damage
The sun emits what is known as ultraviolet radiation. This is also known as UV. It falls into many different categories, and the Earth's ozone layer blocks the majority of the radioactive components from reaching the planet. But the ones that still get passed to the Ozone layer are harmful to our eyes and overall health with prolonged exposure.
References
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-ultraviolet-(uv)#:~:text=Solar%20emissions%20include%20visible%20light,called%20UVA%2C%20UVB%20and%20UVC.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbra
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/types/
Links
NASA: Eclipse, Past and Future
Eclipse Photography
https://science.nasa.gov/gallery/eclipses/
https://skyandtelescope.org/communities/online-gallery/solar-eclipse-pictures/
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