1. © 2011 wheresjenny.com An eclipse occurs when one object gets in between you and another object and blocks your view. From Earth, we routinely experience two kinds of eclipses: An eclipse of the Moon and An eclipse of the Sun. Eclipse

2. © 2011 wheresjenny.com Sometimes, as the Earth orbits the Sun, it comes between the Sun and the Moon. When this happens, the Earth throws a dark shadow across the Moon. This is known as an eclipse of the Moon, or a lunar eclipse. Eclipse

3. © 2011 wheresjenny.com Sometimes, the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun. The Moon blocks the light of the Sun and a shadow of the Moon is cast on the Earth's surface. This is an eclipse of the Sun, or a solar eclipse Eclipse

4. © 2011 wheresjenny.com There are three types of a solar eclipse: total, partial, and annular. During a total eclipse, the Moon completely covers our view of the Sun. A partial eclipse will also occur if the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not precisely lined up. The eclipse type that occurs when the Moon is at its farthest distance from the Earth is an annular eclipse. The Moon then appears too small to completely block out the disk of the Sun. Total solar eclipse Partial solar eclipse Eclipse

5. © 2011 wheresjenny.com There are three types of lunar eclipses. They are the total, partial and penumbral. This total lunar eclipse will show in deep orange colour. A partial lunar eclipse occurs when a portion of the Moon passes through Earth's umbral shadow. Depending on the size of the eclipse, a dark red or simply a charcoal grey may appear on the shadowed portion of the lunar surface. Eclipse

6. © 2011 wheresjenny.com A penumbral lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes through Earth's penumbral shadow. Annular solar eclipse Eclipse

7. © 2011 wheresjenny.com Fear of evil lurking behind a solar eclipse has given rise to many superstitions: 1. Pregnant women are not to go outside during the eclipse as it may harm the baby. 2. Food is neither eaten nor cooked. Even water becomes undrinkable. 3. Another theory forbids people to hold sharp objects like knife as they could cut themselves. 4.After astronomers, astrologers are the next most sought after people during these occasions. 5.Astrologers proclaim that eclipses always lead to great disasters. According to the fortune tellers this solar eclipse will leave a deep impact on people's lives being the longest one that will be witnessed on earth in the century. Some superstitions….

8. © 2011 wheresjenny.com Things You Didn't Know About... Eclipses 1.The longest total solar eclipse of the century occurred on July 22 over India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. It peaked over the Pacific Ocean, but even there the darkness lasted a mere 6 minutes and 29 seconds. 2.Just before full eclipse, dazzling “ Bailey’s beads”appear where sunlight shines through valleys on the moon. The last bead creates the impression of a diamond ring in the sky. 3. In case you were thinking about relocating: Earth is the only place in the solar system where that happens. 4. By comparing those ancient records with modern calculations of eclipse patterns, scientists have determined that the day is 0.047 second longer today than it was back then. 5. While stranded in Jamaica, Christopher Columbus was famously saved which he had read about in his almanac. After a fracas with the locals, Columbus warned that the moon would disappear if they did not start supplying his men with food. 6. Who knows—it might be useful to you, too. The next lunar eclipse visible from the United States will take place on December 21 st 2010