Solar Eclipses: Solar eclipses happen on New Moon day when the Moon’s shadow falls on Earth.

• Total Solar Eclipse
  • Sun, Moon, and Earth are almost perfectly aligned.
  • Moon completely covers the Sun’s disk for observers in the path of totality.
  • Only the faint solar corona is visible.
  • Visible only from a narrow strip on Earth. 
• Annular Solar Eclipse
  • Alignment is similar to a total eclipse, but the Moon is near apogee (farthest from Earth).
  • Moon’s apparent size is smaller than the Sun’s.
  • A bright ring of sunlight remains visible around the Moon – the “Ring of Fire”.
  • No total darkness; corona is not fully visible. 
• Partial Solar Eclipse
  • Sun, Moon, and Earth are not perfectly aligned.
  • Only a part of the Sun is covered by the Moon.
  • Appears as if a “bite” is taken out of the Sun.
  • Visible over a wider area than total/annular eclipses. 

Lunar Eclipses: Lunar eclipses occur on Full Moon day when Earth’s shadow falls on the Moon.

• Total Lunar Eclipse
  • Entire Moon passes through Earth’s umbra.
  • Moon often appears reddish (“Blood Moon”) due to Rayleigh scattering of sunlight through Earth’s atmosphere.
  • Visible from the entire night side of Earth. 
• Partial Lunar Eclipse
  • Only a part of the Moon enters Earth’s umbra.
  • A dark “bite” is seen on the Moon’s disk; rest remains bright.
  • More common than total lunar eclipses. 
• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
  • Moon passes only through Earth’s penumbra, not the umbra.

Source: The Indian Express